--- title: "What Is CEFR? The Six English Levels Explained, A1–C2" description: "CEFR is the international scale for English ability: six levels from A1 to C2. What each level means, how long each takes, and how to find your own level." canonical: https://carna.ai/en/learn/what-is-cefr/ lang: en dateModified: 2026-10-30T00:06:08+03:00 --- CEFR EXPLAINED # What is CEFR? Six levels, one scale. CEFR is the Common European Framework of Reference: an international scale for language ability, with six levels from A1 to C2. [Join the early-access list](https://carna.app/individual-waitlist) Can-do lines from the Council of Europe's own grid Six levels in three bands 1. Proficient user 1. [C2, Proficient: 1,000+ guided hours](https://carna.ai/en/learn/cefr-c2/) 2. [C1, Advanced: 700–800 guided hours](https://carna.ai/en/learn/cefr-c1/) 2. Independent user 1. [B2, Upper-Intermediate: 500–600 guided hours](https://carna.ai/en/learn/cefr-b2/) 2. [B1, Intermediate: 350–400 guided hours](https://carna.ai/en/learn/cefr-b1/) 3. Basic user 1. [A2, Elementary: 180–200 guided hours](https://carna.ai/en/learn/cefr-a2/) 2. [A1, Beginner: 90–100 guided hours](https://carna.ai/en/learn/cefr-a1/) Guided hours from zero: commonly cited ranges, not a Carna measurement. — THE SIX LEVELS ## What do the CEFR levels mean? CEFR stands for the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. It is the Council of Europe's scale for language ability. It has six levels, from A1 (beginner) to C2 (proficient), and each level says what you can do. Schools, exam boards and employers use it, so a level means the same thing everywhere. The six CEFR levels: what you can do at each one, the guided hours to reach it and the IELTS band it compares with | Level | Name | What you can do | Guided hours | IELTS band | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | BAND A · BASIC USER | | | | | | [A1](https://carna.ai/en/learn/cefr-a1/) | Beginner | Use basic everyday phrases. Introduce yourself and answer simple questions when people speak slowly. | 90–100 | No IELTS comparison below B1 | | [A2](https://carna.ai/en/learn/cefr-a2/) | Elementary | Handle simple, routine tasks. Describe your background and daily life in simple words. | 180–200 | No IELTS comparison below B1 | | BAND B · INDEPENDENT USER | | | | | | [B1](https://carna.ai/en/learn/cefr-b1/) | Intermediate | Follow the main points on familiar topics. Cope when you travel, and give reasons for your views. | 350–400 | 4.0–5.0 | | [B2](https://carna.ai/en/learn/cefr-b2/) | Upper-Intermediate | Understand the main ideas of complex texts. Talk with native speakers without strain, and explain your view. | 500–600 | 5.5–6.5 | | BAND C · PROFICIENT USER | | | | | | [C1](https://carna.ai/en/learn/cefr-c1/) | Advanced | Understand long, hard texts and what they only imply. Use English with ease for study and work. | 700–800 | 7.0–8.0 | | [C2](https://carna.ai/en/learn/cefr-c2/) | Proficient | Understand almost everything you hear or read, and express fine shades of meaning. | 1,000+ | 8.5–9.0 | - “What you can do” is a short version of the Council of Europe's level descriptions. - Guided hours from zero: commonly cited ranges, not a Carna measurement. - IELTS bands are commonly published comparisons, from B1 up. A comparison is not a conversion. ### Sources - [COUNCIL OF EUROPEThe CEFR Levels](https://www.coe.int/en/web/common-european-framework-reference-languages/level-descriptions) The six levels, their three bands and the “can do” descriptions behind each level. - [IELTSIELTS and the CEFR](https://ielts.org/organisations/ielts-for-organisations/compare-ielts/ielts-and-the-cefr) How IELTS band scores compare with CEFR levels, and why the two never line up exactly. Carna is not affiliated with these organisations. — IN CARNA TODAY ## The same scale, on the screen. Carna for Schools runs on the CEFR scale today: assigned work shows its level on the card, and so do the books in the student's library. The individual tutor is in early access. - CARNA FOR SCHOOLS · LIVE TODAY ### Every card names its level. A student's Learn screen lists the work the teacher assigned, with the soonest due first. Each module shows its CEFR level on the cover. A student's Learn screen in Carna for Schools. Carna School London is a sample school; the courses, levels and dates are demo data. - CARNA FOR SCHOOLS · LIVE TODAY ### Books with their level on the cover. Each reader a school publishes shows its CEFR level on the cover. So students can read at their own level. A student's Library in Carna for Schools. Carna School London is a sample school; the books and levels are demo data. [Book a demo](https://carna.ai/en/schools/#demo) [See Carna for Schools](https://carna.ai/en/schools/) — FIND YOUR LEVEL ## Not sure where you stand? A placement test scores each skill separately, because reading and speaking are rarely at the same level. Carna Test is the assessment platform from Carna, on its own site. Also from Carna ### Carna Test A three-section placement test (CPT) and a five-section adaptive test with speaking and writing (CAET), on carnatest.com. [Find your level on carnatest.com (opens in a new tab)](https://carnatest.com/) FAQ ## Questions, answered. Straight answers about the scale, its levels and how to find yours. ### What does CEFR stand for? CEFR stands for the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. It is the Council of Europe's scale for language ability. It has six levels, from A1 (beginner) to C2 (proficient), and each level says what you can do. Schools, exam boards and employers use it, so a level means the same thing everywhere. ### How many CEFR levels are there? There are six: A1 and A2 (basic user), B1 and B2 (independent user), and C1 and C2 (proficient user). Some frameworks add A0 to describe an absolute beginner before A1, and some courses split a level in two, for example A1.1 and A1.2. ### What are the CEFR levels A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2? A1 is beginner and A2 is elementary. B1 is intermediate and B2 is upper-intermediate. C1 is advanced and C2 is proficient. The letter is the band: A is a basic user, B an independent user and C a proficient user. Each level builds on the one before it. ### How does CEFR compare with IELTS? Commonly published comparisons put B1 at about IELTS band 4.0 to 5.0 and B2 at 5.5 to 6.5. They put C1 at 7.0 to 8.0 and C2 at 8.5 to 9.0. A1 and A2 have no IELTS comparison. The two scales never line up exactly, so read this as a comparison, not a conversion. ### How do I find my CEFR level? Take a placement test that scores each skill on its own, because your reading and speaking are rarely at the same level. Carna Test, the assessment platform from Carna, has a three-section placement test and a five-section adaptive test with speaking and writing. Both are on carnatest.com. — KEEP EXPLORING ## Keep learning. - [All CEFR levels](https://carna.ai/en/learn/) - [CEFR A1 explained](https://carna.ai/en/learn/cefr-a1/) - [CEFR A2 explained](https://carna.ai/en/learn/cefr-a2/) - [CEFR B1 explained](https://carna.ai/en/learn/cefr-b1/) - [IELTS preparation](https://carna.ai/en/use-cases/ielts-prep/) - [TOEFL preparation](https://carna.ai/en/use-cases/toefl-prep/) - [AI English tutor](https://carna.ai/en/ai-english-tutor/) EARLY ACCESS ## Want the scale taught? Carna's personal tutor is still on its way, so there is no individual sign-up yet. Join the early-access list and we will write to you when it opens. Schools and teams run on Carna today. [Join the early-access list](https://carna.app/individual-waitlist) [Book a demo](https://carna.ai/en/schools/#demo)