What level am I?
If you have never studied the language before, apply to join a Level 1 class. If you have studied the language before and you are not quite sure which level to join:
- Check the ‘General Overview of Language levels’. It will help you determine which level to choose from, depending on previous qualifications (GCSE, A-level, CEFR levels).
- If you are still undecided, you can look at the ‘What level am I?’ section.
- Still in doubt? Complete a placement test – the link to the page is available below.
General overview of language levels
Grade | Suitable for students who have… | Level you will achieve at the end of the course (in accordance with Common European Framework) |
---|---|---|
Level 1 |
No previous knowledge |
A1.1 |
Level 2 |
Previous Level 1; 50 hours tuition or rusty GCSE or lower A1 study |
A1.2 |
Level 3 |
Previous Level 2; 100 hours tuition or GCSE or completed A1 level |
A2.1 |
Level 4 |
Previous Level 3 or good GCSE or lower A2 study |
A2.2 |
Level 5 |
Previous Level 4 or GCSE plus 1 year or completed A2 level |
B1.1 |
Level 6 |
Previous Level 5 or recent A level or lower B1 level study |
B1.2 |
Level 7 |
Previous Level 6 or post A-level study or completed B1 level |
B2.1 working towards C1 in certain skills |
Level 8 |
Previous Level 7 or HE level study or lower B2 to C1 study |
B2.2/C1 in certain skills |
What level am I?
Listening | Speaking | Reading | Writing | Functions | Level |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Understand isolated words/simple utterances | Produce isolated words | Recognise isolated words | Write some isolated words but not connected sentences | Say nothing or just Hello/Goodbye/Thanks | Go to Level 1 |
Understand simple utterances on routine topics | Respond to simple utterances but are unable to continue | Understand key words and headings but not the overall gist of long texts | Write simple notes and complete personal information on forms | Introduce yourself, other persons, places and things/ask questions about other persons, places and things/get information about accommodation/ book in/give and ask ages, times, days months, seasons, dates, telephone numbers/ask for and give directions/order drinks and snacks/accept and refuse offers | Go to Level 2 |
Understand speech on routine topics at reduced speed | Respond to utterances on routine topics at reduced speed | Read and understand instructions, notices and signs and the overall gist of short texts | Write simple sentences and produce short texts | Say more about yourself and others/understand simple notices, timetables, when something is going to happen/say how you feel, ask for common medicines/train, air travel and reservations, travel by car/likes and dislikes/wants, desires and intentions/talk about daily routine, hobbies/talk about the weather | Go to Level 3 |
Follow speech on routine topics at normal speed | Converse on routine topics at normal speed | Read and understand the gist of short texts of general interest | Write postcards and short letters on given topics | Describe people and their character/talk about where you live (home & town), future plans and hopes, what happened in the past/buying clothes/describe things, what they are made of/how to tell people what to do/say what is wrong with you | Go to Level 4 |
Follow speech at normal speed on topics you have studied | React and ask for clarification in conversation on an established topic | Read and understand general interest short texts | Write informal letters and short essays | Talk about summer and winter holidays (past and future), places you want to visit/talk about food and drinks, understand recipes, order meals/express tastes and preferences/talk about what you would do if.../make comparisons/get somebody to do something/state opinions | Go to Level 5 |
Understand a native speaker talking at normal speed | Make some contribution to a conversation between two natives | Read and understand the greater part of a general interest text | Write formal and informal letters and essays, which may contain inaccuracies | Talk about past, present, future/ make hypothesis /express obligation, necessity/express doubt and uncertainties/give opinions /agree, disagree/argue/make suggestions/understand and give instructions/express your emotions/seek and give advice | Go to Level 6 |
Understand most points of a natural conversation between two natives | Maintain a conversation, speaking at a natural speed with few inaccuracies | Read and understand most texts of general interest with only a limited reference to a dictionary | Write formal and informal letters and essays with very few inaccuracies | Report what someone says/tell a story/summarise/criticise/talk about causes and consequences/construct convincing arguments | Go to Level 7 |
Follow a natural conversation between two natives with ease | Maintain a conversation at near-native speed with very few impediments | Read and understand more or less all points of a general text without any help | Write essays, reports and summaries with some guidance | Participate fully in lengthy and detailed discussions on unpredictable general topics/ prepare a short presentation on topics of special interest/write freely and at length/construct convincing arguments | Go to Level 8 |
Placement tests
There are placement tests for Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. These are designed to help you decide which level is best for you.