The CEFR Journey: A1 to C2

Understand the mountain you're climbing. See the clear path ahead, know what each level truly means, and set realistic expectations for your language learning journey.

A1 A2 B1 B2 C1 C2
A1
Breakthrough
80-100 hours
First steps
A2
Waystage
180-200 hours
Survival
B1
Threshold
600-700 hours
Independent
B2
Vantage
1,000-1,200 hours
Professional
C1
Advanced
1,400-1,600 hours
Mastery
C2
Proficient
3,000+ hours
Near-Native

About This Roadmap

This roadmap applies to Project Fluency's Romance languages (Spanish, Italian, French, Portuguese) for English speakers. These share Latin roots and alphabets, making them the fastest languages to learn. English learning timelines vary based on your native language.

A1
A1: Breakthrough
Very short, isolated utterances
80-100
Hours
Can Do
Basic greetings and introductions. Very short social exchanges using memorized phrases. Simple invitations and thanks.
Vocabulary
500-1,500 words — personal ID, family, colors, common verbs, greetings, basic questions.
Present simple, personal pronouns, basic questions, simple negation, numbers/time, possessives.
80% drilling / 20% AI chat
Drilling
AI
Time Investment
15 min/day
18-20 mo
30 min/day
9-10 mo
60 min/day
4-5 mo
Can introduce yourself with 5-6 sentences fluently
Know 1,000+ words actively
A2
A2: Waystage (Survival)
Simple routine tasks
180-200
Hours
Can Do
Order food, ask directions, manage shopping, handle transportation. Make needs understood despite errors. Very short social exchanges.
Vocabulary
1,000-2,000 words — shopping, healthcare, directions, work/leisure. First 1,000 = 85% spoken coverage.
Past simple, future (going to/will), present perfect intro, comparatives, modals, prepositions.
50% drilling / 50% free conversation
Drilling
AI Chat
Time from A1 + Human Practice
Ready at 150-200h for first human exchanges. Weekly 30-min conversations with sympathetic speakers.
15 min/day
72-80 wks
30 min/day
36-40 wks
60 min/day
18-20 wks
Handle 10-15 min exchanges on prepared topics
Successfully navigate survival situations (travel, shopping, dining)
The Breakthrough Level
B1
B1: Threshold (Independent Use)
The critical breakthrough to functional fluency
600-700
Hours
This is THE breakthrough level. B1 represents the threshold where independent language use becomes sustainable. You can enter UNPREPARED into conversations—a massive shift from memorized phrases to actual communication.
Can Do
Enter UNPREPARED conversations on familiar topics. Handle most travel situations. Describe experiences, give explanations. Keep going despite pausing.
Vocabulary
2,000-3,000 words — 95% comprehension threshold for reading. Abstract concepts, personal interests, work topics.
Past continuous, present perfect vs past simple, conditionals, passive voice basics, relative clauses, reported speech.
30% drilling / 70% immersion | 70% human / 30% AI
Drill
Immersion
Time from A2
15 min/day
140-160 wks
30 min/day
70-80 wks
From zero
2.5 years
Enter unprepared conversations without script
Maintain 20+ minute conversations on various topics
Speaking vs Comprehension Gap
Comprehension develops ahead of production at all levels—this is universal and normal. Your receptive vocabulary will be 2-3x larger than productive vocabulary. Track skills separately, not as a single proficiency number.
80-85%
The Plateau Reality
Only 15-20% of learners surpass B2. B2 represents functional fluency serving most purposes. Reaching B2 is a fantastic achievement most people never attain.
B2
B2: Vantage (Professional)
Without strain for either party
1,000-1,200
Hours
Can Do
Regular interaction with natives without strain. Participate in meetings, deliver presentations, write reports. Handle professional contexts confidently.
Vocabulary
3,250-5,000 words — 98% text coverage. Vocabulary requirements double at this level. Low-frequency words need 7-60 reps.
Why Plateau Happens
B2 suffices for most purposes. Vocabulary explodes to 5,000+. Progress becomes less visible—subtle fluency gains vs obvious breakthroughs.
Breaking Through to C1
Systematic vocabulary study for low-frequency words (need 7-60 reps). Target fossilized errors: 10 weeks minimum focused intervention per error type.
60% AI / 40% human for role-plays and specialized scenarios. AI for grammar refinement and simulations.
AI Practice
Human
Time from B1
30 min/day
12-18 mo
60 min/day
6-12 mo
From zero
3-4 years
C1
C1: Advanced (Mastery)
Effective operational proficiency
1,400-1,600
Hours
Can Do
Fluent spontaneous expression without obvious searching. Flexible, effective language use. Clear, well-structured text on complex subjects. Near-native fluency.
Vocabulary
8,000-10,000 words — full comprehension. Pragmatic/cultural sophistication becomes the defining feature at this level.
Specialized Domains
Develop C1+ in your professional field rather than uniform C1 across all domains. Medical, legal, business—focus where it matters.
40% AI / 40% natives / 20% structured. AI for specialized vocab and precision. Natives for cultural depth and authentic pragmatics.
AI
Natives
Study
Time from B2
60 min/day
6-12 mo
From zero
4-5 years
Total Hours
1,400-1,600

Research Sources: CEFR from Council of Europe framework. Time estimates from FSI data and Cambridge Assessment. Vocabulary thresholds from Nation (2006) and Schmitt research. Plateau mechanisms from Selinker (1972) and Klein's communicative needs satisfaction theory.

The Summit
C2
C2: Proficiency (Near-Native)
Educated native-speaker level
3,000+
Hours
The rarest achievement. C2 represents the summit of language learning—comprehension of virtually everything heard or read. Fewer than 1% of adult learners reach this level. Most who do have lived immersed in the language for years.
Can Do
Understand with ease virtually everything heard or read. Summarize information from different sources, reconstructing arguments coherently. Express yourself spontaneously, very fluently, and precisely.
Vocabulary
15,000-20,000+ words — including idioms, colloquialisms, cultural references, and register awareness matching educated native speakers.
What Sets C2 Apart
Nuanced understanding of implicit meaning, humor, and cultural subtleties. Can differentiate fine shades of meaning even in complex situations. Academic and professional writing indistinguishable from native.
Reality Check
C2 is rarely necessary and often not worth pursuing unless you're becoming a translator, interpreter, or academic in the language. C1 serves virtually all professional needs.
Time from C1
Intensive study
2-4 years
With immersion
1-2 years
Total Hours
3,000+
Pass for a native speaker in most situations
Understand regional dialects, slang, and historical references
Write academic papers, literature, or journalism at native level

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