What is the CEFR and what are the language proficiency levels

Common European Framework of Reference — European competencies of foreign language proficiency. European competencies of foreign language proficiency. cy in a particular European language by comparing skills with certain criteria.

Levels of language proficiency according to CEFR
📌 A1 — Beginner (Elementary)
📌 А2 — Elementary (Below intermediate)
📌 В1 — Intermediate
📌 B2 — Upper-Intermediate
📌 C1 — Advanced
📌 C2 — Proficient

The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is a widely recognized framework that provides a standardized way to describe language proficiency across different languages. It divides language proficiency into six levels, ranging from A1 (beginner) to C2 (proficient). Each level is further divided into four main categories: speaking, writing, listening, and reading.
Description of each level
А1

• Speaking: Can introduce themselves and others, ask and answer basic questions about personal details, and interact in a simple way.
• Writing: Can write a short, simple postcard or fill in forms with personal details.
• Listening: Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases.
• Reading: Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases.

А2

• Speaking: Can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information.
• Writing: Can write short, simple notes and messages related to personal information.
• Listening: Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of immediate relevance.
• Reading: Can understand short, simple texts containing familiar vocabulary

В1

• Speaking: Can handle most situations likely to arise while traveling in an area where the language is spoken.
• Writing: Can write simple connected texts on familiar topics or personal interest.
• Listening: Can understand the main points of clear standard speech on familiar matters.
• Reading: Can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters.

В2

• Speaking: Can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible.
• Writing: Can produce clear, detailed texts on a wide range of subjects.
• Listening: Can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics.
• Reading: Can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics.

С1

• Speaking: Can express ideas fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions.
• Writing: Can produce clear, well-structured, detailed texts on complex subjects..
• Listening: Can understand extended speech even when it is not clearly structured.
• Reading: Can understand long and complex factual and literary texts.

С2

• Speaking: Can express themselves spontaneously, very fluently, and precisely.
• Writing: Can produce clear, well-structured, detailed texts on complex subjects.
• Listening: Can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read.
• Reading: Can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read.

Special international tests are used to confirm the level of proficiency in a particular language. In particular, to determine and confirm a certain level of English proficiency, the Cambridge English test line is used.