Common Euopean Framework levels

Comparison of CEF levels and scores for the various exams

Council of Europe levels	Description
C2 Mastery	The capacity to deal with material which is academic or cognitively demanding, and to use language to good effect at a level of performance which may in certain respects be more advanced than that of an average native speaker. Example: CAN scan texts for relevant information, and grasp main topic of text, reading almost as quickly as a native speaker. All practice tests at this level
C1 Effective Operational Proficiency	The ability to communicate with the emphasis on how well it is done, in terms of appropriacy, sensitivity and the capacity to deal with unfamiliar topics. Example: CAN deal with hostile questioning confidently. CAN get and hold onto his/her turn to speak. All practice tests at this level
B2 Vantage	The capacity to achieve most goals and express oneself on a range of topics. Example: CAN show visitors around and give a detailed description of a place. All practice tests at this level
B1 Threshold	The ability to express oneself in a limited way in familiar situations and to deal in a general way with nonroutine information. Example: CAN ask to open an account at a bank, provided that the procedure is straightforward. All practice tests at this level
A2 Waystage	An ability to deal with simple, straightforward information and begin to express oneself in familiar contexts. Example: CAN take part in a routine conversation on simple predictable topics. All practice tests at this level
A1 Breakthrough	A basic ability to communicate and exchange information in a simple way. Example: CAN ask simple questions about a menu and understand simple answers.

The following table gives an approximate comparison between the different exams. The exams all use the Common European Framework (CEF) proficiency levels.

Click here for a free test to check your level.

CEFLevel	CambridgeESOL	IELTS	TOEFLiBT	TOEIC	Michigan	BULATS	PTE General	PTE Academic
C2	CPE	9			ECPE		level 5	85+
		8				90
C1	CAE,  BEC Higher	7.5	110-120	880			level 4	76-84
		6.5				75
B2	FCE,  BEC Vantage	6	87-109		ECCE		level 3	59-75
		5				60
B1	PET,  BEC Prelim	4.5	57-86	550			level 2	43-58
		4				40
A2	KET						level 1	30-42
						20

The table below shows you the grammar areas that you should be studying at each of the CEF levels:

Council of Europe levels	Grammar
A1	Adjectives: common and demonstrative Adverbs of frequency Comparatives and superlatives Going to How much/how many and very common uncountable nouns I’d like Imperatives (+/-) Intensifiers - very basic Modals: can/can’t/could/couldn’t Past simple of “to be” Past Simple Possessive adjectives	Possessive s Prepositions, common Prepositions of place Prepositions of time, including in/on/at Present continuous Present simple Pronouns: simple, personal Questions There is/are To be, including question+negatives Verb + ing: like/hate/love
A2	Adjectives – comparative, – use of than and definite article Adjectives – superlative – use of definite article Adverbial phrases of time, place and frequency – including word order Adverbs of frequency Articles – with countable and uncountable nouns Countables and Uncountables: much/many Future Time (will and going to) Gerunds Going to Imperatives Modals – can/could Modals – have to Modals – should	Past continuous Past simple Phrasal verbs – common Possessives – use of ‘s, s’ Prepositional phrases (place, time and movement) Prepositions of time: on/in/at Present continuous Present continuous for future Present perfect Questions Verb + ing/infinitive: like/ want-would like Wh-questions in past Zero and 1st conditional
B1	Adverbs Broader range of intensifiers such as too, enough Comparatives and superlatives Complex question tags Conditionals, 2nd and 3rd Connecting words expressing cause and effect, contrast etc. Future continuous Modals - must/can’t deduction Modals – might, may, will, probably Modals – should have/might have/etc Modals: must/have to	Past continuous Past perfect Past simple Past tense responses Phrasal verbs, extended Present perfect continuous Present perfect/past simple Reported speech (range of tenses) Simple passive Wh- questions in the past Will and going to, for prediction
B2	Adjectives and adverbs Future continuous Future perfect Future perfect continuous Mixed conditionals Modals – can’t have, needn’t have Modals of deduction and speculation Narrative tenses Passives	Past perfect Past perfect continuous Phrasal verbs, extended Relative clauses Reported speech Will and going to, for prediction Wish Would expressing habits, in the past
C1	Futures (revision) Inversion with negative adverbials Mixed conditionals in past, present and future Modals in the past	Narrative tenses for experience, incl. passive Passive forms, all Phrasal verbs, especially splitting Wish/if only regrets
Source: British Council / EQUALS Core Inventory