CEFR Roadmap: A1 to C1 - Project Fluency
Your Complete Roadmap

The CEFR Journey: A1 to C1

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

A1
Breakthrough
80-100h
A2
Waystage
180-200h
B1
Threshold
600-700h
B2
Vantage
1,000-1,200h
C1
Advanced
1,400-1,600h

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
80-100Hours
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.
Grammar Focus
Present simple, personal pronouns, basic questions, simple negation, numbers/time, possessives.
Practice Strategy
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
180-200Hours
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.
Grammar Expansion
Past simple, future (going to/will), present perfect intro, comparatives, modals, prepositions.
Practice Strategy
50% drilling / 50% free conversation
Drill
AI
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)
B1
B1: Threshold (Independent Use)
The critical breakthrough to functional fluency
600-700Hours
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. This is where language learning transforms from academic study to functional skill.
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.
Grammar Development
Past continuous, present perfect vs past simple, conditionals, passive voice basics, relative clauses, reported speech.
Practice Strategy
30% drilling / 70% immersion | 70% human / 30% AI
Drill
Immerse
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. You'll understand far more than you can say, with the gap largest at B1-B2. Track skills separately, not as a single proficiency number.
80-85%
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
1,000-1,200Hours
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 (articles, tense/aspect, prepositions). Quality input expansion and intensive writing with corrections.
Practice Balance
60% AI / 40% human for role-plays and specialized scenarios. AI for grammar refinement and simulations.
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
1,400-1,600Hours
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.
Practice Balance
40% AI / 40% natives / 20% structured. AI for specialized vocab and precision. Natives for cultural depth and authentic pragmatics.
Specialized Domains
Develop C1+ in your professional field rather than uniform C1 across all domains. Medical, legal, business—focus where it matters.
Time from B2
60 min/day
6-12 mo
From zero
4-5 years
Total Hours
1,400-1,600
Research: 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.
Begin Your Ascent
Now you understand the mountain. You know the realistic timeline, clear milestones, and what each level truly means. The path is clear. Start climbing today.
Start Your Journey