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 Beginner	No previous knowledge	A1.1
Level 2 Near Beginner	Previous Level 1; 50 hours tuition or rusty GCSE or lower A1 study	A1.2
Level 3 Lower Intermediate	Previous Level 2; 100 hours tuition or GCSE or completed A1 level	A2.1
Level 4 Intermediate	Previous Level 3 or good GCSE or lower A2 study	A2.2
Level 5 Higher Intermediate	Previous Level 4 or GCSE plus 1 year or completed A2 level	B1.1
Level 6 Advanced	Previous Level 5 or recent A level or lower B1 level study	B1.2
Level 7 Post Advanced	Previous Level 6 or post A-level study or completed B1 level	B2.1 working towards C1 in certain skills
Level 8 Proficient	Previous Level 7 or HE level study or lower B2 to C1 study	B2.2/C1 in certain skills

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.