Beginner
A1Your first 500–700 words, simple tenses and basic conversational situations. The starting point if you are learning English from scratch
English levels on the CEFR scale
Hours of study per English level
English has six levels on the international CEFR scale: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2. Language schools match them with course names from Beginner to Proficiency. The table sets out roughly how many hours each level takes for an adult learner and what you will be able to do once you complete it.
The hours follow the Cambridge University Press research paper “How long does it take to learn a foreign language?”, the table for adult learners in a positive learning context. These are guided learning hours: classroom time plus self-study set by your teacher.
| Level (CEFR) | Hours from previous level | Total hours from start | What you will be able to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner / Elementary A1 | 90–100 | Understand and use familiar expressions, introduce yourself and keep a basic conversation going | |
| Pre-Intermediate A2 | 100–150 | Understand everyday phrases, read simple texts and describe yourself or your surroundings | |
| Intermediate B1 | 160–240 | Express your thoughts, hold a conversation on general topics and write coherent texts | |
| Upper-Intermediate B2 | 180–260 | Speak fluently with native speakers, understand complex texts and write essays and reports | |
| Advanced C1 | 200–300 | Understand demanding texts and fast speech, and take part in complex discussions | |
| Proficiency C2 | 300–400 | Understand virtually everything you hear or read and catch the finest shades of meaning in academic and literary texts |
Why this is only a rough guide
A language isn't learned by the clock. Two students can have the same number of lessons but very different results: one regularly reviews the material and listens to English outside class, while the other opens their notebook only right before the lesson.
That's why the table shows a realistic range for adult learners. It accounts not only for covering the topics, but also for the time needed to consolidate them, overcome the language barrier and use English confidently in real-life situations.
Grammar usually takes the most time, so it's worth working on it separately, at your own pace, on the English grammar course.
A closer look at each level
Pre-Intermediate
A2Confident communication in everyday situations and your first unadapted texts. The level where practical use of the language begins
Intermediate
B1The most common requirement from employers: free conversation on familiar topics, work correspondence and arguing your point of view
Upper-Intermediate
B2Fluent conversation with native speakers, films without subtitles, negotiations and presentations. Enough for work and study abroad
Advanced
C1Spontaneous, fluent speech, complex texts, subtext and humour. The level expected by top universities and international companies
Proficiency
C2The highest degree of precision, appropriateness and ease. Mostly needed by teachers, translators and researchers
Online calculator
How soon you'll master English
Pick your current level, your goal and the pace, and see a realistic timeline
Your level and goal
You
Tap the scale or drag the “You” and “Goal” markers
Lessons per week
3
Calculated for a 1.5-hour lesson plus 1 hour of self-study
Not sure about your level? Take a level test
How the timeline is calculated and what shifts it: see how long it takes to learn English.
Which of our courses covers which level
A level is easier to judge against a destination. The table maps our programmes onto the CEFR scale, so you can see where each one starts instead of guessing from its name. Two are missing on purpose: English grammar and one-to-one lessons run at any level from A1 to C2.
| Level | Courses that fit it |
|---|---|
| Beginner A1 | English from scratch, then General English |
| Pre-Intermediate A2 | General English, Spoken English, Speaking Club |
| Intermediate B1 | Business English, English for IT, English for interviews |
| Upper-Intermediate B2 | IELTS, FCE, Linguaskill Business, English for lawyers |
| Advanced C1 | Business English, IELTS, English for interviews |
| Proficiency C2 | General English, Speaking Club |
Exam courses sit at B2 and above because that is where the papers themselves begin, not because we turn anyone away earlier: below that level the sensible route is General English first. Business English and English for IT open at A2+, so B1 in the table marks the point where they stop being hard work and start being useful. Everything here is online, and the full picture of who we are is on the about page.
Levels also answer a management question, not only a personal one: which band each role in a company actually has to reach. That map, role by role, is in what English level your team needs at work.
Find out your English level
The time needed to reach each English level depends on your motivation and how regularly you study.