The countdown to the end of the course begins, one of the key moments in terms of taking English exams to certify the level reached during the year. The British Council, in its work as an expert in English certification, offers an introduction to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), the levels of English it covers and some of the official exams available for each of them.
What are the levels of English?
The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is the model most used in Europe and other countries in the world to describe the ability of a speaker to learn a foreign language. Based on empirical research and widespread consultation over a period of 20 years, the CEFR was launched in 2001 by the Council of Europe to provide a clear, coherent, and comprehensive framework to support learning, teaching, and assessment of the level of knowledge. of all languages in Europe, including English.
The CEFR describes linguistic competence in six levels (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2) which, in turn, are grouped into three higher ones: Basic User (A1 and A2), Independent User (B1 and B2) and Competent User (C1 and C2). Each level of the framework contains a series of descriptors that define what a user “is able to do” at that level, as well as in each of the four language skills (listening and reading comprehension, speaking and writing).
These descriptors are connected throughout the six levels so that students themselves, teachers or employers can measure their progress in mastering a language. For example, an A1 speaker “can use simple sentences and phrases to describe where they live and the people they meet,” while a C2 speaker “can deliver clear, flowing descriptions or arguments in a context-appropriate style and with effective structure.” and logic”.
What official exams exist for these levels?
The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages has been adopted since its origins by most of the examination boards to facilitate the formal recognition of their exams and, therefore, educational and professional mobility.
Cambridge English, for example, has incorporated the CEFR levels into the nomenclature of its exam set: First Certificate is now B2 First to clearly identify the level it assesses. The same happens with the rest of the levels for which it offers certification (such as B1 Preliminary, C1 Advanced, ETC.). The Official School of Languages uses the same system for its different certifications.
The multilevel exams (Aptis ESOL, IELTS, Linguaskill, etc.), which in the same test assess linguistic competence for all levels, certify a CEFR level and also offer a final overall score or the score scale achieved in the exam and mapped to the CEFR levels. IELTS, for example, certifies knowledge of English on a 9-level scale and presents the final results with a global scoring scale along with its equivalent level on the CEFR.TOEFL also publishes a comparison table for TOEFL iBT with a score per each language competence and another global one mapped to its corresponding CEFR level.
Who decides which exams accredit each level?
In Spain, the official recognition of language certifications is generally the responsibility of the education departments of each autonomous community, together with national academic bodies, such as the Conference of Rectors of Spanish Universities (CRUE) and the Association of Language Centers. in Higher Education (ACLES).
Each of these institutions publishes its own list of accepted exams for each level and all use the six levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages as a common scale. The list of English certifications recognized by the CRUE Linguistics Board includes, for each level, multilevel exams such as IELTS, TOEFL and Aptis ESOL, as well as specific exams for each level such as those of the Official School of Languages or those of Cambridge English. .
How do I interpret my test results?
When we present the results of a multi-level exam to an institution in Spain or abroad, we must take into account that the level that we will be able to accredit is the lowest obtained among the four language skills. Therefore, it may happen that in an Aptis ESOL or Linguaskill exam we obtain a B2 overall result, but in the speaking exercise we have obtained a B1. So, it will be this B1 level that we can certify with this title.
This does not happen in specific level exams such as those of Cambridge English or the Language School in which to pass and, therefore, present an English certificate you must have demonstrated that you have the level for which you present yourself in the four linguistic competences.
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