CEFR

The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is an international standard for describing language proficiency. CEFR defines six levels of proficiency across reading, writing, listening, and speaking: A1 and A2 (basic user), B1 and B2 (independent user), and C1 and C2 (proficient user).

CEFR levels are used by language schools, universities, study-abroad programs, and many employers to set language proficiency requirements. They map roughly to other proficiency scales:

• A1: Beginner — basic everyday expressions and very simple phrases.
• A2: Elementary — routine information and direct exchange.
• B1: Intermediate — main points of clear standard input on familiar matters.
• B2: Upper intermediate — complex text, fluent and spontaneous interaction.
• C1: Advanced — wide range of demanding texts, flexible and effective use.
• C2: Proficient — virtually everything heard or read, expressed with precision.

For homeschool families seeking high-school world-language credit, CEFR-aligned progress reports are typically accepted as evidence of credit-worthy proficiency.