Don’t overestimate your English level.
At some point, you’ll have to show how good your English is. This could be embarrassing if you’re not as good as you once said or thought you were. Overestimating your level may have been an innocent mistake, but it may also suggest that you were lying.
If you don’t have a valid IELTS or TOFEL certificate then it’s a good idea to underestimate your English level rather than overestimate it.
Take a look at the table below to check your level of English.
| What Can You Do? | |
|---|---|
| C2 | Can you easily understand almost everything you hear or read? Can you summarise information from different spoken and written sources? Can you express yourself spontaneously, fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in more complex situations? |
| C1 | Can you understand complex, longer texts, and recognise implicit meaning? Can you express yourself fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions? Can use English flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes? Can you produce clear, well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects? |
| B2 | Can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in your field of specialisation? Can you interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party? Can you produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options? |
| B1 | Can you understand the main points on familiar matters regularly encountered in your work, school, leisure, etc? Can you deal with most situations likely to arise whilst travelling in an area where English is spoken? Can you produce simple connected text on topics which are familiar? Can you describe experiences and events, and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans? |
| A2 | Can you understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of your daily life? Can you communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters? Can you describe in simple terms your background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need? |
| A1 | Can you understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed at the satisfaction of your needs? Can you introduce yourself and others and ask and answer questions about personal details such as where you live, people you know and things you have? Can you interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help? |
The CEFR levels talk about language ability. They don’t talk about being ready for a language exam.
