What Is My Level of English, and Why Does It Matter?

You can start with your own assessment, and then expand your evaluation to include family members, close friends, or colleagues. It’s not the most objective or official way to test your level, but it’s a start! Otherwise, as we said in another article on showcasing your English skills on your CV, sometimes the best thing to do is to list what you know and how (and how often) you use it. For example, maybe you write emails daily or lead meetings in English once a week.

There are also online tools that can give you to get an idea of your level.

When you take a language certification exam, you will get a, well, certificate, that attests to your level. In addition to the score you got on the test, you will also get the information you need to understand exactly what the score means. EF SET has written a good article about comparing scores for each certificate in English. It is quite difficult to convert one system into another so that the English levels match up, however, it does give you a good idea of the score you might get if you took another test.

Which English certificates or diplomas are recognized?

There are several officially recognized certificates and diplomas. Which one you chose depends on your goals (professional or academic, European or international). Here are the most well-known:

• TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication)

Quite longstanding (it dates all the way back to 1979), the TOEIC is recognized by most companies in the world, and in at least 130 countries. Students often take this exam before beginning a degree program or a new work placement, so they know and can prove their level. It’s a test mainly intended for a professional environment, very popular in companies because it’s an official certification of comprehension, speaking, listening and writing. There are three tests: Listening and Reading, Speaking and Writing for intermediate and advanced levels and the TOEIC Bridge for beginner to intermediate learners. If you’re preparing to take the TOEIC, read about the structure of the test so you know what to expect. Get our best tips about how to prepare for each section in this series:

• • TOEIC Speaking Section
  • TOEIC Listening Section
  • How to Increase Your Vocabulary for the TOEIC
  • TOEIC Writing Section
  • TOEIC Reading Section

And learn all of the vocabulary you’ll need for this exam with the MosaLingua TOEIC app.

• TOEFL (Test Of English as a Foreign Language)

Surely the most well-known, the TOEFL is the main test used for university admissions. North American universities (in the USA and Canada) and some international schools often ask their foreign students to prove their English level. You can do it online and have your English level evaluated in four linguistic areas (listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing) or you can do it on paper. The paper version tests grammar, syntax, and comprehension. Here are our top 5 tips to pass the TOEFL. And be sure to read our series about how to make sure you pass each different section:

• • TOEFL Speaking Exam
  • TOEFL Reading Section
  • Familiarize Yourself with the Structure of the TOEFL Test
  • TOEFL Listening Section
  • TOEFL Writing Section

Like the TOEIC test, you can prepare for your TOEFL exam using the MosaLingua TOEFL app. And for both of these exams, we’ve also prepared some note-taking strategies for you.

• Cambridge Test

Like its name indicates, the Cambridge Test was created by Cambridge University. It has different tests to determine your English level based on the Common European Framework of Reference to Languages (CEFRL or CEFR). Intermediate (Preliminary English Test and First Certificate in English) and advanced level tests (First Certificate in Advanced English) are used when applying for school or jobs in international companies. To avoid wasting your time and money, self-evaluate your skills before signing up so that you have a good idea of which test to take and whether or not you will pass. This test is becoming more and more well known, not only in Europe but also worldwide.

But beware: US institutions don’t accept this certification because they believe it is based on British English. So we don’t recommend taking this test if you would like to study or work in the USA. But if you want to go to Canada, Australia, New Zealand or one of many other countries (including England, of course!), go for it.

Prepare for the B2 First exam with this series of articles: How to Pass the Cambridge B2 First Certificate

• Cambridge Speaking Section
• B2 First Reading Section
• Cambridge B2 First Exam Listening Section
• B2 First Certificate Writing Section

• LinguaSkill Business

LinguaSkill is another Cambridge English exam, but this one is more focused on professionals than students because it evaluates your level of business English. (There is also a general version of the test.) It tests four skills in three test sections: reading, listening, speaking and writing. The results are also based on the CEFRL. LinguaSkill Business is recognized by many large, international companies.

Students are tested on topics like buying and selling products/services, at the office, business trips, and HR. It’s a very convenient test for working adults because it is administered online via the Cambridge English Test Portal. Although it’s the most recent certification on our list (it replaced the BULATS exam at the end of 2019), it’s already proving to be a sort of language test revolution. Here’s why:

• LinguaSkill is much cheaper than most other proficiency tests on the market – it costs somewhere between $60 and $120. Companies can also choose to evaluate their current employees or candidates they are thinking about hiring, so if you’re lucky you might not even have to pay for it yourself.
• It’s administered online, so it’s more objective, accessible, and convenient than pen-and-paper tests. Plus, your results are available in less than a week.

Visit the Cambridge University LinguaSkill test website for more information and tips on how to prepare for the exam.

• IELTS (International English Language Testing System)

This British certification has quite a similar objective to the TOEFL, which is to say that it validates your English level for university study, most notably in English-speaking countries. In addition, this test is often used if you want to get a work visa or emigrate to a foreign country – especially countries that have a historical link to the United Kingdom (Australia, Canada and New Zealand), and to the UK itself! This test includes four sections: listening, reading, speaking, and writing.

The CEFRL: A Benchmark in English

The CEFRL is a scale used to describe achievements in English. If you take one of the exams we talked about above, it will often give you a level according to this scale. The Council of Europe developed the CEFR scale in the early 1990s. CEFRL stands for Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. It provides a common scale for all European countries to use when evaluating a person’s language skills. When you put it on your CV or mention it during a job interview, recruiters will understand what it means.

The CEFRL comprises 6 English levels (and one added by language schools, A0): A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2, described in detail below. The CEFR is based on objective skills that determine your level of listening and written comprehension, and also your ability to speak and write in English. Just to note, we talk about it as a way of evaluating your English level, but this scale applies to all European languages.

What are the different English levels of the CEFRL?

The CEFRL divides learners into 6 levels: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2. Language schools later created and added level A0. To know your exact level, there are official tests and informal tests you can take online. Just so you have a bit of an overview, here is how the CEFRL defines each of the 7 levels. Watch the video recap right here or on our YouTube channel, or scroll down to read about each level:

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A0 English level

Level A0 encompasses to those people who have never learned any English. That means people who have never had an English lesson, even at school. People in this group may have never traveled to an English-speaking country or watched an English movie. People at this level have zero knowledge of English (even “I”, “thank you” or “hello”). It’s a rare level in most European countries because the majority of schools require students to learn at least a little English. However, this level does exist and it is important to know it because a completely different approach is needed to teach learners at this level.

A1 English level

Level A1 corresponds to an elementary English user, according to the CEFRL. It’s one of the most represented levels of English; most students who have taken English in school reach this level by the time they graduate. Communication in English, particularly during travel, is complicated and unnatural. When it comes to business, this level of English does not meet the needs or demands of companies and recruiters. According to the CEFRL, someone with an A1 level is capable of:

• understanding and using familiar expressions and day-to-day vocabulary, and satisfying basic needs
• asking and answering simple questions, and introducing themselves or others (name, where they live, age, etc.)
• understanding and communicating with people who speak slowly and clearly

A2 English level

Level A2 also corresponds to an “elementary English user.” Some European high school students reach this level. Traveling to an English-speaking country isn’t simple… but is definitely possible! Someone with this level can manage to be understood – for example, when ordering food in a restaurant or booking a hotel room. Companies and recruiters usually consider this level too low for professional communication, but someone with an A2 level can:

• understand simple phrases and frequently used expressions
• communicate in a simple way, having simple and direct exchanges about familiar and common subjects
• simply describe their surroundings
• talk about topics that relate to their immediate needs

B1 English level

Level B1 moves you up to an “independent English user.” But, between us, we can categorize this level as being the one where you feel comfortable traveling. These learners make syntax and grammar mistakes and still have a somewhat limited vocabulary. But this English level enables simple communication about common topics. It makes meeting people, living abroad, and basically getting by on one’s own possible. In the business world, this English level is usually enough for simple communication in international relations and the service industry. These types of jobs could include airplane steward, receptionist, or other jobs in the food and hospitality industries. Someone who has reached a B1 level can:

• understand the main elements of a message, state things clearly and with correct language, especially when it comes to familiar topics like travel, work and family
• get by fine in an English-speaking country
• describe an event, a dream or plan in a simple way and use everyday vocabulary

At a B1 level, you can start to take tests like the TOEIC or LinguaSkill.

B2 English level

Again, level B2 in English characterizes independent English users. Some people would consider this level “fluency” because you can hold a conversation. But vocabulary, idioms and grammar have not yet been fully mastered and are considered incomplete. On the other hand, someone who has reached this level will not have any trouble traveling to a foreign country or speaking and exchanging written communication with native English speakers. It’s the level generally reached or required for people who are completing master’s degrees. Lawyers and managers of international companies must have at least a B2 level of English. Someone at a B2 level:

• understands the most important ideas of concrete and abstract texts, or technical discussions about their areas of expertise
• communicates easily and spontaneously
• expresses themselves clearly on many subjects, gives their opinions about current events, and identifies pros and cons

C1 English level

A C1 English level describes a “proficient English user.” At this level, people can easily travel to foreign countries. They would also get by just fine if they decided to move to an English-speaking country. If you have a C1 level of English, you will exceed most job requirements. And if you are thinking of becoming a pilot, you have to have reached at least this level! Someone with a C1 English level can:

• understand long texts, sometimes about complex subjects, and “read between the lines” (to understand implicit ideas)
• express themselves spontaneously and fluently, without having to search for their words too much
• use the language without too much difficulty, in social and professional contexts
• organize and articulate their opinions clearly

We definitely recommend taking the TOEIC or LinguaSkill test at this level.

C2 English level

This is the highest level there is, and describes a “proficient English user.” Native English speakers have a C2 level, to give you an idea of how difficult it is to reach. But people who have either studied English extensively or lived in an English-speaking country for a long time can also reach it. People with a C2 level can work just as well in English as they can in their native language. Someone with a C2 level, considered bilingual, can:

• understand practically everything they listen to or read, without much effort
• express themselves naturally and spontaneously, without having to stop and think about which words to use
• come up with nuanced arguments in a foreign language
• coherently summarize a text, even a long and complicated one

When you think you’ve reached a C2 level in English, we recommend taking the Cambridge Proficiency exam. It’s the only exam that validates this level. And it’s good for life!

Bonus Video: Evaluating Your English Level, and Improving It!

Take a look at Abbe’s video, all about assessing your English level and then using that knowledge to improve your skills. The video is in English, so it might even help you assess your level of comprehension! But if you need to, feel free to turn on the subtitles in one of the six languages we offer. You can watch it on our YouTube channel or right here:

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