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1. Understanding the levels
Examine carefully the following table.
Highlight or underline the salient features which distinguish
one level from another. This isparticularly important when
considering adjacent levels, i.e. A1/A2, A2/B1, B1/B2, B2/C1
andC1/C2.
Common Reference levels: Global Scale
(2001:24)ProficientUser
C2 Can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read.
Can summariseinformation from different spoken and written sources,
reconstructing argumentsand accounts in a coherent presentation.
Can express him/herself spontaneously, very fluently and precisely,
differentiating finer shades of meaning even in more complex
situations.
C1 Can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and
recognise implicit
meaning. Can express him/herself fluently and spontaneously
without muchobvious 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 organisationalpatterns,
connectors and cohesive devices.
IndependentUser
B2 Can understand the main ideas of complex text on both
concrete and abstracttopics, including technical discussions in
his/her field of specialisation. Caninteract with a degree of
fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interactionwith native
speakers quite possible without strain for either party. Can
produceclear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain
a viewpoint on atopical issue giving the advantages and
disadvantages of various options.
B1 Can understand the main points of clear standard input on
familiar mattersregularly encountered in work, school, leisure,
etc. Can deal with most situationslikely to arise whilst travelling
in an area where the language is spoken. Canproduce simple
connected text on topics which are familiar or of personalinterest.
Can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes and ambitionsand
briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.
Basic User 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 androutine 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.
A1 Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very
basic phrasesaimed 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 aswhere he/she lives, people
he/she knows and things he/she has. Can interact ina simple way
provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is
preparedto help.
7/28/2019 CEFR Webinar Handout 001
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5. Self-assessment grid
Reception Interaction ProductionListening Reading Spoken
Interaction Written Interactio Spoken Production Written
Production
C2 I have no difficulty inunderstanding any kindof spoken
language,whether live or broadcast, even whendelivered at fast
nativespeed, provided I havesome time to get familiar
with the accent.
I can read with easevirtually all forms of thewritten
language,including abstract,structurally or linguistically
complextexts such as manuals,specialised articles an
literary works.
I can take part effortlessly inany conversation or discussion
and have a goodfamiliarity with idiomaticexpressions
andcolloquialisms. I can expressmyself fluently and conveyfiner
shades of meaning
precisely. If I do have aproblem I can backtrack andrestructure
around thedifficulty so smoothly thatother people are hardly
awareof it.
I can expressmyself with clarityand precision,relating to
theaddressee flexiblyand effectively inan assured,personal,
style.
I can present a clear,smoothly flowing descriptionor argument in
a styleappropriate to the contextand with an effective
logicalstructure which helps therecipient to notice andremember
significant points.
I can write clear,smoothly flowing text inan appropriate style.
Ican write complexletters, reports or articles, which presenta case
with aneffective logical
structure, which helpsthe recipient to noticeand remember
significant points. I canwrite summaries andreviews of
professionalor literary works.
C1 I can understandextended speech evenwhen it is not
clearlystructured and whenrelationships are onlyimplied and not
signalledexplicitly. I canunderstand televisionprogrammes and
filmswithout too much effort.
I can understand longand complex factualand literary
texts,appreciatingdistinctions of style. Ican understandspecialised
articlesand longer technicalinstructions, evenwhen they do
notrelate to my field.
I can express myself fluentlyand spontaneously withoutmuch
obvious searching for expressions. I can uselanguage flexibly
andeffectively for social andprofessional purposes. I canformulate
ideas and opinionswith precision and relate mycontribution
skilfully to thoseof other speakers.
I can present clear, detaileddescriptions of complexsubjects
integrating sub-themes, developingparticular points androunding off
with anappropriate conclusion.
I can express myself inclear, well-structuredtext, expressing
pointsof view at some length.I can write detailedexpositions of
complexsubjects in an essay or a report, underliningwhat I consider
to bethe salient issues. Ican write differentkinds of texts in a
style
appropriate to thereader in mind.
B2 I can understandextended speech andlectures and follow
evencomplex lines of argument provided thetopic is
reasonablyfamiliar. I can understandmost TV news andcurrent
affairsprogrammes. I canunderstand the majorityof films in
standarddialect.
I can read articlesand reportsconcerned withcontemporaryproblems
in which thewriters adoptparticular stances or viewpoints. I
canunderstandcontemporary literaryprose.
I can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity
thatmakes regular interaction withnative speakers quitepossible. I
can take an activepart in discussion in familiar contexts,
accounting for andsustaining my views.
I can write lettershighlighting thepersonalsignificance of
events andexperiences.
I can present clear, detaileddescriptions on a wide rangeof
subjects related to myfield of interest. I can explaina viewpoint
on a topicalissue giving the advantagesand disadvantages of
variousoptions.
I can write clear, detailetext on a wide range of subjects
related to myinterests. I can write anessay or report, passingon
information or givingreasons in support of or against a particular
poinof view.
B1 I can understand the mainpoints of clear standardspeech on
familiar mattersregularly encountered inwork, school, leisure, etc.
Ican understand the mainpoint of many radio or TV -programmes on
currentaffairs or topics of personaor professional interestwhen the
delivery isrelatively slow and clear.
I can understand textsthat consist mainly of
high-frequencyeveryday or job-relatedlanguage. I canunderstand
thedescription of events,feelings and wishes inpersonal
letters.
I can deal with most situationslikely to arise whilst travelling
inan area where the language isspoken. I can enter unpreparedinto
conversation on topics thatare familiar, of personal interestor
pertinent to everyday life(e.g. family, hobbies, work,travel and
current events).
I can write personalletters describingexperiences
andimpressions.
I can connect phrases in asimple way in order todescribe
experiences andevents, my dreams, hopesand ambitions. I can
brieflygive reasons andexplanations for opinions anplans. I can
narrate a story orelate the plot of a book or film and describe
myreactions.
I can writestraightforwardconnected text ontopics, which
arefamiliar, or of personalinterest.
A2 I can understand phrasesand the highestfrequency
vocabularyrelated to areas of mostimmediate personalrelevance (e.g.
verybasic personal and familyinformation, shopping,local
geography,employment). I can catchthe main point in short,clear,
simple messagesand announcements.
I can read very short,simple texts. I canfind
specific,predictableinformation in simpleeveryday materialsuch
asadvertisements,prospectuses, menusand timetables and Ican
understand short,simple personalletters.
I can communicate in simpleand routine tasks requiring asimple
and direct exchange of information on familiar topicsand
activities. I can handlevery short social exchanges,even though I
can t usuallyunderstand enough to keepthe conversation going
myself.
I can write short,simple notes andmessages relatingto matters in
areasof immediate need.I can write a verysimple personalletter, for
example,thanking someonefor something.
I can use a series of phrasesand sentences to describe insimple
terms my family andother people, livingconditions, my
educationalbackground and my presentor most recent job
I can write a series of simple phrases andsentences linked
withsimple connectors likeand , bu t andbecause .
A1 I can recognise familiar words and very basicphrases
concerningmyself, my family andimmediate concretesurroundings
whenpeople speak slowly andclearly.
I can understandfamiliar names,words and verysimple sentences,
for example, on noticesand posters or incatalogues.
I can interact in a simple wayprovided the other person
isprepared to repeat or rephrase things at a slower rate of speech
and help meformulate what I m trying tosay. I can ask and answer
simple questions in areas of immediate need or on veryfamiliar
topics.
I can write a short,simple postcard, for example, sendingholiday
greetings. Ican fill in forms withpersonal details, for example,
enteringmy name, nationalityand address on ahotel
registrationform.
I can use simple phrasesand sentences to describewhere I live
and people Iknow.
I can write simpleisolated phrases andsentences.
