Five free tests to help determine your level of English
'15.06.2023'
Olga Derkach
Knowledge of English is necessary for almost everyone, both for work and in everyday life. But when it comes to determining the level of proficiency in it, difficulties can arise. Edition Happy Monday told what are the systems for assessing language proficiency and how to determine your level.
European grading system
The Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR or CEF) is the most popular English proficiency assessment system. More often, it is with its help that they indicate the required level of knowledge of the language.
Consists of 6 levels:
- Beginner, Elementary (A1)
- Pre-Intermediate (A2)
- Intermediate (B1)
- Upper Intermediate (B2)
- Advanced(C1)
- Proficiency (C2)
They are classified by degrees: basic, intermediate and advanced.
International grading system
It is less popular in the world, but still used. For example, in the Cambridge EFL exam, the score is given exactly according to the international scale. It differs from the European one in that it consists of 5, not 6 levels:
- Elementary level (initial)
- Lower intermediate level (initial secondary)
- Upper intermediate level (higher average)
- Lower advanced level (initial advanced)
- Upper advanced level (higher advanced)
Characteristics of English language levels
Beginner, Elementary/A1
From this stage begins the mastery of English. A person learns the alphabet, basic words, numbers, calendar. He tries to count to one hundred, tell basic information about himself (name, where and when he was born, where he lives), tries to write and read simple sentences of 5–9 words.
This level is mastered if you:
- Can you describe yourself in two or three short sentences?
- know how to maintain a simple conversation (about the weather, business, plans);
- understand how to answer basic questions;
- listen to short sentences with simple words;
- know the basics of the times Present, Past, Future Simple;
- You can count to one hundred, voice any date.
Pre-Intermediate/A2
Those who speak the language at this level can maintain a simple conversation on the main topics of life (profession, family, hobbies) and in different situations (café, gas station, shop, hospital). They can write short notes and essays, but with a dictionary, they can read adapted texts of up to 500 words, where unfamiliar words are encountered, but this does not prevent them from capturing the general essence of the work.
This level has been reached if you:
- you can retell a simple story or express your opinion about any information;
- start using modal verbs;
- know what Present Continuous, Past Continuous, Present Perfect are;
- listen to short stories with simple vocabulary;
- you can keep up a conversation on topics such as health, food, vacations, weekends, holidays, sports, clothes, animals.
Intermediate/B1
Those who speak English at an intermediate level can keep up a conversation in any typical situations (for example, while traveling in an English-speaking country) and competently express their opinion without pauses, in particular, talk about dreams, intentions, past experiences.
You know English at level B1 if:
- read texts on general topics, as well as instructions and white papers;
- write texts up to 20 sentences in the format of a story or a personal letter;
- know what the passive form of the verb is, degrees of comparison of adjectives, gerunds, Present Perfect, Present Perfect Continuous;
- You have a wide vocabulary on basic topics: everyday life, relationships between people, work, cinema, shopping, education, transport, travel.
On the subject: Where in New York you can learn English for free
Upper-Intermediate/B2
Those who know English at level B2 can:
- express your opinion with examples, arguments;
- describe in detail situations, emotions and feelings;
- it is easy to communicate on everyday topics both with beginners to learn the language and with its native speakers;
- read business and fiction literature, press, analytical reports;
- almost fluently listen to English-language interviews, radio programs, TV shows, movies;
- write lengthy texts on a variety of topics, as well as business and informal letters.
Advanced/C1
At this stage, the person is already fluent in the language.
Although not yet at the native level, he can express his opinion on any topic using complex grammatical constructions. These include the ability to write both artistic texts with metaphors and scientific articles, as well as the ability to conduct business correspondence.
Also, this person:
- reads unadapted texts with a full understanding of both the essence and individual details;
- well, though not fluently, understands an interlocutor who uses dialectisms or has a strong accent;
- uses inversion, the causal form of the verb in speech and correspondence, correctly and freely uses all the tense forms necessary for the narrative.
Proficiency/C2
This level means that you are fluent in the language - just like a native speaker. In addition, you understand the other person perfectly, even if he speaks very quickly (for example, like Eminem in his songs). You can support any conversation using complex grammatical constructions, idioms. You manage to express your opinion even on highly specialized issues both in writing and orally. This level assumes the ability to read any texts in the original - popular science books, scientific articles, fiction or business literature.
How to determine your level of English proficiency
We often think that we know a language much better than we actually do. And the best way to find out the truth is to take special tests to determine the level of English proficiency. They evaluate four main parameters - grammar, reading, writing, listening comprehension - and allow you to determine the strengths already pumped and weaknesses that should be paid attention to.
Here are resources where you can get tested for free and determine your current level of English proficiency:
Although all these tests are of high quality, you should not evaluate the level of language proficiency on only one of them. It is better to go through several and compare the results.
Be prepared for the fact that one side of your English knowledge may be better developed than the other. For example, you can read at level B2, write at level B1, speak and comprehend the language at level A2. This is normal and can be corrected with a training program that focuses on weaknesses.
