Levels and progression

Beginner level
The student understands some words and expressions, but does not master the foreign language.

Elementary level (level A1*)
The student understands simple sentences, instructions and descriptions used in everyday life, but only uses isolated words and expressions, in incomplete sentences, without real grammatical content.

Upper elementary level (level A1-A2*)
The student masters certain example sentences and knows how to write them, but can hardly understand everyday language. Responds with school language with simple turns of phrase.

Lower intermediate level (level A2*)
The student understands the language with some difficulty, except in some precise situations. Can read simple texts. Although makes frequent mistakes, is capable of expressing him/herself in several sentences in a limited number of areas.

Intermediate level (niveau A2-B1*)
The student often restarts sentences in order to be understood and does not yet master special turns of phrase. Grammar, accentuation and vocabulary sometimes have gaps. Good general understanding.

Upper intermediate level (level B1*)
The student understands everyday language. In spite of some grammar and expression mistakes, is capable of expressing general ideas with nuances. Language knowledge is sufficient, operational, to use in the professional world.

Advanced level (level B1-B2*)
The student masters the structure of the foreign language, both oral and written. He/she is capable of expressing him/herself confidently in various situations and of understanding the language spoken by natives. He/she is still recognised by the prudent use of the language, his/her expressions learned by heart or the absence of idiomatic expressions.

Very advanced level (level C1*)
The student understands almost everything, including idiomatic expressions. In spite of occasional errors, he/she is close to mother tongue level, even in complex situations.

Level close to mother tongue (level C1-C2*)
Acquis sans doute à la suite d’un long séjour en immersion, l’étudiant maîtrise la langue étrangère couramment et avec précision. A un niveau parfois supérieur à celui de certains autochtones, avec peut-être moins d’expressions idiomatiques.
Acquired without doubt following a long stay in immersion, the student masters the foreign language fluently and with precision. At a level sometimes superior to that of some native speakers, with perhaps less idiomatic expressions.

*Common European Framework scale

Equivalence between the official certificates and the levels mentioned above:

English		German		Spanish		Italian
FCE		ZD		DELE1		CILS1
CAE		ZMP		DELE2		CILS2
CPE				DELE3		CILS3
TOEFL						CILS4
TOEIC
IELTS