Speaking
A live conversation with an examiner. Questions about you, a short talk on your own, and a role-play. From B2, a debate as well.
The CEFR roadmap
Six levels, and what we ask at each.
The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages describes what a learner can do, from first words to mastery. Our level check is built on it: speaking, listening, reading and writing, with an examiner.
Level check openOn our ladder, check to comeBeyond our ladder
The framework
One scale, used across Europe and far beyond.
The Council of Europe published the CEFR in 2001 and updated it in 2020. It sorts ability into three bands of two levels each. Each level describes what you can do with the language, not which grammar you have covered.
A
Basic user
- A1Breakthrough
- A2Waystage
B
Independent user
- B1Threshold
- B2Vantage
C
Proficient user
- C1Effective operational proficiency
- C2Mastery
Source: Council of Europe, Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (2001) and its Companion Volume (2020).
Our level check
Four parts, one sitting, one examiner.
Your first call places you on our ladder. From there, each level has its own check, and you take it when you feel ready. It runs in one go, with no pausing, so find a quiet place.
Listening
Short recordings, then questions. Up to B1 you hear each one twice. From B2, once.
Reading
Texts that grow with the level, from a short notice to a full article with a point of view, then questions.
Writing
One piece, in your own words, to a word count. No translator and no autocorrect.
What decides it
At A1 and A2, speaking decides the level. We mark the other three parts and show you how you did. From B1, every part has to hold.
It only goes up
A level you pass is yours for good. Each check opens once you have passed the one before it.
If something breaks
If the call drops or we cannot hear you, we grade nothing and you lose nothing. Sit it again when you like.
Passed
The level is yours, with the date on it.
The examiner signs your record, and you can sign it too. You see how you did on each part.
Not yet
Try again in a couple of days.
You see what was strong and the one thing that held you back. Practise that, then sit the check again.
The examiners
Different examiner, same standard.
The examiners are not the people you practise with. They sit on a separate board for each language, from different regions, and you get one at random. Like everyone in town, they are AI. We mark every sitting to the same scale.
A1
Breakthrough
Basic user
You can use familiar everyday expressions and very simple phrases. You can introduce yourself, and ask and answer simple questions about where you live and who you know. The other person needs to talk slowly and help.
Our ladder
- A1.1First contact
- A1.2Everyday phrases
- A1.3Linking phrases
- A1.4A solid base
What the check asks
- Speaking
- Simple questions about you, asked one at a time, and a short role-play at a counter: ordering a drink, buying a ticket.
- Listening
- One short, slow recording, played twice.
- Reading
- One short message or notice.
- Writing
- A short message of 20–35 words, like saying hello to a group or leaving a note for a neighbour.
Speaking decides this level. We mark listening, reading and writing, and show you how you did.
A2
Waystage
Basic user
You can handle simple, routine exchanges about familiar things: shopping, directions, your family, your work. You can describe your background and what you need in simple terms.
Our ladder
- A2.1Routine transactions
- A2.2Describing and comparing
- A2.3Short narratives
- A2.4Everyday fluency
- A2.5Longer conversations
- A2.6The unexpected
What the check asks
- Speaking
- Talk about your week and what you did yesterday. Speak on your own for about a minute, with a minute to prepare. Then sort out a small problem in a role-play, like an appointment that moves.
- Listening
- Two short everyday recordings, each played twice.
- Reading
- Two short everyday texts.
- Writing
- A message of 40–60 words: thank someone, make a plan, tell a friend about a bad day.
Speaking decides this level. We mark listening, reading and writing, and show you how you did.
B1
Threshold
Independent user
You can deal with most situations that come up while travelling. You can join a conversation on a familiar topic without preparing, describe experiences and plans, and give brief reasons for your opinions.
Our ladder
- B1.1New territory
- B1.2Explaining and justifying
- B1.3Sustained narration
- B1.4Opinions under pressure
- B1.5Effortless conversation
- B1.6Bridge to B2
What the check asks
- Speaking
- Give an opinion on a topic you did not prepare, and back it with an example. Sum up a short text and give your own view. Reach an agreement in a role-play, like planning a trip on a small budget.
- Listening
- Two longer recordings at a natural pace, each played twice.
- Reading
- Two texts of several paragraphs.
- Writing
- 90–120 words: tell the story of a trip, weigh up two choices, review a film.
Every part counts from here: all four have to hold.
B2
Vantage
Independent user
You can talk with fluent speakers with enough ease that neither side is straining. You can follow complex speech, explain a point of view on a current issue, and weigh the pros and cons.
Our ladder
- B2.1Natural interaction
- B2.2Argument and defense
- B2.3Abstract discussion
- B2.4Owning the conversation
- B2.5Persuasion
- B2.6Bridge to C1
What the check asks
- Speaking
- Keep up as the examiner changes topic without warning. Argue both sides of a question. Handle a role-play that turns halfway through, and hold your ground in a debate where the examiner takes the other side.
- Listening
- Two longer recordings at full speed, each played once.
- Reading
- Two longer articles, each with a point of view to find.
- Writing
- 150–190 words: an article or a letter that argues a view and answers the other side.
Every part counts from here: all four have to hold.
C1
Effective operational proficiency
Proficient user
You express yourself fluently and spontaneously, without much obvious searching for words. You use the language flexibly at work, in study and socially, and follow long, demanding talk and text.
Our ladder
- C1.1Full ease
- C1.2Precision and nuance
- C1.3Command of discourse
- C1.4Unfamiliar ground
- C1.5Register and mediation
- C1.6C1 consolidated
What the check asks
These steps are on our ladder. Their checks are not open yet: we are writing them now.
C2
Mastery
Proficient user
You understand almost everything you hear or read. You express yourself fluently and precisely, even on complex subjects, with fine shades of meaning.
Our ladder
- —Not on our ladder
What the check asks
Our ladder ends at C1. We do not test C2.
How long it takes
A rough guide, not a promise.
Cambridge English publishes estimates of guided learning hours for learners of English. They count from a complete beginner, and they add up: each figure includes the ones before it.
Your own time depends on your first language, how often you practise, and how much of the language is around you.
| Level | Guided learning hours |
|---|---|
| A2 | About 180–200 |
| B1 | About 350–400 |
| B2 | About 500–600 |
| C1 | About 700–800 |
| C2 | About 1,000–1,200 |
Source: Cambridge English, Guided learning hours. Cambridge describes these as a guideline only.
What our level is
A real check, not a certificate.
Our levels follow the CEFR, and an examiner checks each one. They are not an official certificate.
If a visa, a university or an employer asks for proof of your level, they mean an exam from an official body. What our check gives you is an honest read of where you stand, with the date on it.