Understanding the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages | EF SET (2024)

• What is the CEFR?
• The CEFR and EF SET
• Where did the CEFR come from?
• Why is the CEFR important?
• Who uses the CEFR?
• How can I find out my CEFR level?
• What criticism has the CEFR faced?

The CEFR, Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, is one of many frameworks that describe your language proficiency. There are several frameworks with similar aims including the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages Proficiency Guidelines (ACTFL), the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB), and the Interagency Language Roundtable scale (ILR).

While the CEFR is a European scale and specifically designed to apply to any European language, it is now becoming a worldwide standard framework for language abilities, especially European languages, including English. The CEFR is not tied to any specific language test - and most standardized language tests now provide CEFR level equivalents.

The CEFR was put together by the Council of Europe in the 1990’s as part of a wider effort to promote collaboration between language teachers across all European countries. The Council of Europe also wanted to improve clarity for employers and educational institutions who needed to evaluate candidates’ language proficiency. The framework is intended to be used in both teaching and assessment.

Rather than being tied to a particular test, the CEFR is a collection of can-do statements that list the functions you will be able to perform using a foreign language at any given level of proficiency. For example, one of the level B1 can-do statements is “Can produce simple connected text on topics that are familiar or of personal interest.” A teacher of any foreign language can use these can-do statements to evaluate you and design lessons to address the gaps in your knowledge.

In Europe, the CEFR is increasingly the standard way of describing your proficiency level in a foreign language, particularly in an academic setting. If you have studied more than one language, as most Europeans have, the CEFR is a conveniently standardized way to present two or more languages on your CV. In school or university, the CEFR is the standard framework across Europe and can be used without reservation.

However, in a corporate setting, the CEFR is not as widely understood. If you decide to use the CEFR on your CV for professional reasons, it is still best practice to include a level descriptor, a standardized test score, and examples of instances in which you used your language skills (study abroad, work abroad, etc.).

The CEFR is used extensively in language teaching, both in the public education sector and in private language schools. In many countries, it has replaced previous leveling systems used in foreign language teaching. Most education ministries in Europe have an explicit CEFR-based goal for all students leaving secondary school, for example B2 in their first foreign language, B1 in their second. For job seekers, many European adults use a standardized test score, like the TOEIC, to describe their English level.

Adoption of the CEFR is also growing outside Europe, with some individual countries in Asia and Latin America adopting it in their education systems.

The best way to find out your CEFR level is to take a well-designed standardized test. In English, the EF SET is the best choice because it is free and the first standardized test to be fully aligned to the CEFR. You will need to set aside 50 minutes to complete the test and find out your CEFR level.

Most common English assessment tests now provide the CEFR equivalency. For other language assessments, check with the official instructional body for the language in Europe, for example the Alliance Française for French, the Instituto Cervantes for Spanish, or the Goethe Institute for German. Non-European language assessments are providing CEFR equivalencies, such as HSK Chinese Proficiency Test

Many educators initially criticized the CEFR because of the breadth of its levels. Each of the six levels comprises a wide range of skills and abilities. A student who has just reached the B1 level is quite a long way behind a student who has almost, but not quite mastered all of the B2 skills, but both students would be defined as being in the B1 level. From a practical standpoint, teachers are required to break each of the six levels down into smaller sub-levels to design lessons and assessments.

Outside Europe, some countries have a widely-adopted language assessment test already in place. They have not seen the value in switching to a different leveling framework that is not aligned to their current assessment tests.

• Practicing basic English
• Developing intermediate and upper intermediate English
• Mastering advanced English