CEFR and levels
How to find your CEFR level at home: a self-check guide
Estimate your CEFR level from A1 to C2 using can-do statements, a reading trial and a vocabulary test. Quick, free and honest about its limits.
By Adlans · Published: · Last updated: · 5 min read
Only a formal exam gives a definitive answer to “what is my level?” For vocabulary study, though, a roughly right estimate is usually enough. Here is a free, simple way to get one. (If the levels are new to you, start with what is CEFR.)
Method 1: can-do self-assessment
CEFR levels are described by what you can do. Be honest with this table:
| Statement | Likely level |
|---|---|
| I can introduce myself and answer simple questions. | A1 |
| I can handle shopping and directions with simple sentences. | A2 |
| I can describe experiences and opinions on familiar topics. | B1 |
| I can chat fluently and naturally with a native speaker. | B2 |
| I can speak and write flexibly and in detail on complex topics. | C1 |
| I understand nearly everything and express fine shades of meaning. | C2 |
Find the last row where you can say “yes, though with effort”. That is roughly your level.
Method 2: a reading trial
Choose a news or blog article on a topic you like. Read it without a dictionary and ask:
- Could I get the main idea?
- Did unknown words block my understanding?
- How often did I get stuck?
If unknown words block you constantly, a lower level is probably more efficient. Treat this as a rough guide, not a measurement.
Method 3: a vocabulary trial
The most practical test for vocabulary study is your first-try accuracy. Start studying words from one level:
- If you know most of them on the first try, the level is too easy; go up one.
- If you do not know more than half, it is too hard; go down one.
- If you know some and are learning others, you are in the right place.
Frigya’s Discover stage works this way: words you get right on the first try are marked as already known, and the rest go into the words to learn. So choosing a level a little low does not waste time; it moves you quickly to the right place.
Method 4: recognised tests
If you need a definitive result or certificate, look at recognised language exams. We do not recommend a specific one here; which exam fits depends on your purpose (school, work, visa), and you should check requirements with the institution directly.
Four ways not to fool yourself
- Be honest. “I can with effort” is different from “I can easily”.
- Test production too. Try writing a few sentences or recording yourself speaking.
- Account for topic. You may look like B2 on a favourite subject and B1 on an unfamiliar one; look at the average.
- Do more than one trial. Two or three attempts on different days are more reliable.
Choose two levels if unsure
If you cannot decide, pick two neighbouring levels (for example A2 and B1) at once. Words you know pass quickly while you find the ones you do not. In Frigya you can select several levels for each language.
Level guides
After estimating, read the relevant guide: A1 vocabulary or B2 vocabulary. See also Frigya’s levels page.
A sample self-assessment afternoon
Imagine you set aside an afternoon to estimate your level. This flow is only a suggestion:
Step 1 (10 minutes): Read the can-do list. Go through the table above and note “easily”, “with effort” or “can’t” beside each row.
Step 2 (15 minutes): Reading trial. Choose an article on a subject you like. Read it without a dictionary and put a tick on paper for each unknown word. Then count: many ticks means the text is hard, few means easy.
Step 3 (10 minutes): Short writing. Write five or six sentences describing your day. Note how hard it was.
Step 4 (10 minutes): Short speaking. Use your phone’s voice recorder to introduce yourself and describe your routine for a minute. Listen back: could you have understood this, or did you get stuck a lot?
Step 5 (5 minutes): Combine. Look at the four results and pick the most consistent level. If they differ, take the lowest for vocabulary purposes and start there.
Why your estimate can be wrong
- Over-optimism. Thinking you understand is not the same as understanding. Check it properly in the reading trial.
- Over-pessimism. Exam anxiety or low confidence can make you look lower than you are.
- Looking at one skill. If you look only at reading you may miss weaknesses in speaking; assess skills separately.
- Topic bias. You are strong on your hobby and weak elsewhere; take the average.
What to do once you have an estimate
Use the result as a starting point, not a fixed identity:
- Start studying words from that level.
- In the first week, watch your first-try accuracy.
- If it is very high, add a higher level; if very low, step down.
- Re-check every few weeks.
This approach relies on adjusting in practice rather than perfect placement, and for most people it is much more practical.
Level and motivation
Learning your level can motivate you or deflate you. If the result is low, see it as a starting point: knowing where the road begins beats uncertainty. If it is high, do not use it as an excuse to stop; at higher levels words are rarer and harder, so steady study matters even more.
The best time to test yourself
Pick a time when you are fresh; if you are tired, the result may come out lower than your real level. If it is your first time, do not stop at one attempt: repeat the check on two different days in the same week and take the average.
Summary
- Can-do statements, a reading trial and a vocabulary trial give a rough estimate.
- When unsure, start one level lower or choose two neighbouring levels.
- If you need an official result, take a recognised exam.
- Your level changes; re-check from time to time.
