The six levels in brief
| Level | What you can do | Cambridge exam |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | You use familiar everyday expressions and very simple sentences. You can communicate if the other person speaks slowly and clearly. | A1 Movers (for children) |
| A2 | You understand frequently used expressions about everyday needs. You manage simple, routine conversations. | A2 Key, A2 Flyers (for children) |
| B1 | You understand the main points of clear speech on familiar topics. You manage most situations when travelling and can write simple connected text. | B1 Preliminary |
| B2 | You understand the main ideas of complex texts. You speak fluently and spontaneously, and write clearly and in detail. | B2 First |
| C1 | You understand demanding, longer texts and what is not said outright. You use the language flexibly, socially, in your studies and at work. | C1 Advanced |
| C2 | You understand with ease almost everything you hear and read. You express yourself precisely and spontaneously, even in complex situations. | C2 Proficiency |
Below A1 is the level Pre A1, for children who are just starting: the exam for it is Pre A1 Starters.
What A, B and C mean
- A1 and A2: basic user. You can communicate in simple, familiar situations.
- B1 and B2: independent user. You use the language on your own, without help from the person you are talking to.
- C1 and C2: proficient user. The language is your tool for demanding professional and academic work.
Some schools and tests also use in-between levels, such as B1+ and B2+. They mean you are past the level and on the way to the next one.
How long it takes from level to level
Cambridge estimates how many hours of guided learning it takes to get from beginner to each level: about 180 to 200 hours to A2, 350 to 400 to B1, 500 to 600 to B2, 700 to 800 to C1, and 1,000 to 1,200 hours to C2. That is about 200 hours per level up to C1, and more from C1 to C2. The figures are approximate and depend on how much you use the language outside lessons.
Levels in Croatian schools
In Croatia, pupils finish secondary school with the state school-leaving exam (državna matura). Its English exam is at level B2 at the higher level and at level A2+ at the basic level. If you prepare for B2 First at secondary school, you develop the same skills at the level of the higher-level matura, but you need to get to know the format of the matura separately.
How to find out your level
The quickest way is a level test. Ours is free, takes 15 to 20 minutes and places you at one of the six levels from A1 to C2, with the in-between levels B1+ and B2+.
A level test shows where you are. Proof of your level, the kind that employers and universities accept, comes from an exam: see all Cambridge exams.
Published: 12 October 2026