CEFR English level guide

Understand your English level before choosing a subscription

CEFR levels explain what learners can usually do in English. This guide turns those levels into a practical exam-prep roadmap: grammar, vocabulary, skills and the BeFluent subscription that fits your current level.

The free mini test gives the recommendation. This page explains the reason behind it.

Quick CEFR level guide

Use this table as a simple starting point. CEFR is a communication framework, not a magic grammar spreadsheet, so the exact grammar can vary by exam and learner profile.

Level Meaning What learners can usually do BeFluent path
A1 Beginner Understand simple words, greetings, numbers and very short sentences. Foundation before Starter
A2 Elementary Handle simple everyday and work situations with basic grammar and vocabulary. Starter
B1 Intermediate Explain opinions, experiences and common work or study situations, but still makes regular errors. Starter or Pro
B2 Upper-intermediate Communicate clearly in professional and academic contexts, but needs accuracy, speed and stronger exam control. Pro or Elite
C1 Advanced Use English fluently and flexibly with complex texts, professional communication and advanced exam tasks. Elite
C2 Proficient Understand almost everything and communicate with nuance, precision and natural control. Advanced independent use

Which subscription should students choose?

The subscription choice should be based on current level, learning needs and exam objective, so each learner can start with the right level of support.

Starter

A2–B1

Foundation
Best for
Learners who need strong foundations before serious exam speed.
Grammar focus
Core tenses, questions, articles, prepositions, comparatives, modals and basic conditionals.
Vocabulary focus
Everyday work, travel, shopping, services, emails, common verbs and basic exam vocabulary.
Exam focus
Build accuracy, confidence and first CBT test rhythm.

Pro

B1–B2

Progress
Best for
Learners who can communicate but lose points through accuracy, speed and listening difficulty.
Grammar focus
Present perfect, passive voice, relative clauses, reported speech, conditionals, gerunds/infinitives and linking words.
Vocabulary focus
Professional situations, recruitment, meetings, reports, customer service, education, technology and graphs.
Exam focus
Improve reading speed, listening control, grammar accuracy and regular CBT performance.

Elite

B2–C1

Advanced
Best for
Learners targeting higher scores, advanced professional English or TOEIC 4 Skills progression.
Grammar focus
Advanced passives, mixed conditionals, inversion, participle clauses, hedging, formal register and advanced connectors.
Vocabulary focus
Advanced business, academic and professional vocabulary, collocations, nuance, persuasion and abstract topics.
Exam focus
Push higher-level CBT performance, complex comprehension, advanced writing and speaking support.

Grammar by BeFluent level band

This gives students a clear idea of what they are expected to study inside each subscription level.

Starter A2–B1

  • Present simple and present continuous
  • Past simple and common irregular verbs
  • Future forms: will, going to and present continuous
  • Question forms and short answers
  • Articles, determiners and countable / uncountable nouns
  • Prepositions of time, place and movement
  • Comparatives and superlatives
  • Modals: can, must, should, have to
  • Basic conditionals and simple connectors

Pro B1–B2

  • Present perfect and past perfect foundations
  • Passive voice in common exam contexts
  • Relative clauses and more complex sentence structure
  • Reported speech
  • First, second and useful mixed conditional patterns
  • Modals of obligation, advice, possibility and deduction
  • Gerunds and infinitives
  • Linking words for contrast, cause, result and sequence
  • Common TOEIC, Bright and Linguaskill grammar traps

Elite B2–C1

  • Advanced passive structures
  • Third and mixed conditionals
  • Inversion for emphasis and formal style
  • Participle clauses and reduced relative clauses
  • Advanced connectors and cohesive devices
  • Hedging, nuance and formal register
  • Complex noun phrases and precise sentence control
  • Paraphrasing and transformation patterns
  • Advanced exam accuracy and high-level error correction

Vocabulary by BeFluent level band

Vocabulary is grouped by practical exam and professional communication needs, not random word lists.

Starter A2–B1

  • Daily routines, time, numbers and dates
  • Travel, transport and accommodation
  • Food, shopping, money and services
  • Basic workplace roles and responsibilities
  • Simple emails, appointments and phone messages
  • Common verbs, adjectives and phrasal verbs

Pro B1–B2

  • Meetings, projects, schedules and deadlines
  • Recruitment, job interviews and workplace communication
  • Customer service, complaints and problem solving
  • Education, training and professional development
  • Technology, business operations and basic finance
  • Graphs, trends, comparisons and process descriptions

Elite B2–C1

  • Advanced business and academic vocabulary
  • Strategy, risk, negotiation and decision-making
  • Persuasion, argumentation and formal opinion language
  • High-level collocations and idiomatic professional English
  • Abstract topics: policy, innovation, performance and culture
  • Nuance, tone, register and precise word choice

Simple choice rule

When in doubt, students should choose the level where they still make frequent mistakes, not the level they hope they already have.

Starter / A2–B1

Choose this if...

you understand basic English but still make frequent grammar mistakes.

Pro / B1–B2

Choose this if...

you already communicate in English but need cleaner, faster exam performance.

Elite / B2–C1

Choose this if...

you understand a lot already but need advanced accuracy, nuance and stronger exam control.

CEFR and subscription FAQ

Start with the free test. The result helps identify the best path: Starter, Pro or Elite. The goal is accurate placement, clear guidance and steady progress.

Is CEFR a fixed grammar list?

No. CEFR describes what learners can usually do with the language. BeFluent turns that into a practical grammar and vocabulary pathway for exam preparation.

Should a student choose the highest level possible?

No. Choose the level where the learner can build control, accuracy and confidence. The right level creates a clearer path and stronger results.

Where does the free test fit?

The free test gives the starting recommendation. This guide helps the learner understand what that recommendation means before buying.

Ready to choose the right English exam preparation path?

Start with a free mini test, check your level, then choose the subscription that matches your real grammar, vocabulary and exam needs.