All about the cefr

All about the CEFR
The Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) is a system for measuring and describing language levels. If you would like to find out your CEFR level for English, take our 20 minute free Online English Level Test.

CEFR level	Description	What this means	IELTS level/The London school of English class level
C2	Very Advanced	I speak and understand English completely fluently.	9
C2	Advanced	I speak and understand very well but sometimes have problems with unfamiliar situations and vocabulary.	8
C1	Pre-advanced	I speak and understand well but still make mistakes and fail to make myself understood occasionally.	7
B2	Upper Intermediate	I can communicate without much difficulty but still make quite a lot of mistakes and misunderstand sometimes.	6
B1	Intermediate	I can speak and understand reasonably well and can use basic tenses but have problems with more complex grammar and vocabulary.	5
B1	Low Intermediate	I can make simple sentences and can understand the main points of a conversation but need much more vocabulary.	4
A2	Pre-intermediate	I can communicate simply and understand in familiar situations but only with some difficulty.	3
A2/1	Elementary	I can say and understand a few things in English.	2
	Beginner	I do not speak any English.	1

What is the CEFR? 
The CEFR is a system that is used to measure and describe language levels for foreign language learners. It is ‘language neutral’ so it can be used for any language. It is useful to know about CEFR if you are studying English because it is often used in language schools, in educational materials such as textbooks, and exams. 
It was first published in 2001 and was designed for use in Europe, to promote educational transparency (making education clear and easy to understand) and to allow movement between countries in the EU for work or study. Since then it has been translated into 37 languages and is now used all over the world, not just in Europe.
The full chart is available on the Council of Europe website. It also has versions available in several European languages.