CEFR speaking levels
CEFR speaking levels: what A1 to C2 actually sound like
Quick answer
The CEFR has six levels. When you speak English, A1 means single words and memorised phrases, A2 means short simple sentences about everyday things, B1 means you can keep a conversation going and tell a story in the past, B2 means you can discuss and argue a point without much effort, C1 means fluent, flexible speech on complex topics, and C2 means near-native precision. Most adults who learned English at school speak one level below what they can read, usually A2 or B1. The fastest way to know your spoken level is to be assessed in a real conversation: SpeakBase's free 3-minute speaking test places you from A1 to C1 based on fluency, vocabulary, grammar and interaction.
Level descriptions on most sites are written for reading and grammar. Speaking is different: you have no time to think, nobody waits for you to look a word up, and the gaps show at once. Below is what each level sounds like out loud, the same question answered at every level, and how to place yourself.
The same question at every level
"What did you do last weekend?" Example answers written to illustrate each level.
| Level | Example answer | What gives the level away |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | Weekend... I go park. With family. Good. | Single words, present tense, no linking words. |
| A2 | On Saturday I went to the park with my family. It was nice but very hot, so we went home early. | Short sentences, simple past, and, but, so. |
| B1 | We had a family picnic in the park on Saturday. My brother brought his new dog, and it kept stealing our sandwiches, which was funny at first. In the evening I was tired, so I just watched a film. | A story in order, several past forms, a small comment. |
| B2 | Mostly I caught up on sleep, to be honest. Work has been intense lately, so I made a point of not planning anything. We did end up having a picnic on Saturday, which was a good reminder that I should get outside more often. | Natural phrases, opinion and reason, present perfect used correctly. |
| C1 | It was one of those rare weekends with nothing scheduled, and I made the most of it. I finally finished a novel I had been putting off for months, and on Sunday we drove out to the coast on a whim. I came back far more rested than I expected. | Idiomatic, flexible, varied structures, no visible effort. |
What each level sounds like when you speak
- A1, Beginner: single words and memorised phrases. You can say your name, where you are from and what you like, and you answer with one or two words. Long pauses, almost everything in the present tense.
- A2, Elementary: short, simple sentences joined with and, but and because. You can talk about your day, your family, shopping and plans, and you start using the past tense, often with mistakes. You need the other person to speak slowly.
- B1, Intermediate: you can keep a conversation going on familiar topics, tell what happened last weekend in order, and give simple reasons for your opinions. You still search for words and you avoid topics you do not know how to talk about.
- B2, Upper intermediate: you can discuss a wide range of topics with a native speaker without either of you straining, explain advantages and disadvantages, and notice and fix many of your own mistakes. Your speech has a steady pace.
- C1, Advanced: fluent and spontaneous speech on complex or abstract topics. You choose formal or informal language to suit the situation, and you rarely have to search for a word.
- C2, Proficient: precise, natural speech in any situation, including humour, nuance and idiom, close to an educated native speaker.
How to place yourself in one minute
- Can you answer 'What did you do last weekend?' in three or more connected sentences without stopping for long? If not, you are probably A1 or A2.
- Can you tell a short story in the past, with first, then and in the end, and say why something happened? That is B1.
- Can you disagree politely and argue your point for a minute on a topic like remote work or social media? That is B2.
- Can you switch between a relaxed chat and a formal meeting style without thinking about it? That is C1.
- Self-assessment is a guide, not a result. People who studied English for years usually rate themselves by what they can read, which is often a level above how they speak.
Why your speaking level is often lower than your reading level
Reading lets you take your time, reread and guess from context. Speaking gives you about a second to find the word, put it in the right tense and say it. School English is mostly reading, writing and grammar exercises, so many adults understand a B2 article but speak at A2 or B1. That gap is normal, and it closes with speaking practice, not with more grammar.
How a spoken level test measures this
A spoken test listens to how you actually answer. SpeakBase's level test is a 3-minute voice conversation with Kate, an AI examiner, who raises the difficulty of her questions as you answer. The conversation is scored on four criteria from 0 to 100: fluency (how long and how smoothly you speak), vocabulary (range and precision), grammar (tenses, agreement and word order) and interaction (whether you understood the question and kept the conversation going). The result is one CEFR level from A1 to C1. The level is free; the four scores and tips on what to fix first come with Premium.
What moves you up a level
- A1 to A2: learn whole phrases for everyday situations, not single words, and say them out loud.
- A2 to B1: practise telling short stories in the past tense, and answer every question with at least two sentences.
- B1 to B2: practise giving opinions with reasons and examples, and learn the words of the topics you care about.
- B2 to C1: work on precision and register: the exact word, the polite formula, the right tone for a meeting.
- At every level, regular short conversations beat long occasional ones: ten minutes a day of real speaking does more than an hour once a week.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between B1 and B2 when speaking?
At B1 you can keep a conversation going on familiar topics, but you often search for words and avoid unfamiliar subjects. At B2 you can talk about a wide range of topics with a native speaker without strain, explain a point of view with reasons, and correct many of your own mistakes as you go.
Is A2 good enough to have a conversation?
For simple, everyday conversations, yes: shopping, directions, talking about your day and your plans, as long as the other person speaks slowly and clearly. Longer discussions, work meetings and telling detailed stories usually need B1 or above.
Which CEFR level do I need for work or university?
Many employers and universities ask for B2, the level at which you can take part in discussions without strain. Some academic programmes ask for C1. Check the exact requirement, and whether they accept a certificate such as IELTS, TOEFL or a Cambridge exam.
How can I test my English level by speaking?
Take a test that listens to you instead of a multiple-choice quiz. SpeakBase's free speaking test is a 3-minute voice conversation with an AI examiner that places you from A1 to C1. For an official certificate, take a recognised exam such as IELTS, TOEFL or a Cambridge English qualification.
How long does it take to move up one CEFR level?
It depends on how much you practise and on your starting level, but moving up one level usually takes a few hundred hours of study and practice, and the higher levels take longer than the lower ones. Speaking practice in particular is what closes the gap between understanding and speaking.
