Common European Framework of Reference for Languages with abbreviations as CEFR or CEF is a guideline used to describe achievements of learners of foreign languages across Europe and other countries. They are divided into 6 levels which are widely accepted as European standard in assessing the person's language proficiency. The 6 six levels and their descriptions are:
Group A (Basic User)
- Level A1 - Breakthrough or beginner
-Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type.
-Can introduce him/herself and others and can ask and answer questions about personal details such as where he/she lives, people he/she knows and things he/she has.
-Can interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help. - Level A2 - Way stage or elementary
-Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment).
-Can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters.
-Can describe in simple terms aspects of his/her background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need.
Group B (Independent User)
- Level B1 - Threshold or intermediate
-Can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc.
-Can deal with most situations likely to arise while travelling in an area where the language is spoken.
-Can produce simple connected text on topics that are familiar or of personal interest.
-Can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes and ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans. - B2 level - Vantage or upper intermediate
-Can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in his/her field of specialization.
-Can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party.
-Can produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.
Group C (IProficient User)
- C1 level - Effective operational proficiency or advanced
-Can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognize implicit meaning.
-Can express ideas fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions.
-Can use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes.
-Can produce clear, well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects, showing controlled use of organizational patterns, connectors and cohesive devices. - C2 level - Mastery or proficiency
-Can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read.
-Can summarize information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation.
-Can express him/herself spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in the most complex situations.
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