English language proficiency will vary from person to person. Thus, native speakers speak it perfectly, foreigners who have studied the language for a sufficient amount of time can freely explain everyday topics in it, and those who have just started learning or have been learning English for a long time know the language at an elementary level. Figuring out what level a person speaks a language is not so easy. For this purpose, there are numerous tests on the Internet; they really help determine language proficiency. But they mainly check the student’s vocabulary and grammar, but knowledge of the language is not only vocabulary and the ability to understand the rules. Therefore, in foreign language courses you will be offered not only a written test, but also will talk a little with each potential student in a foreign language, ask him various questions and invite him to speak out. Only after the student has demonstrated his knowledge in oral and written speech, in grammar and vocabulary, can one declare his level of language proficiency.
What levels of language proficiency are there?
Intermediate is an average level of English proficiency. There are 6 or 7 such levels in total, depending on different approaches to determining the level of language competence: Beginner, Elementary, Pre-Intermediate, Intermediate, Upper-Intermediate, Advanced, Proficiency. Sometimes in foreign language courses, some of these levels are divided into sublevels in order to more accurately determine which group to enroll the student in.
What do you need to know at the Intermediate level?
At the Intermediate level, he is expected to have a good knowledge of the basic tenses of the English language and be able to use them in writing and speaking. The volume of his vocabulary is about 3-5 thousand words, which allows the student to speak well enough on everyday topics, understand English, and compose written texts of normal complexity. At the same time, such a student may make mistakes in speech, speak not too fluently, stammer a little, or take a long time to find words. He understands fairly complex texts well - stories, novels written in literary language, popular science articles, he can read the news, but does not always perceive them well by ear. A person with an Intermediate level is unlikely to be able to correctly maintain a conversation on specific and complex topics; he does not speak business vocabulary unless he has been specifically trained in words and expressions with certain specifics.
In general, the Intermediate level is a fairly good level of knowledge of the English language. It may include those who are not fluent in oral speech, but are excellent at reading books in English, as well as those who speak well, but are not very well versed in the written features of the language. This level may be sufficient for employment with the requirement of mandatory knowledge of the English language. This level of proficiency is shown by good graduates of regular schools or students of grades 8-9 of specialized schools and gymnasiums with in-depth study of the English language.
What does it mean - speak a foreign language? Each person has their own idea about this: some are content with a level that allows them to travel around Europe without hindrance, while for others it is not enough to read Shakespeare in the original. Subjective criteria in this matter vary greatly - from knowledge of the necessary phrases to an intuitive sense of the language (which is sometimes lacking even for those who have spoken it since childhood). However, we learn a foreign language for a certain purpose - moving to another country, studying at a foreign university, the need to speak English for work.
Needless to say, “just like that”, the language itself will never be learned. Accordingly, no one can do without external criteria, that is, those parameters by which language knowledge will be tested in practice. Therefore, below we will look at the gradation of proficiency levels in the most common foreign language - English - according to the CEFR scale developed by the Council of Europe, compare it with the results of popular exams (IELTS / TOEFL / Cambridge / PTE) and give some tips for gradually mastering the language from elementary to higher levels.
Comparison table of levels and exam scores
How can you find out your level yourself?
Today, the level of English language proficiency can be determined even without leaving home, thanks to numerous online tests. Below is a selection of several such tests. It should be borne in mind that such tests will not allow an absolutely accurate reflection of the level of language proficiency, since the resources on which they are posted are most often associated with language schools that have paid or offline resources to accurately assess the level. Therefore, even after receiving a result on the CEFR scale, you should take into account the possible errors of online tests. In addition, some tests, due to their content, cannot objectively assess knowledge of the language at an advanced level (C1–C2).Some of the tests below require registration before testing, but there are many tests on the Internet that allow you to get the result only after registering on the site or contacting the language school, which is very annoying and leads to additional time expenditure, so such tests are included in the tables not taken into account.
Complex tests
Tests of this kind include tasks in various areas of language knowledge: listening (listening), text comprehension (reading), grammar (grammar) and knowledge of the dictionary (vocabulary). Comprehensive online tests do not include only one important parameter - speaking. Such tests can be considered the most objective.| Resource | Questions | Time | Level | Answers | Grade | Timer | Registration | Listening | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 42 | 50 min | A2–C2 | 4-5 var. | 9.7 | + | + | + | + | |
| 50 | 20 minutes. | B1–C2 | 5 var. | 7.4 | - | + | + | + | |
| 50 | 20 minutes. | A2–C1 | 3–4 var. | 7.4 | - | + | + | + | |
| 140 | 70 min. | A1–C1 | 4 var. | 7.2 | - | - | + | + | |
| 30 | 20 minutes. | A2–C1 | 4 var. | 7.0 | - | - | + | - | |
| 40 | 15 minutes. | A1–B2 | 4 var. | 7.0 | - | + | + | - | |
| 50 | 20 minutes. | A2–C1 | 4 var. | 6.8 | - | - | - | + | |
| 20 | 15 minutes. | A2–C2 | 4 var. | 6.5 | + | - | + | - | |
| 60 | 30 min. | A2–C1 | 4 var. | 6.5 | + | + | - | + | |
| 40 | 15 minutes. | A1–B2 | 3–4 var. | 6.2 | - | - | + | + |
Vocabulary and grammar tests
A good option for those who want to quickly determine their approximate level of language proficiency. The level of knowledge of grammar will allow you to quickly navigate your level, because good knowledge in this area constitutes an important “skeleton” on which you can successfully build up other language knowledge.| Resource | Time | Questions | Level | Answers | Grammar | Verbs | Dictionary | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 min. | 83 | A2–C2 | 6 var. | 9 | 8 | 7 | 8.0 | |
| 25 min. | 40 | A1–B2 | Writing | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7.3 | |
| 10 min. | 10 | B2–C1 | 4 var. | 8 | 6 | 6 | 6.7 | |
| 35 min. | 68 | A2–B2 | 4 var | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6.7 | |
| 10 min. | 25 | A1–B2 | 4 var. | 7 | 8 | 5 | 6.7 | |
| 20 minutes. | 50 | A1–B2 | 4 var. | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6.3 | |
| 20 minutes. | 50 | A1–B2 | 4 var. | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6.3 | |
| 20 minutes. | 40 | A1–B2 | 4 var. | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6.3 | |
| 20 minutes. | 50 | A1–B2 | 4 var. | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6.3 | |
| 15 minutes. | 40 | A1–B2 | 4 var. | 8 | 5 | 5 | 6.0 | |
| 15 minutes. | 40 | A1–B1 | 3 var. | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5.7 | |
| 10 min. | 25 | A1–B1 | 3 var. | 6 | 3 | 4 | 4.3 |
The rating is based on a ten-point scale based on five main criteria:
- Grammar - how deeply the knowledge of English grammar is tested, including knowledge of tenses, conditional sentences, subordinate clauses, tense agreement, passive voice.
- Verbs - it is separately assessed how thoroughly the test tests knowledge of English verbs: irregular, modal, phrasal. The same parameter includes the presence in the test of tasks on knowledge of the use of prepositions with verbs, infinitives and gerunds.
- Vocabulary - assessment of the diversity of testing vocabulary, as well as the availability of tasks for its use.
- Listening - if the test contains this part, then the level of its complexity, the speed of listening, the presence of different voice tones, artificial interference, accents, etc. are assessed.
- Reading - assessment of tasks for perception and understanding of the text, if any in the test. The complexity of texts is primarily assessed.
Why is it important to know your language level?
- To correctly determine your goals, only knowing your level of foreign language proficiency can you adequately assess your capabilities, as well as determine short-term and long-term goals, which will allow you to choose the right training program and find a competent mentor.
- The need to indicate when applying for a job - many modern companies ask applicants to indicate in their resume their level of foreign language proficiency, confirmed by an appropriate certificate. To get a good position in an international company, you need to know the language at a high level.
- To study abroad, it is impossible to enter a prestigious college or university without good knowledge of a foreign language. And again, members of the admissions committee need confirmation - a language certificate.
Foreign language in practice: what is important?
The first thing you need to know: the level of language proficiency is checked only in practice. It is almost impossible to independently determine real language skills, even with the help of Internet tests, since they only determine knowledge of grammar and a very limited vocabulary. Therefore, you should not rely too much on such results, since in reality everything will be completely different.When determining the level of proficiency in any foreign language, including English, experts pay attention to 4 basic skills: listening, reading, speech And letter. It is these skills that are usually tested on various international tests. Obviously, online tests will help assess only the first two criteria, although in practice it is much more important to be able to express yourself in speech and writing.
The difficulty of independently determining the level of a foreign language lies not only in the fact that it is difficult to evaluate yourself, but also in the fact that the second language as a whole rarely remains at any particular level. That is, you can be able to understand complex texts in a foreign language that correspond to an advanced level, but have great difficulty speaking independently. It turns out that, on the one hand, a person knows the language at a professional level, but on the other hand, his communication skills are almost undeveloped. How then can you determine your level of English? Professional linguists and experts define foreign language proficiency according to several levels that apply not only to English, but to most languages of the world.
A0 - Zero level of English proficiency
| IELTS | TOEFL | Cambridge | PTE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | - | 0 |
In truth, this level does not exist at all, but it is certainly worth mentioning, since 80% of self-critical beginners confidently attribute complete ignorance of the language to themselves. Attention: if a person knows how the word is translated dog or house, then this is already some level. Whatever the source of knowledge: two years of studying English at school, an English phrasebook once read, or two weeks of classes with a tutor 15 years ago - this knowledge remains in a person’s head forever. This is important because even a minimal base will serve as an excellent basis for subsequent study.
If we talk about zero level, this means complete ignorance English (this will be true if the person knows English as well as Filipino). In this case, you can enroll in English courses in your home country. In about 3 months, the language level will rise to spoken B1. If a person is still visually familiar with the English alphabet and knows what “Hello! How are you?” means, this indicates language proficiency at level A1.
start with lessons for absolute beginners, where you can master the alphabet, reading rules, key words for understanding simple English, learn 300 new words (this will take no more than two weeks).
A1 - initial level of English proficiency - Beginner
| IELTS | TOEFL | Cambridge | PTE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 15 | - |
This level is also called the "survival level". This means that once in one of the cities of England or America, a person, with the help of local residents, will be able to get at least to the Russian embassy. This level can in no way be called conversational, since, of course, there will be no coherent conversation. But jokes aside, with this level you can go to language courses abroad.
Even minimal skills already allow you to at least convey some information to your interlocutor, albeit not without the help of gestures. Typically, this level is mastered by those who learned English a long time ago and without much pleasure. Of course, there are absolutely no practical skills, but there is knowledge deposited deep in memory that will serve as a good basis for further language learning.
The student speaks the language at level A1 if:
- answers basic questions: name, age, home country, profession;
- understands familiar phrases provided the narrator speaks slowly and clearly;
- understands some individual words in the English text.
A2 - basic level of English proficiency - Elementary
| IELTS | TOEFL | Cambridge | PTE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 | 31 | KET pass | 30 |
If you can live with the initial level and not think about it, then the basic level Elementary presupposes some awareness or, at least, memory that “I once taught something similar.” Again, there is still a long way to go to the conversational level, but unlike A1, some kind of dialogue can already happen.
If we return to the hypothetical situation of staying in one of the cities of England, then the situation here is a little rosier: with a basic level you can not only get to the embassy, but also communicate with a foreigner (for example, talk a little about your profession or place an order in a cafe).
In practice, A2 differs little from A1, and the main advantage of the first is rather greater self-confidence and a slightly richer vocabulary. However, communication capabilities are still limited, so level A2 is only suitable as a basis for study, since there is nowhere to apply it in practice.
The student speaks the language at level A2 if:
- talks about everyday topics: he can give directions or ask for directions, talk about himself and the things around him;
- understands the interlocutor’s speech in a dialogue, provided that he speaks clearly and on a familiar topic;
- can read and understand basic sentences ( I have..., You are..., He goes...);
- write a simple sentence in text form or fill out a form in English.
Very often, between the initial and conversational levels, an intermediate level is distinguished, which implies that a person can already use English to solve some vital tasks, but does not yet speak spoken English. If we compare it with the A0-C2 scale, then this level can be characterized as A2+ or B1-.
It can be defined as follows:
- partially falling under the characteristics of level B1, but lack of practice in some aspects (for example, writing) indicates knowledge of the language at level Pre-Intermediate;
- Completely falling under the description of level A2 and partially falling under level B1 (for example, speaking skills are more developed) indicates knowledge of the language at level Upper-Elementary.
B1 - Intermediate level of English proficiency
| IELTS | TOEFL | Cambridge | PTE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 60 | PET pass | 43 |
When language competence goes beyond confused speech about the location of museums and restaurants, and English speech and text become more and more understandable, these facts indicate that the student is at the first stage of spoken English. But in addition to conversation, this level also implies good reading skills of adapted texts, as well as an understanding of basic English grammar. Statistically, the majority of tourists know the language at this level, which allows them to easily communicate with their interlocutor on everyday topics. Typically, modern graduates graduate from school with at least a B1 level (with a maximum of B2). However, you still need a lot of work to become fluent in the language.
The student speaks the language at level B1 if:
- confidently carries on a conversation on any everyday topic with good pronunciation, although still with some hesitations and errors;
- understands the interlocutor, and also partially grasps the meaning of a complex speech (lecture) or conversation between English speakers (film);
- reads literature adapted for intermediate level with a dictionary and understands the meaning of simple texts;
- can compose a short essay about himself or the world around him, using common semantic structures and words.
B2 - Higher intermediate level - Upper-Intermediate
| IELTS | TOEFL | Cambridge | PTE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 90 | FCE grade C | 59 |
If a student has good conversational skills (above average level), can maintain a detailed conversation with a foreigner, understands speech by ear, watches English-language films and TV series without translation or subtitles, this means that he speaks a foreign language at level B2. It should be noted that people who are completely unfamiliar with the English language are sure that a real foreigner is standing in front of them. However, don't be fooled. Upper-Intermediate- this is truly a great achievement, but even this is sometimes not enough for professional activities. Another disadvantage is the fact that it will be much more difficult to move higher on your own. However, for admission to a foreign university with average requirements for applicants, this level is quite enough, so you don’t have to worry and feel free to sign up for the TOEFL or IELTS exams.
The student speaks the language at level B2 if:
- speaks measuredly on almost any topic, expresses his own attitude or spaciously describes his thoughts (however, at this level some errors in verb conjugation, tenses and the use of complex words are still acceptable);
- understands oral speech on everyday topics and about 80% of complex speech (lectures, films, interviews);
- understands well the meaning of informational texts in English, draws information from English-language resources without significant loss of meaning (it is permissible to use a dictionary to read texts on an unfamiliar topic);
- expresses his thoughts in writing in a reasoned manner, using common constructions (albeit with minor errors).
C1 - advanced level of English proficiency - Advanced
| IELTS | TOEFL | Cambridge | PTE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7.5 | 100 | CAE grade C | 76 |
Perhaps, the difference between an advanced level and a higher intermediate level can only be understood by a professional or an anglophone and, of course, the speaker himself, but only if he has the so-called “sense of language”: when, when speaking, it becomes clear that the words are used correctly, but the sentence can be constructed slightly differently , choosing more elegant words or suitable terms. This is a sign that the problem of knowledge of the language has slowly spilled over into the problem of its competent use, which, in turn, indicates an extremely high level of knowledge of English as a foreign language. Of course, there is no question of any misunderstanding of the language. A student with level C1 perfectly perceives information by ear and is able to express his thoughts on paper. The only thing that he is not quite capable of yet is Shakespeare and Nabokov’s “Lolita” in the original without a dictionary. This level is recommended for employment in a foreign company; it opens doors to almost all foreign universities (including top ones - Yale University, University College London,).
The student speaks the language at level C1 if:
- speaks without problems on any topic, expresses shades of emotions and relationships in language;
- understands any spoken language;
- fluently reads texts in English, both informational (articles, newspapers, interviews) and scientific (articles in scientific journals, textbooks, works of philosophers, journalists, critics), occasionally encountering unfamiliar words;
- knows how to write appeals to employers, motivation letters, clearly understands the difference between a formal writing style and an informal one.
C2 - professional level of proficiency - Proficient
| IELTS | TOEFL | Cambridge | PTE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8.5 | 118 | CPE grade C | 85 |
The highest level in the gradation of English language levels is level C2. It should be noted that this is still a step, not a final stop. In essence, level C2 corresponds to excellent knowledge of English as a foreign language, its competent use for any professional and everyday situation, and the ability to read fiction and professional literature in English fluently (or almost fluently). However, knowing English at C2 level does not mean knowing it, as they like to say, in excellence.
Any linguist or philologist will confirm that mastering a language perfectly is the lot of very few, and these few usually become brilliant writers or wordsmiths. But if we take the most obvious example, say, an educated Londoner, then this also goes beyond the C2 level (usually those who speak English from childhood are called native speakers, and, of course, this is not included in the gradation of knowledge of English as a foreign language).
You should always remember that there is no limit to perfection, although language proficiency at the C2 level is an excellent result that few achieve. With a similar level, you can enroll in any postgraduate program, publish works in English, conduct conferences and lectures, i.e. for almost any professional activity this level will be more than enough.
The student speaks the language at level C2 if:
How to improve your English: Spend several years in an English-speaking country, for example at university or on an internship. And, of course, read.
What should you know about learning foreign languages?
Independent study of a foreign language is quite possible, but this undertaking requires a lot of effort, time, and such qualities as perseverance, diligence and dedication from the student. At first, classes seem interesting, but the lack of a clear program, correctly set goals, time frames and a teacher who controls the learning process and motivates the student leads to another breakdown and a lack of desire to continue learning the language.That is why it is advisable to learn a new language together with a teacher in individual or group lessons. When the basic material has been completed, you can go abroad to improve your communication skills and increase your vocabulary. Without studying in a country where the language being studied is the main one, it is impossible to master it perfectly, even if you study using the most advanced textbooks.
The fact is that living modern language changes daily, and special educational publications simply do not have time to track these metamorphoses. We are talking about modern slang, foreign borrowings, a variety of dialects, etc., which change the language every day. It is possible to know English at the native level, but for this it is necessary to be in an appropriate language environment, where the student will have to join a foreign-language society and keep abreast of news that is covered in the press or on the Internet.
How long will it take to learn a foreign language?
The answer to this question depends on several factors: the student’s goals, his perseverance and diligence, as well as his ability to pay. It is quite logical that you can learn a foreign language faster only with the help of a qualified teacher (perhaps even a native speaker). This is a real investment in the future, which will definitely pay off, but will also require quite a lot of capital investment.The faster a student wants to learn a foreign language, the more he will have to pay. Theoretically, it can take about 2.5 - 3 years to complete all levels (without living abroad), for this you will have to attend special courses several times a week. If you study on your own, it will take much longer to learn the language. When studying abroad, a student gains the same amount of knowledge much faster.
There are no miracles!
Beginners in learning a foreign language should clearly understand that the learning process requires a lot of time from the student, as well as some effort on oneself, since there will always be a reason to reschedule a lesson or postpone homework until later. Training is a colossal work! Therefore, it is impossible to learn a language in a month using a new “unique author’s technique” or the 25th frame. There are no miracles! Only working on mistakes and consistent analysis of new material will help you reach the desired level.Time spent on leveling up
The table shows the number of weeks of intensive English language to improve the language level in schools Since 2001, Europe has moved to fundamentally new language standards, so classic British textbooks are now also being republished in accordance with the new levels. Has anything changed significantly with the introduction of levels? No, but strict classification put an end to heterogeneous self-made divisions into groups in language schools. And the tendency was obvious - firstly, to create more levels than necessary (this is to take more money), and secondly, to inflate your level for self-esteem. This is when A2 was given for the intermediate level of English, which can only be called intermediate given its position between levels A1 and B1.
In total, the new language knowledge standards are 6 (well, or 7 - if you take into account zero). So, language is not one, but two levels according to the modern classification - B1 and B2. People who possess it to this degree are also called Independent Users, especially those occupying column B2 in the classification deserve this title. And in the new system, it is recommended to move away from the old name “intermediate level of English” and either call B1 and B2 Lower and Upper Intermediate, respectively, or generally use other, very specific terms - Threshold and Vantage levels. In other words, old terms will not help you navigate the modern sea of textbooks.
Knowledge of English at the intermediate level, if the language school did not deceive you, most likely corresponds to level B1. What does this mean practically? A person understands clearly spoken speech well when the vocabulary is frequently used or related to his professional activity. Can cope with almost any situation that arises when it comes to traveling around the country of the language being studied (hence the term “independent”, as we discussed above). Can deliver coherent speech on topics related to work or personal interests. Briefly justify your opinion, present evidence or plan of action. That is, an intermediate level of English, even at the lowest level, is good
How is someone described as a B2 user? He understands a wider range of texts and is capable of perceiving the main ideas of even complex scientific texts, while B1 is a level for everyday interaction. Speech is fluent, with a large amount of spontaneity, which makes conversations with speakers stress-free for both parties.
Able to create clear and detailed text on a large number of topics, not only work and everyday ones. Able to clearly express the advantages and disadvantages of various types of opinions. Such a language user is rightfully called independent. Level B2 allows you to start studying at the university level. It is found among the brightest graduates of the strongest specialized schools or among graduates of good non-linguistic universities.
These two levels are intermediate, there are two more above them - C1 and C2, and everyone who already has an intermediate level of English should strive for them. After all, higher categories provide the opportunity for professional immigration or work in expensive language courses for English teachers. In general, level C1 is average for good and excellent students at language universities. But not all carriers can get C2.
In resumes for various vacancies, in the “language proficiency” column, applicants often indicate “English language proficiency at the Intermediate level.” Translated into Russian, this means “medium level proficiency.” Employers have an ambiguous attitude towards such a record. Some believe that this is an insufficient level, others believe that this is quite normal for conducting professional activities in a chosen vacancy. So what is this level? And is it really sufficient? Can it be improved and how? In this work we will try to answer these questions.
First of all, we note that the concept of “average” in this case is very conditional: after all, we are not in an English-speaking language environment, and English is precisely a foreign language. And mastering a language, even at an intermediate level, is already a great achievement. After all, why only on average? Language consists of words, phraseological units, and speech structures. Moreover, many of them are completely unknown to foreigners, but are used only by native speakers, and their true meaning is the subject of study by linguists (see the works of L.V. Koshman, I.V. Tsvetkova, I.A. Zimnyaya, etc.). For example, the expression “We are in the same boat” is translated (in our opinion) as “We are in the same boat,” while in the USA this phraseological unit means “We are all in the same position,” i.e. has a completely different meaning, familiar only to native speakers and in a particular country. There are also many different individual words and phrases that belong to the general vocabulary, but are not used as often as their synonyms and paronyms, which are familiar to those who study English. In other words, the concept of “language” as a whole can be compared with Moscow, in which local residents are well versed, on the one hand, but where, nevertheless, it is impossible even for a native Muscovite to know everything. And knowledge of the city improves only with years lived in it, i.e. again has a purely empirical character.
Hence, English Intermediate- level is truly normal for most of our compatriots who study it. Moreover, language proficiency at this level is the result of long and hard work: it has been established that this level is typical, for example, for graduates of schools with in-depth study of the English language where a number of subjects are taught in it. Teaching in such schools is conducted according to an intensive program that places very high demands on the student.
What are the skills and abilities of a person who knows English Intermediate? This is the ability to communicate on various everyday topics, a good understanding of oral and written language, the ability to correspond in English, a good command of its grammar (although errors are allowed), and an average vocabulary.
Below we provide a brief description of this level in relation to the main criteria for assessing language skills and abilities.
Dialogical speech (conversation):
- Understand others' opinions, attitudes and emotions and verbally express your own;
- Express misunderstanding of any situation and ask the interlocutor to explain it;
- Express your thoughts in a simple form using common syntactic structures;
- Communicate with clear and understandable pronunciation for others and intonation of sentences according to the purpose of the statement;
- Express personal emotions and feelings using logical stress and intonation means.
Listening (understanding what is heard):
- Understand the main ideas presented in the text, the general meaning from the context and recognize the content of what is heard;
- Recognize and distinguish between the pronunciation of a person for whom English is not a native language and a native speaker;
- Ability to understand and differentiate between informal and formal written and spoken language in a variety of situations.
Written speech:
- Fill out various papers: declarations, questionnaires, etc.;
- Write personal letters of various contents;
- Write informational official and informal letters;
- Set out in writing the sequence of events;
- Describe people, places and situations;
- Supplement the presentation of a particular situation with personal comments;
- Express your thoughts simply and grammatically correctly in written speech.
The skills and abilities described above are quite sufficient for full-time work in a domestic company, the type of activity of which there are situations where the use of English is necessary. For example, such an employee, using English Intermediate, can carry out business correspondence using common lexical units, meet a foreign partner at the airport, tell him about the company’s activities, etc.
At the same time, we note that this level is not enough for those who intend to work abroad or engage in research work there. Modern practice shows that persons owning English at Intermediate-level, pass international TOEFL exams with results of 5.0 or 5.5, which is not enough, for example, for admission to a foreign university where education is taught in English (the passing score in such educational institutions using the TOEFL system is usually from 7.0 - A.Ch .). In this regard, it should be noted that English Intermediate can be improved in all aspects of language skills and abilities through special training sessions in courses or individually. At the same time, most methodologists are unanimous in the opinion that preparation should be gradual, i.e. level-by-level (for example, from the Intermediate level to the Upper-Intermediate level, and then to the Advanced level).
In other words, if your level of language proficiency is average, then it is quite possible to improve it: depending on the learning goals and the environment for using the English language, the appropriate curriculum, necessary aids and teaching aids will be selected.
Those prone to self-criticism like to repeat that they don’t know anything (although in fact they can speak the language at a level closer to average and continue to regularly enroll in English courses), and those prone to vanity assure during an interview that they speak English perfectly (when in fact, again, they may be “average”).
For the most impatient, who check their level after each cup of coffee, the buttons are located at the top. This is done for your convenience: no tedious text searches, click on health and get your certificates - we don’t mind.
And for the most assiduous, who are not used to guessing from the coffee grounds, we offer you to plunge into multi-level English. With feeling, sense, and arrangement, we will talk about how Elementary differs from Intermediate and whether Advanced is as scary as it is portrayed to be.
Basically it will evaluate the fundamental basis - i.e. grammar. However, the degree of proficiency in foreign speech depends on it. Because you can chat incessantly in English, but at the same time make so many mistakes that the interlocutor will hardly be able to guess what the conversation is all about. Or you can compose sentences slowly in oral speech, weighing each word, without making gross mistakes - and thus create the impression of a person who speaks English well.
Level 0 - Full beginner(or Full...beginner)
Just don’t say now that this is you. If you know the name of the letter “i” or even remember something from school like “teacher”, “book” - feel free to move on. Level zero is only for those who studied another language at school. Or maybe I didn’t study any at all.
Level 1 - Elementary(Elementary)
Holmes would have rejoiced at such a name. And the majority of those who graduated from regular high school do the same. Because this level, unfortunately, is the most common among those who learned English through the cracks and happily received a “C” on the final exam.
What characterizes Elementary: you can read many words quite well (especially without any gh, th, ough), your vocabulary includes mother, father, I am from Russia and other popular phrases, and you can sometimes catch something from a song - something familiar.
Level 2 - Upper-Elementary(Higher Elementary)
A good student at a regular school who studies English can boast of this level. And quite often, for some reason, those who studied the language on their own decide to stop at Upper-Elementary. Why? Because the illusion of knowing English arises: the vocabulary is already decent enough to support some basic topics of conversation (in any case, in a hotel abroad it will already be possible to express oneself without indecent gestures), reading usually goes quite well, and even American films in the original they become more or less understandable (by 25 percent).
However, such conclusions are misleading. Especially if you look at other levels of English.
You can jump from regular Elementary to Upper in about 80 hours if you work hard.
Level 3 - Pre-Intermediate(Lower Intermediate Level)
If you took the English language level test and got this result, congratulations. Because this is a very decent command of English. It occurs among excellent students of a regular school, good students of a specialized school, and the majority of those who combine English language courses with trips abroad.
What characterizes this level: in pronunciation there are no “f” or “t” instead of [θ] and in general the speech of such a student does not have a strong Russian accent, written speech is quite literate and completely understandable, one can communicate even on unfamiliar topics using simple sentences. In general, among the levels of the English language, Pre-Intermediate is most often found among serious learners.
Level 4 - Intermediate(Average level)
A very worthy result. Practically unattainable for schoolchildren in a regular school and quite realistic for those who did not slack in English lessons in a specialized school. Among self-learners of English, not everyone reaches this level. They usually take the previous exam, because you can achieve Intermediate in about six months of residential courses abroad, a year of good courses, or a year of classes with a tutor.
What characterizes this level of English: clear pronunciation, good vocabulary, the ability to communicate on various topics, the ability to compose complex written requests (even official documents), films in English with subtitles go with a bang.
With this level you can already take the international tests TOEFL and IELTS.
Level 5 - Upper-Intermediate(Upper middle level)
If you have passed the English language level test and received this result, then you can almost without cheating write in your resume for a position: “English - fluent.” College graduates in the Faculty of Foreign Languages usually reach this level.
What is characterized by: skillful manipulation of different styles in one’s speech (business, conversational, etc.), almost flawless pronunciation, the ability to act as a simultaneous interpreter in an informal setting, fluent reading, understanding of the most complex style - the language of newspapers and magazines in English, deft composition of even particularly complex sentence structures.
Level 6 - Advanced(Advanced)
This is probably the pinnacle that English language learners can achieve in a country where it is not an official language. Those who manage to speak at the Advanced level are usually perceived by their interlocutors as people who have lived in the USA or another English-speaking country for several years.
In fact, you can achieve Advanced even at the foreign language department in college, not to mention at universities. And this proves that 5 years, during which 1-2 hours a day will be spread out to study English, is enough. And if you choose intensive courses, the result will be achieved even earlier.
What characterizes the Advanced level of English: by right, this is fluency in English. Pronunciation with almost no accent, conducting formal and informal conversations, working as a simultaneous interpreter, full understanding of films/books/songs in the original, absence of grammatical errors in written speech and minimal presence of errors in oral speech, understanding of idioms and colloquial expressions. You can confidently plan a career abroad, as well as study at foreign universities.
Level 7 - Super-Advanced(Super advanced)
Are there any here? If so, then the computer most likely malfunctioned on the English language level test.) Because language proficiency at this level is the lot of aborigines living in a country where English is the official language.
What characterizes the Super-Advanced level? Imagine... yourself speaking Russian. You will understand any speech, even if it is a conversation between two emo teenagers discussing topics unknown to you. You will even understand slang. But with all this, you yourself also master the art of words, deftly using terms and putting them into beautiful sentences, without errors (including stylistic ones). And now - the same thing in English. So how?
Dia friend! Do you already feel itchy fingers? Are your seat belts fastened? And are you still here?
Press the button and go! Don't forget to insert the paper into the printer to print out the certificate and proudly display it to everyone interested.
especially for
| Make your choice and receive a certificate | ||||
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If you only know the Terminator phrase in English or decide to test the theory of probability “what if you answer at random” - don’t bother, get a “Full Beginner” certificate and rejoice. |
And for all those who suffer, to test their knowledge and obtain documentary evidence of their successes - click the “determine your English level” button and take the test. Be honest with yourself! And may English be with you. Advanced. |
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