Job postings state "English CEFR B2 or above", while overseas study applications state "C1 required" —CEFR StandardHow exactly are A1 to C2 divided? What level are you currently at?
This article combines the old "CEFR Complete Guide" with self-test quick reference content into one page: a CET-6 conversion table, IELTS/TOEFL conversion, executable self-tests, and a list of web pages to read by level. See the official framework. Council of Europe · CEFR.
Install LingoWay and highlight unfamiliar words on web pages according to your CEFR level.
1. What is CEFR: Three sentences + Why it's important
- It's a framework, not a specific exam. IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge English, etc. can be compared to the CEFR, but the CEFR itself does not replace these exams.
- The core concept is "what can be done". Listening, speaking, reading, writing, and interaction are all described at different levels, making it easy for schools, employers, and textbooks to align.
- It has a wide range of uses. The same set of criteria can be used for all aspects of studying abroad: language requirements, resume annotation, textbook difficulty selection, and self-study goals.
The European Council published this framework in 2001, with subsequent updates including the Companion Volume; a detailed description is provided below. Official CEFR page For accuracy, please refer to the exam score comparison. Cambridge English · CEFR and EF SET · CEFR.
2. A1–C2 Six-Level Ability Comparison Table
The table below compares the reading comprehension assessment scale (comprehensive public scale) with common teaching methods.Vocabulary size as Approximate / Directional range(There are significant individual differences).
| grade | name | What can you possibly do? | Vocabulary size (approximately) | Common Comparisons (Rough) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | getting Started | Self-introduction, understanding the signboard/menu, extremely slow conversation | <500–1000 | Beginner/Introduction |
| A2 | Base | For everyday shopping, asking for directions, text messages, and simple emails | Approximately 1000–2000 | Before and after the college entrance examination / on the verge of passing the CET-4 |
| B1 | intermediate | Travel and basic work scenarios, news highlights, and simple reports | Approximately 2000–3500 | Common ranges for CET-4 and CET-6 |
| B2 | Intermediate and advanced | Most common original materials, meeting discussions, and formal emails | Approximately 3500–5000 | IELTS score around 5.5–6.5 |
| C1 | advanced | Fluent expression of complex viewpoints, professional reading and writing | Approximately 5000–8000 | IELTS score around 7.0–8.0 |
| C2 | proficient | Approaching native speakers in handling complex texts and subtle stylistic nuances | 8000+ | IELTS score around 8.5–9.0 |
Level 6 Skill Overview(Easy to scan/Selected summary):
| grade | listen | read | explain | Write | Typical scenarios |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | Slow Simple Questions | Signboard, Menu | Self-introduction | postcard quality | Tourism Basics |
| A2 | everyday slow conversation | SMS, Explanation | Preferences and Plans | Short email | Short-term living abroad |
| B1 | News/Podcast Highlights | Introductory long article | Expressing opinions | First draft of work email | Foreign Trade / Preparatory Course |
| B2 | Most podcast summaries | General original books/long articles | Professional topic discussion | Report/Formal Letter | Foreign companies/Undergraduate degree requirements are common |
| C1 | Academic speed | professional journals | Complex Arguments | Thesis-level writing | International Conferences/Research |
| C2 | Almost no restrictions | Arbitrary style | Approaching one's mother tongue | Professional/Literary Writing | Translation/Advanced Studies |
Install LingoWay and highlight unfamiliar words on web pages according to your CEFR level.
3. Comparison with IELTS/TOEFL/Cambridge English scores
control groupApproximate range of public conversion(Slight differences may occur depending on the year and institution; please refer to the latest requirements of the target institution for application).
| CEFR | IELTS (approximately) | TOEFL iBT (approx.) | Cambridge English (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | — | — | YLE and other introductory courses |
| A2 | Approximately 3.0–3.5 | — | KET (A2 Key) |
| B1 | Approximately 4.0–5.0 | Approximately 42–71 | PET (B1 Preliminary) |
| B2 | Approximately 5.5–6.5 | Approximately 72–94 | FCE (B2 First) |
| C1 | Approximately 7.0–8.0 | Approximately 95–114 | CAE (C1 Advanced) |
| C2 | Approximately 8.5–9.0 | Approximately 115–120 | CPE (C2 Proficiency) |
Source entry:Cambridge CEFR,EF SET CEFRDomestic CET-4 and CET-6 and CEFR There is no single official mapping.The "Common Comparisons" in the table above are for self-study guidance only and are not intended to replace transcripts.
4. 30-second decision-making process + approximately 8 minutes of hands-on self-test (4 steps)
You don't need to register for the exam first; you can take it once first.coarse positioning(Informal, cannot replace official results).
Step 1 · Listen for 1 minute
Open BBC 6 Minute EnglishListen for about 1 minute:
- Understand most of it (approximately 80%+) → Tendency B1+
- Understanding about half → Tendency A2–B1
- Most of it is incomprehensible → Tendency A1–A2
Step 2: Read approximately 200 words.
Find an article on a topic you are not familiar with. Medium Silent reading of the article:
- Almost never looks up words → Tendency B2+
- Approximately 5–10 new words per screen → Tendency B1–B2
- 20+ new words on one screen, sentences difficult to read smoothly → Tendency A2–B1
Step 3: Write a 100-word English self-introduction.
- Able to write complete sentences + at least one complex sentence → Tendency B1+
- Only simple sentences → Tendency A2–B1
- Heavy reliance on templates/translation → Tendency A1–A2
Step 4 · Merge Decision
| listen | read | Write | coarse classification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Most of them understand | Almost no word lookup | There are complex sentences | B2+ |
| about half | 5–10 new words/screen | Simple sentences | A2–B1 |
| Most of them don't understand | 20+ new words/screen | Relying on templates | A1–A2 |
To get closer to the scale, you can do another test. Cambridge Online Tests or EF SET(Third-party free testing; use of informal certificates is up to you to determine their intended use).
A2 / B1 boundary hint: Everyday shopping, text messaging, and slow conversations are fine, but I get stuck on work emails, meetings, and unfamiliar topics → mostly in A2–B1 junctionAble to independently handle travel and basic workplace communication → Closer to B1.
5. Select the webpage using CEFR: What to read, how to set the highlighting.
Reading too easily leads to slow progress, reading too difficult only results in looking up words—choosing the input source by level ensures a more stable experience. For a more complete list of sites, see:Recommended high-quality English learning websites (2026 edition, categorized by A1–C2).
| CEFR | Adapted reading (example) | Highlighting strategy suggestions |
|---|---|---|
| A1–A2 | BBC Learning English, ReadTheory, Duolingo Stories | Set the vocabulary list to A1–A2 to avoid full-screen highlighting. |
| B1 | Medium introductory articles, News in Levels, and some Reddit posts. | The number of new words per page is controllable; the key is to finish reading. |
| B2 | The Atlantic, BBC News, longer blog posts | Increase the difficulty level and add new vocabulary to the review book. |
| C1 | The Economist, arXiv introductory articles, long-form nonfiction | Search terms as needed, focusing on terminology and argumentation. |
| C2 | Professional journals, original novels, any writing style | Reduce reliance on highlighting, practice register and speed. |
LingoWay It supports filtering and highlighting unfamiliar words on web pages by CEFR and other thesaurus, allowing you to "learn while browsing" at your current level.
Install LingoWay and highlight unfamiliar words on web pages according to your CEFR level.
6. Practical applications: resumes, studying abroad, course selection
- CV: writable
English (CEFR B2)This is more verifiable than simply writing "proficient"; if you have IELTS/TOEFL scores, it is recommended to include them along with the CEFR. - Studying abroad: European universities commonly use B2/C1 as the entry requirement (refer to the admissions page for details).
- Course selection/textbook selection: Looking at the CEFR level indicated in the materials is less likely to lead to mismatches than just looking at "intermediate textbooks".
- Self-study pace: First determine your level → then input the same or slightly higher level → review new words weekly; this is more sustainable than blindly doing practice questions.
7. FAQ
Q1: What is CEFR? What is its relationship with IELTS/TOEFL?
A: CEFR is a competency description framework; IELTS/TOEFL are exams. The two can be roughly converted using official conversion tables published by the test providers (see the table above). Applications should adhere to the requirements of the target institution.
Q2: How to determine the boundary between A2 and B1?
A: A2 leans towards "simple daily tasks"; B1 leans towards "being able to handle travel/study/basic work independently". If they can handle daily tasks but struggle with professional or unfamiliar topics → this often falls into the borderline; you can use the 4-step self-test in this article for cross-verification.
Q3: If you have zero experience, which level should you start with?
A: From A1Choose slow-paced materials with support (subtitles/rated reading materials); adjust the highlighting difficulty to A1–A2.
Q4: Can B2 read original books?
A: Most general non-literary texts can be read to understand the gist; however, literature, law, and top journals may still be difficult. B2 is often used as one of the language barriers for undergraduate studies, but it does not mean "you can easily read any original text".
Q5: How long does it take to level up?
A: It depends on effective input and review each week; there's no fixed number of weeks. A more reliable strategy is: determine your level → input at the same level → several consecutive weeks, rather than relying on intuition to estimate your level after a short period of cramming.
Q6: How to filter and highlight new words by CEFR in LingoWay?
A: In the extensions, select the corresponding level/vocabulary. New words on the webpage will be highlighted by range and can be added to the vocabulary list; turn on AI contextual explanation when needed. See the installation tutorial for steps, and see the solution for details. /plans/.
8. Next step: How to train after ranking?
- Use the table in this article to define a job level.(Can be written in notes: current ≈ B1).
- Select a website according to §5Read one article (or a fixed amount of time) every day, and review the new words instead of just saving them.
- Install LingoWay and adjust the highlight level to that level.Turn your existing habit of browsing the internet into input.
Install LingoWay and highlight unfamiliar words on web pages according to your CEFR level.
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