CEFR English Levels

The Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) divides English proficiency into six levels, from A1 (complete beginner) to C2 (mastery). Choose your level below and start practicing.

A1500–1k words

Beginner

Start here if you're new to English. Basic greetings, simple sentences, everyday vocabulary.

A21–2k words

Elementary

Past events, weekend plans, simple conversations. Step up from the basics.

B12–3.5k words

Intermediate

Work discussions, news stories, travel experiences. True independence begins here.

B23.5–5k words

Upper-Intermediate

Debates, technical topics, nuanced conversations. Training for fluency.

C15–7k words

Advanced

Lectures, negotiations, idiomatic speech. Effortless comprehension.

C27k+ words

Mastery

Native-level understanding. Subtle nuance, wordplay, complete comprehension.

What is CEFR?

The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is an international standard for describing language ability. It describes language ability on a six-point scale, from A1 for beginners, up to C2 for those who have mastered a language.

At EnglishListeningTrainer, we organize our 6,000+ listening exercises across all six CEFR levels, so you can practice at exactly the right difficulty for your current ability.

Not sure which level?

Start with any level — you can always switch. Try a few exercises and see what feels right.

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