How good is your english

41 How to talk about your English level

In this episode, you will learn how to describe your level of language proficiency in English or in any other language. How do you describe your level of English knowledge? Learn with me!

If somebody asks you questions like ‘How well do you know English?’ or ‘How good is your English?’ or ‘What is your English level?’, you can:

Telling about your native language

I am a native speaker of …

If you can speak two languages at the same level of native-like proficiency, you are BILINGUAL.

If you know more than 4 or 5 foreign languages, you can call yourself a POLYGLOT.

BE CAREFUL!

A lot of people try to say ‘I speak in English’ or ‘I speak in Russian’. We don’t normally use IN in such sentences.

Correct: ‘I speak English’ or ‘I can speak English’, ‘I can speak Russian’.

Describing levels of language proficiency according to CEFR

There are three levels of language proficiency:

Basic User / Beginner, Elementary, and Pre-intermediate (A1-A2)

Independent User / Intermediate and Upper-intermediate (B1-B2)

Proficient User / Advanced (C1-C2)

But if you don’t know what it means, a teacher could help you with testing and recommendations.

Phrases to describe what you can do in the language

Telling about your general language proficiency (CV’s, autobiographies, etc.)

You can describe your language skills as Basiс, Conversational, Fluent, or Proficient.

Basic – you can communicate on simple topics or know some phrases in this language.

Conversational – you can communicate on everyday topics with minor grammar or vocabulary mistakes but you can’t write in this language.

Fluent – you have the ability to express any idea without hesitation, with good vocabulary and grammar; people understand you easily. Both your spoken and written skills are good.

Proficient – different from fluent in the way that you now understand the structure of the language and you can explain how this language works to other people. You also can use idiomatic language and understand local accents.

Now it’s your turn! Please answer these questions in the comments: How is your English? What is your level of English? What can you do in English?

The Top 9 Free Online English Level Tests (with Answers)

Here’s an English test you’ll actually want to take.

I know, I know—it’s hard to believe. Pretty much everyone hates taking tests.

But English level tests aren’t like the scary exams you took in school.

You can take them online, in the comfort of your own home.

You can learn valuable information about your own language skills. Knowing your strengths and weaknesses can boost your confidence and help you study smarter.

After you take one of these English language tests, you can prove your language skills to employers or schools. Or, if you don’t want to share your results with anyone, that’s fine! No pressure, no stress.

If you’ve been learning English on your own and you want a reliable way to test your English level, the English proficiency tests in this article will give you a good idea of where you’re at.

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

What Are the Official English Proficiency Tests?

There are several English exams that are recognized internationally—you may even be preparing for a few of them. However, each test has a specific purpose and certain countries or schools usually prefer to use one over the others.

Most of these tests are quite expensive, so before taking them, you need to prepare for them properly to know whether you’re ready. Free English tests online—like the ones we’ll discuss later in this article—will surely help you prepare for these big, “official” exams.

How Good Is Your English? The Top 9 Free Online English Level Tests (with Answers)

Here’s a list of some online English tests with answers that you can take to know how good your English is. Of course, there are many ways to test a student’s proficiency, and these tests all focus on different aspects of the language, including grammar, reading comprehension skills, etc.

You can browse through this list and choose the ones that are relevant to your needs. Then, you’ll know if you should use resources that teach English for beginners, intermediate or advanced learners!

Language Level

This site contains a free and short test that focuses on your vocabulary and grammar. You’ll be asked only 15 questions that get harder or easier depending on your responses. Once you complete it, you’ll know your English level from A1 to C2. Based on that info, it tells you what your score would likely be on an official English exam like IELTS or TOEFL.

This test is specifically great for those who want to sign up for an English language course but aren’t sure at which level to start.

ESL Language Studies Abroad

This website includes a more in-depth English proficiency quiz with 40 multiple-choice questions. It only requires around 20 minutes of your time. At the end of the quiz you’ll see the correct answers, so if you make any mistakes, you can learn how to fix them.

This test is perfect for those who struggle with time management issues and are looking for a slightly challenging but comprehensive English language test.

TrackTest

This online English proficiency test comes with both free and paid options. The test results will correspond to the CEFR levels of A1 to C2, and you can even repeat the test every month to see how much you’ve improved. Best of all, you even get a certificate that you can attach to your resume or job application to let your employers know how good your English skills are.

The free option offers a 10-minute English grammar test, but the paid option includes listening and reading, provides the certificate and gives you feedback for areas of improvement.

They also have options for your speaking and writing skills to be tested, and you can even get a hard copy of the certificate delivered to your doorstep for a fee.

FluentU

Here’s something a little different. Looking for a fun twist on the typical English level test? Try FluentU!

FluentU takes authentic videos—like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks—and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.

You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Click here to check out the website or download the iOS app or Android app.

Try FluentU for FREE!

The videos are organized into six levels: Beginner 1, Beginner 2, Intermediate 1, Intermediate 2, Advanced 1 and Advanced 2. Instead of assigning you a specific level, FluentU lets you choose the videos that are interesting to you. After watching a video, you get a fun, brief quiz, and then FluentU determines your fluency level for the vocabulary based on your answers.

FluentU also provides the correct answers for questions you miss, so you can learn from them.

As you continue to watch and complete the video quizzes, FluentU remembers what you’re learning and suggests new videos based on that information. It also reminds you to review vocabulary that you’ve struggled with in the past.

Best of all, FluentU offers a lot more than just assessing your English level. You’ll actually learn while you watch, with interactive subtitles, full transcripts and other tools. And since these are real English videos, you’ll be learning the language as native speakers actually use it in real life.

You can try it out with the full video library for free with a FluentU trial. If you decide not to upgrade after your trial, you can still test and practice your English with FluentU’s collection of free videos.

BridgeEnglish

Most English level tests focus only on certain areas of the language such as grammar or vocabulary, and that may be disappointing for those who want a long and thorough assessment.

In that case, the Bridge English Online Test is your best choice to test your English level.

It has 100 questions and needs to be completed in 65 minutes. In addition to grammar and vocabulary, it also tests listening and reading comprehension skills. After you finish you’ll immediately get your results.

If you’re preparing for an international exam like IELTS or TOEFL, taking this test will prepare you for it.

British Study Centres

If you’re looking for a test that solely focuses on grammar, you’re in luck. British Study Centres’ English grammar test includes 40 multiple-choice questions and can be completed in 10 to 15 minutes, after which the results will be emailed to you.

If you’ve been reviewing or even struggling with English grammar, this is the test you should take to check out how things are going.

EU English

This is another option to test your English level in about 20 minutes. This quiz starts off with easy questions before moving onto difficult ones. You’ll be able to view the correct answers after you’ve finished it and figure out your strong and weak points.

If you’re looking for a typical level test with some feedback on your performance, then this exam is a good choice.

Stafford House International

This is another short language test that’s pretty good at figuring out your English level with only 25 questions. However, what sets it apart is that instead of providing correct/incorrect options, a question may have more than one right answer, but the answer that’s most right will receive maximum points.

Thus, this is the perfect test to find out your level of real-life English fluency. If you’re wondering whether you can figure out the subtle nuances of conversations or the closest synonym for a word, take this exam and find out.

Canadian College of English Language

This English proficiency test is unique because it combines the traditional multiple-choice question format along with a written section. It can be completed within an hour, after which your results and corresponding English level will be emailed to you.

If you’re looking for a test that’ll take your writing skills into account among other essential skills, then this is the test for you.

English level tests help you measure your proficiency as well as your progress in learning the language. They also identify your areas of strength and weakness. So if you perform well, congratulations! But even if you don’t, that’s no reason to feel bad, because you know where you went wrong and what you can do to improve it. Also, while taking these English tests online, try your best to not cheat or Google the answers (even if you feel tempted to) as that ultimately defeats the purpose.

Archita Mittra is a freelance writer, journalist, editor and educator. Feel free to check out her blog or contact her for freelancing/educational inquiries.

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

Test your English level

Not sure which English level you are? Take our English language test for free and discover your CEFR English level today. The test lasts approximately 15 minutes and consists of vocabulary, grammar, listening, and reading questions. Once the quiz is done, you’ll get an instant score that will give you a good idea of what your English level is.

What are the language levels of English?

Language levels in English start from A1 and move all the way up to C2. A1 is a beginner and C2 is a fluent native level speaker.
Sometimes levels are separsated into sub-levels, such as: A1.1, A1.2, A2.1, A2.2. This is done to help guide you through your learning.

What is the CEFR?

The CEFR stands for the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. It is an international standard which describes how good you are at a specific language.

Levels go from A1 (beginner) right up to C2 (native speaker/master level). Most countries and universities ask for a B2 level for visas and course applications.

How do the tests work?

The Lingoda language level tests are very simple and easy to use. All you have to do is click the language you want to learn and then answer the questions. The test will stop once you have got to a certain level and then this level will be shared with you.

This is your recommended language learning level. So if you are given an A2 level then we recommend you start taking classes with Lingoda at A2.

English Placement Tests

You might be thinking, why should I take an English placement test? The answer is simple! Without knowing what level you are, how do you know where to start? To really get the best from your learning experience, take your English placement test and prepare for your first Lingoda lesson.

Our free English level test

With Lingoda, you can take your English level test online. You don’t need a pen or paper and you don’t need to do any revision, just click the link and go through the questions. Our system will mark your answers and give you a score based on the CEFR. That way, you know your level is based on Europe’s leading educational framework.

Our Cambridge Linguaskill Test

If you’d like to have a certified English language test on your CV then look no further than the Cambridge Linguaskill test.

The Linguaskill from Cambridge test assesses all English skills, including: speaking, listening, reading and writing. The test can be used to prove your English level to employers, educational institutions and government bodies worldwide.

How good is your English? Let’s see!

This video English quiz is about mistakes English learners often make. We look at:
– interested and interesting
– the mistake how long time
– the different meanings of the verbs take and last
– control vs. check
– high vs. tall
– prepositions we use with the verb pay
We’ll ask you to identify 8 common English mistakes and choose your answer before the clock stops ticking.
We’ll then explain what’s wrong and show you examples of the correct English in action. We’ll also help you find more videos if you want more help with grammar and vocabulary.

How good is your English?
We’re going to test you today.
We’ve got some common mistakes and we’re going to fix them!
OK, let’s jump right in. We’ll ask you some questions and you have to choose your answer before the clock stops ticking.
They’re all about mistakes that people often make when they’re learning English.
Maybe you make them, or maybe you don’t. Let’s see.

Interesting or interested?

OK. Here’s your first question. Imagine you’ve found a great book – it’s so good you can’t stop reading it.
You can’t put it down. What would you say about it?
I’m very interested in this book.
I’m very interesting in this book.
‘Interesting’ and ‘interested’ are both adjectives.
We use ‘interested’ to say how we feel. We use ‘interesting’ to describe the person or thing that causes the feeling.
It can sound funny if you make a mistake with this.
If you say ‘I’m very interesting’ it means you think YOU are very interesting. ‘I’m very interesting’ – it sounds conceited.
But you could say that a character in a book is interesting.
Yes, because then the character makes you feel interested.

This is a very interesting book.
Uhuh.
And I’m very interesting in this book.
What?
This is a book about me.

Time questions

OK. Next one. Your boss has given you a project to do and you’re negotiating the schedule.
She wants you to estimate the time it will take, so what does she ask?
Here are three questions. Are any of them wrong?
How long do you need?
How long time do you need?
How much time do you need?
‘How long time’ is wrong. A lot of students make this mistake.
The phrase ‘how long’ already includes the idea of time.
You could say ‘How much time?’ That works. But normally we just say ‘how long’. ‘How long do you need?’
So don’t say ‘how long time’. That’s wrong!

Take and last

OK, we have another question about time now and it’s a missing word question.
What’s the missing verb here?
How long does it _____ for the moon to travel round the earth?

It takes twenty seven days, seven hours, forty three minutes and eleven point six seconds for the moon to travel around the earth.

We use ‘take’ to talk about the time that’s needed to do something – the time that’s required.
So we often use ‘take’ to talk about journey times and jobs.

So what do you think of my proposal?
Um, I’d like to think about it for a while.
Of course. Take as long as you like. So what do you think?

OK let’s have another question.
All right. Imagine you’ve got a really bad cold and you want to go to the beach this weekend. What are you thinking?
How long is this cold going to take?
How long is this cold going to last?
We’d say last here because we’re talking the about the time it continues.
It’s not the time that’s needed or required to get something done.
It’s about how long something goes on for – or how long it will exist for.
Here’s another example.

Do you want to play a game?
Yeah.
OK. You take a sweet and I’ll take a sweet.
You mean candy.
Uhuh. No, no, no, stop. We put them in our mouths at the same time. The winner is the person who makes their sweet last the longest.
It’s not how fast I can eat it?
No, it’s the opposite.
So I need to make it last a long time?
That’s right.
OK. Ready, set, go.

It’s tricky because we use the verbs take and last to talk about a duration of time.
It’s no wonder students get them confused.
But we use ‘take’ more than we use ‘last’.
Yes, ‘take’ is more common. If you want more help with take and last, check out this playlist.
Next question.

Check and control

OK, this one’s about the verbs ‘control’ and ‘check’.
Imagine you’re telling someone about a flight you took.
Which sentence is correct here?
They stopped us at immigration and controlled our passports.
They stopped us at immigration and checked our passports.
So they check your passports to make sure they’re OK.
But when we go through immigration, there’s a sign saying ‘passport control’.
I know. It’s really confusing. But at immigration they check your passport.
When we examine something to make sure it’s OK or correct, we check it.

Is something wrong?
Is this your car?
Yes.
When was the last time you checked the air in these tires?
I can’t remember.

So that’s checking, but controlling is different.
Controlling is about managing something, or directing it.
Yeah.

Brrrr. I’m cold. I’ll check the thermostat to see if it’s working. The thermostat controls the temperature. Are you cold, Jay?
No, I’m hot.

The thermostat controls the temperature – it manages it.
If you’d like more examples, click this link.
Let’s have an easy one now.

High and tall

OK. Imagine you want to know someone’s height. What question are you going to ask?
How tall are you?
How high are you?

I’m taller than you.
No, you’re not.
Yes, I am.
How did you do that?

We generally use tall when we’re talking about long thin things.
Like people, trees and skyscrapers
And if things are wider than they’re tall, we say high.
For example, a high wall, high waves in the ocean.
So if you say someone is tall, you’re talking about their height.
And if you say someone is high, it means something completely different.
It means they’re on drugs.
You don’t want to make that mistake!
If you want to know more, here’s a video with lots of examples.
OK, next question.

Pay and prepositions

All right. Imagine you’re in an English pub with a friend and you order a round.
A round is a drink for everyone in the group.
Your friend starts to pay the bill, but you want to pay instead. What will you say?
I’ll pay the drinks.
I’ll pay for the drinks.
We pay FOR things that we buy.
But when we say the person we pay, there’s no preposition.
I paid the waiter for the drinks.

There are several different prepositions we use with pay – pay for, pay by, pay in …
And sometimes we just say pay with no preposition.
Check this video to learn more. And I’ll put links to all the videos we’ve talked about in the description below.
Is that it for today?
Yeah. How did you do on the quiz?
And was it useful?
If you enjoyed it and would like another quiz one day, tell us in the comments.
And give us a thumbs up.
And why not share this video with a friend?
We’ll be back next Friday with a new video, so be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss it.
See you next week everyone.
Bye-bye.
Bye.

Check your language level

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Language levels

What does it mean to know a foreign language? Everyone has their own understanding of this notion: someone is satisfied with the level that enables them to travel freely around Europe, but for someone it is not enough to read Shakespeare’s works in original. Subjective criteria vary greatly concerning this point — from knowledge of some key phrases to an intuitive feeling for language (sometimes even those who speak it as a mother tongue can lack this talent). Nevertheless, we all study language for some purpose: to move to another country, to study at a foreign university, to use English at work.

It goes without saying that it is impossible to obtain good results at language learning when you don’t have a definite aim. Therefore, no one can go without some objective criteria, i.e. those characteristics that can be used to check your command of a foreign language in practice. That’s why below you may find the English language level scale as it is the most widespread foreign language. This scale corresponds to the CEFR system developed by the Council of Europe. Moreover, comparison between these levels and the most popular international exams (IELTS/TOEFL/Cambridge/PTE) and some advice how to master a foreign language starting from the lowest elementary level up to the highest one are also given below.

Tests and language levels comparison

Table of results comparison

How to check your foreign language level by yourself?

Today it is possible to find out your level of a foreign language even without leaving home due to many online tests. Below you may see a selection of such several tests. It is necessary to take into account that such tests do not reflect your language level precisely because usually they are found at Internet resources connected with foreign language schools. These schools offer paid or offline resources to assess your language level precisely. So, it means that even receiving results based on CEFR system you should remember about possible online tests inaccuracies. Moreover, some tests based on their content are absolutely unable to assess your language knowledge at advanced levels (C1-C2) objectively.

Some of the tests listed below require registration before starting, but there are many tests on the Internet that allow to get results only after registration at a site or after contacts with a foreign language school which is usually very annoying and takes some additional time. That is why such tests are not included in the tables.

Multipurpose online English tests

Tests of this kind include questions from different language knowledge areas: listening, reading, grammar and vocabulary. Thus it is one of the most objective way to learn your English level for free. The only obvious disadvantage is that speaking cannot be tested during these online tests.

Grammar and vocabulary online English tests

Knowledge of grammar is essential for any further language study. The following tests give you an opportunity to evaluate your English level without spending a lot of time. The results will not certainly be precise, but they can provide you with some basic information about your English.

The evaluation is based on ten-point grading scale with reference to five main criteria:

The number of tasks in each of these sections and their level of difficulty play a big role.

= Why is it important to know your language level? =

Foreign languages in practice: what is important?

The first thing you need to remember is that foreign language level can only be checked in practice. To define your real language skills by yourself is almost impossible even with the help of Internet-tests as they only define grammar knowledge and very restricted vocabulary. That is why it is better not to trust these results very much as they may differ in real life situations.

Identifying any foreign language level including English all experts pay attention to the 4 key skills: listening, reading, speaking and writing. It is these skills that are checked at various international exams. It is obvious that Internet tests can help to assess only the two first criteria, though in real life it is more important to be able to express yourself in speaking and writing.

It is difficult to assess your foreign language level by yourself not only because self-evaluation is difficult but also because the knowledge of a foreign language cannot remain constant all the time. For example, you can understand very complicated texts written at a foreign language that correspond to the advanced level, but you cannot speak fluently. It means that, on the one hand, such a person knows a foreign language at a professional level, but, on the other hand, his or her communicative skills are not developed. So, how in this case can we define our foreign language level? Professional linguists and experts define foreign language mastery according to several levels which can be applied not only to the English language but also to the majority of languages spoken all over the world.

A0 — Zero level of the English language

To be honest, there is no such a level at all, but it is worth mentioning it as 80% of self-critical beginners think surely that they have no knowledge of the English language at all. It is necessary to highlight that if a person knows how to translate the words dog or house from English into his or her own language, it means that this person already has at least some very basic knowledge of a foreign language. It doesn’t really matter what the source of this knowledge was: classes English for 2 years at school, a phrase-book that was read only once or 2 weeks of learning English with a private teacher 15 years ago — this knowledge ever received remains with you for always. It is very important because even poor basic knowledge can serve as a foundation for further studying.

If we speak about zero level of a foreign language, it means that a person doesn’t know language at all (it is true, for example, if a person speaks English as much as he or she speaks filipino). In this case you may enroll on English classes in your own country. After 3 months of studying your level will raise up to speaking level B1. If a person knows English alphabet more or less and understands what means “Hello! How are you?”, it shows that his or her level of a foreign language is A1.

How to move to the next step: start with lessons for absolute beginners where you can learn alphabet, rules of reading, key words for simple texts comprehension and 300 new words. It will take you about 2 weeks to do these things.

Level A1 — Beginner

Level A2 — Elementary

If a person with a beginner level can live without knowing about it, a person with an elementary level should remember something about some language phenomena. Again, this level is far from spoken language, but in comparison with level A1 you can make a better dialogue at this stage.

If we return to the situation when you find yourself in a foreign English or American city, the situation of communication is better here: with your elementary level of a foreign language you can not only get to the embassy, but also speak with foreigners (for example, tell them about your job or order in a cafe).

There is very little difference between levels A2 and A1 in practice, but the main advantage of the former is higher self-confidence of a speaker and larger vocabulary. Nevertheless, the possibilities for communication remain limited, therefore level A2 can only be used as a foundation for further studying and cannot be applied in practice.

A student has an elementary level of a foreign language if:

How to move to the next step: continue learning grammar, try to write small texts, learn the forms of irregular verbs, practice oral speech (you may do it via Skype or at speaking clubs), watch films in English with subtitles, learn about 500 new words.

This level is very often singled out between beginner and spoken levels. This level implies that a person already can use English to solve some real life problems, but cannot speak fluently yet. It corresponds to level A2+ or B1- with reference to grading scale of levels from A0 to C2.

In can be identified in the following way:

How to move to the next step: pay attention to skills that you lack to move to the next level and concentrate on training them in accordance with some advice given in section about level A2.

Level B1 — Intermediate level

When the foreign language competence is more than just a confusing speech about museums and restaurants situation and English texts and speech are becoming much clearer these facts indicate that a student now is at the first stage of spoken English. But apart from speaking this level includes good reading skills to deal with adapted texts as well as understanding of core English grammar. According to the statistics, it is this very level that most tourists acquire and it helps them to speak fluently with the other person on some everyday topics. Nowadays high school pupils leave school with foreign language knowledge at minimum B1 and maximum at B2 level. Nevertheless. in order to speak really fluently, you need to work hard yet.

A student has an intermediate level of a foreign language if:

How to move to the next step: become familiar with more advanced vocabulary and grammar, get better training at written English (a private tutor or sites for English self-education, e.g Polyglotclub, can be useful in this way). What is more, it is necessary to speak more with native speakers or advanced learners, follow news in English language information sources (news editions, entertainment articles, sites based on interests), watch films with English subtitles (it can seem to be quite difficult at first, but you’ll definitely see some results a bit later). It is also important to expand your vocabulary and learn no less than 1000 We understand that this number can make a reader frightened but it is not difficult to do it in real life. There are about 180 000 words in English, so one thousand is just one small part of a dictionary that helps to understand the most part of the information. If we speak about time, it will take you about 3-4 weeks of intensive study. new words.

Level B2 — Upper-intermediate level

If a student has good speaking skills (for the level more than Intermediate), can support a conversation with a foreigner, has quite good listening skills, watches English films without subtitles and translation, it means that he or she knows foreign language at level B2. It should be mentioned that such a student can be mistaken for a native speaker or foreigner by those people who don’t know English at all. Nevertheless, you need to stop deceiving yourself. Upper-intermediate is a really good achievement, but sometimes it isn’t enough for professional purposes. As for another drawback, it will be much more difficult to reach high levels after this stage in case of self-education. However, this level is quite enough to enter a foreign university with average entry requirements for their applicants, and students may surely apply for TOEFL or IELTS exams.

A student has an upper-intermediate level of a foreign language if:

How to move to the next step: study more advanced English grammar, get better training at writing texts in different styles (formal, academic, professional), get used to receive the most part of the information form English sources (e.g. you can read news only in English during several weeks), study phrasal verbs, listen to lectures and watch informative films in English, expand your vocabulary by learning at least 600 In order to move to the advanced level it is necessary to learn not so many new words, but it is more important to choose them carefully and corecctly. If the leap from level B1 to B2 is possible due to learning of large number of the most widespread words, to move to level C1 it is necessary to know quite rare but important vocabulary. It is better to take them from Wikipedia articles and other scientific articles devoted to different topics of humanities as they contain not so common but useful in further progress terms. new words.

Level C1 — Advanced level

To understand the distinction between advanced and upper-intermediate level is maybe possible only for professionals or anglophones i.e. native-born English native speakers and, of course, for a student him or herself but only if he or she has so-called feeling for language: when while speaking it becomes clear the vocabulary is used adequately, but sentences can be formed a bit differently by choosing finer words and more appropriate terms. It shows that the problem of language knowledge is turned into a problem of its correct usage, so a person now speaks English as a foreign language at a high level. It is absolutely clear that here we cannot even suppose some situation of misunderstanding. A student with C1 level has excellent listening skills and can express his / her thoughts clearly in written form. The only thing that is out of his / her power yet is reading of Shakespeare’s works or the novel Lolita written by V. Nabokov in original. This level is recommended when you apply for a job in an international company and it gives entrance to almost all foreign universities and colleges (including top ones — Yale University, University College London, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology).

A student has an advanced level of a foreign language if:

How to move to the next step: continue working with complicated English texts, read British and American works of literature in original, listen to professional lectures concerning English literature, learn English idioms and figures of speech, communicate as much as possible with native speakers.

Level C2 — Proficient

The highest step in grading scale of English levels is level C2. It should be mentioned that it is still a step not a final stage. Level C2 corresponds to excellent knowledge of English as a foreign language, its adequate and correct usage in any everyday or professional situation and to the ability to read with ease any work of fiction or professional text in English. Nevertheless, to know English at level C2 doesn’t mean to have perfect knowledge of this language as many people like to say.

Any linguists or scholars of language and literature can confirm that only a few people have perfect command of a foreign language and they become outstanding writers and great communicators. But if we look at the most obvious example — an educated London citizen — it also lies outside the scope of level C2 (usually those people who speak English since their childhood are called native speakers, and this is definitely outside the gradation level scale of English as a foreign language).

You should always remember that there is no limit to perfect your language skills further, although language knowledge of level C2 is a great result that not everyone can achieve. If you have this level, you can enter any postgraduate programme, public your works in English, deliver lectures and take part in scientific conferences. i.e. this level is enough for any professional sphere.

A student has a proficient level of a foreign language if:

How to move to the next step: spend several years in English-speaking country, for example, studying at university or during internships. And, of course, reading books in original is a must do.

What should we know about learning foreign languages?

Study foreign language by yourself is quite possible, but such learning process requires from a student a lot of strength, energy and time as well as such traits of character as being diligent, hard-working and single-minded. At first these lessons seem to be interesting but as time goes by a lack of precise curriculum, correctly set aims, time limits and a teacher who controls the process and motivates a student lead to the next failure and lack of desire to continue learning foreign language.

This is why it is better to start learning new language together with a teacher during private or group lessons. When the core material is already studied, to improve your communication skills and to expand your vocabulary you can go abroad. Without studying some time in a country where the studied language is the main one it is impossible to achieve a perfect command of it even if you use the most advanced and cutting-edge textbooks.

Contemporary language tends to change and develop every day and no study book can reflect these rapid changes. It is mainly referred to slang, borrowed words, variety of dialects etc that change the language on regular basis. It is possible to know foreign language at the level of native speakers, but in order to achieve that you should find yourself in necessary language and cultural environment, where a student will need to become a part of a foreign society, to keep up on news that appear in print media or on the Internet.

How much time do you need to learn a foreign language?

The answer to this question depends on several factors: on student’s aims, his / her diligence and industriousness and ability to pay. It is quite logical that it is possible to learn foreign language more quickly only with a help of a qualified teacher (or maybe, even native speaker). It is a good contribution to your future that will be definitely paid off but requires quite big investment.

The more quickly student wants to learn a language, the more he or she needs to pay. In theory you may need about 2,5-3 years to go through all levels (without living abroad). And in order to do this you need to attend special language courses several times a week. If you choose self-education, in this case you will need more time to learn a language. Studying abroad a student receives the same amount of knowledge but during less period of time.

Don’t expect miracles

Beginners should clearly understand that learning process takes much time and effort to overcome the desire to postpone a lesson or put off doing homework. Studying is hard and demanding work! That’s why it is impossible to learn a language during one month with the help of unique teacher’s method or using subliminal stimuli technique. Don’t expect miracles! Only the mistakes analysis and consecutive learning of new material can be helpful at needed level achievement.

Time needed for level advances

Table of English exam results comparison

This table shows the number of weeks of intensive English courses for English level advances at schools Kaplan International The correlation between tests results and English levels can be inaccurate

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