learning, teaching, assessment Common Reference Levels: global scale

C2 Can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read. Can summarise
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 more complex
situations.
Proficient
C1 Can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognise implicit
User
meaning. Can express him/herself 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 organisational patterns, connectors
and cohesive devices.
B2 Can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics,
including technical discussions in his/her field of specialisation. 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
Independent disadvantages of various options.
User
B1 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
whilst travelling in an area where the language is spoken. Can produce simple
connected text on topics which 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.
A2 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
Basic need.
User
A1 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.

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 learning, teaching, assessment Common Reference Levels: global scale

A2 B1
A1
Listening I can recognise familiar I can understand phrases I can understand the main

words and very basic and the highest frequency points of clear standard

phrases concerning vocabulary related to areas speech on familiar matters

myself, my family and of most immediate personal regularly encountered in

U immediate concrete relevance (e.g. very basic work, school, leisure, etc. I can
N surroundings when personal and family understand the main point of
D people speak slowly and information, shopping, local many radio or TV programmes
E clearly. area, employment). I can catch on current
R the main point in short, clear, affairs or topics of personal or
S simple messages and professional interest when the
T announcements. delivery is relatively slow and
A clear.
N Reading I can understand familiar I can read very short, simple I can understand texts that consist
D names, words and very texts. I can find specific, mainly of high frequency everyday
I simple sentences, for predictable information in simple or jobrelated language. I can
N example on notices and everyday material such as understand the description of
G posters or in catalogues. advertisements, prospectuses, events, feelings and wishes in
menus and timetables and I can personal letters.
understand short simple personal
letters.

Spoken I can interact in a simple way I can communicate in simple and I can deal with most situations
Interaction provided the other person is routine tasks requiring a simple likely to arise whilst travelling in
prepared to repeat or and direct exchange of an area where the language is
rephrase things at a slower information on familiar topics and spoken. I can enter unprepared into
rate of speech and help me activities. I can handle very short conversation on topics that are
formulate what I’m trying to social exchanges, even though I familiar, of personal interest or
S say. I can ask and answer can’t usually understand enough pertinent to everyday life (e.g.
P simple questions in areas of to keep the conversation going family, hobbies, work, travel and
E immediate need or on very myself. current events).
A familiar topics.
K
I Spoken I can use simple phrases and I can use a series of phrases and I can connect phrases in a simple
N Production sentences to describe where I sentences to describe in simple way in order to describe
G live and people I know. terms my family and other experiences and events, my
people, living conditions, my dreams, hopes and ambitions. I
educational background and my can briefly give reasons and
present or most recent job. explanations for opinions and
plans. I can narrate a story or
relate the plot of a book or film
and describe my reactions.
Writing I can write a short, simple I can write short, simple notes and I can write simple connected text
postcard, for example sending messages relating to matters in on topics which are familiar or of
W holiday greetings. I can fill in areas of immediate need. I can personal interest. I can write
R forms with personal details, write a very simple personal letter, personal letters describing
I for example entering my for example thanking someone for experiences and impressions.
T name, nationality and address something.
I on a hotel registration form.
N
G
 learning, teaching, assessment Common Reference Levels: global scale

Has a very basic repertoireShows only limited control Can manage very sho
with memorised phrases,correctly, but still understood in very short respond to simple with simple c
related to personal detailsstructures and sentence packaged utterances
Has enough and
language groupsaccurately
to getUses reasonably
circumlocutions ofsituations.very
onpredictable a few words
aCan andsystematically
keep makes
goingespecially
evident, Can initiate, basic Can
utterances,
maintain
ininterest. andCan evena though
repeat link series ofstatements.
backsequence Can in
Uses some simple structuresCanof amake him/herself
few simple Can answer questions
grammaticalisolated, mainlyandCan link of
pre-questions
points.
groups
aboutofpersona
words
and particular concretepatterns in a memorised much pausing to se

formulae in order tomistakes. pauses, false starts and when he/she is following ‘because’.

close simple face-to-face shorter, discrete simple

topics such as family,longer stretches of free part of what someone has
are familiar or of personalconnected, linear
conversation on topics thatelements into a everyday situations.conversation going of
communicate limitedreformulation are very but is rarely able to

travel, and current events.understanding.

familiar words, and to repairdependent on repetition,

production. said to confirm mutual communication.rephrasing and repair.
understand enough to keep
communication is totally

his/her own accord.

comprehensibly,
lexical
pausing even though
forplanning and repair
grammatical and is expressions, to articulate less

information in simpleevident.

by, with sufficientrepertoire of frequently used

vocabulary to express him/‘routines’ and patterns

associated with more

situations.repertoire.

herself with someand

hobbies hesitation
interests, sentence patterns of words and simple phrases
work,
Uses basic

B1 A2
B1 A2 A1
+ +