Common European Framework

Council of Europe level	Listening skills	Reading skills	Speaking skills	Writing skills	Cambridge ESOL exams	IELTS bands
A1 Break-through	You can understand familiar words and phrases about yourself, your family, and concrete situations you know well.	You can understand familiar words and simple sentences, for example on notices and posters.	You can interact in a simple way provided the other person speaks slowly and helps you formulate what you are trying to say. You can ask and answer simple questions in areas of immediate need or on very familiar topics.	You can write a short, simple postcard. You can fill in a form with personal details.	•YLE Starters •YLE Movers	2
A2 Waystage	You can understand sentences about familiar topics if they contain high frequency vocabulary. You can catch the main point in short and simple messages and announcements.	You can read short, simple texts. You can find specific information you need in everyday materials such as advertisements, menus, etc.	You can communicate in simple and routine tasks. You can handle simple social exchanges. You can describe in simple terms your family, living conditions, education and your present or most recent job.	You can write short, simple notes and messages. You can write a very simple personal letter.	•YLE Flyers •KET	3+
B1 Threshold	You can understand the main points on familiar topics. This includes listening to radio or TV programmes.	You can understand texts which contain high frequency or job-related vocabulary. You can understand descriptions of events, feelings or wishes in personal letters.	You can deal with most travel situations. You can join in discussions without preparation if the topic is familiar. You can briefly give reasons and explanations, and narrate an event.	You can write simple connected text on familiar topic. You can write personal letters describing experiences and impressions.	•PET •BEC Preliminary	4+
B2 Vantage	You can understand extended speech and lectures on familiar matters. You can understand most TV news and programmes, and the majority of films in standard dialect.	You can read reports or articles in which the writer express particular opinions or viewpoints.	You can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity, and take part in discussions in familiar contexts. You can present detailed descriptions and explain opinions.	You can write clear, detailed texts on familiar topics. You can write an essay or a report and give reasons in support of or against an argument.	•FCE •BEC Vantage •ILEC •ICFE	5+
C1 Effective Proficiency	You can understand extended speech even when it is not clearly structured. You can understand TV programmes and films without too much effort.	You can understand complex factual and literary texts. You can understand specialised articles on unfamiliar topics and longer technical instructions.	You can express yourself fluently and spontaneously without obvious effort. You can explain and justify opinions precisely and relate them to those of others. You can present clear detailed descriptions.	You can express yourself in clear, well-structured text. You can write about complex subjects in a letter, an essay or a report. You can select a style appropriate to the reader in mind.	•CAE •BEC Higher •ILEC •ICFE	6.5+
C2 Mastery	You have no difficulty in understanding any kind of spoken language, provided you have some time to get familiar with the accent.	You can read with ease all forms of the written language, including complex texts such as specialised articles and literary works.	You can take part effortlessly in any conversation. You can present clear, smoothly-flowing descriptions or arguments.	You can write clear, smoothly-flowing text in an appropriate style. You can present a case with logical structure which helps the reader notice and remember significant points.	•CPE	7.5+

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