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
The Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) has six main levels of English, from A1 to C2. The Council of Europe developed it so that language ability is described in the same way from one country to the next. The table shows what you can do at each one and roughly how many hours an adult needs to get there.
| Level (CEFR) | Hours from previous level | Total hours from start | What you will be able to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner 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 |
The hours come from the Cambridge University Press paper “How long does it take to learn a foreign language?”. The authors estimated them for adult learners in a positive learning context, drawing on their experience of course design and the views of ELT professionals. These are guided learning hours: classroom time plus self-study set by your teacher.
Unsure where you stand? The level test takes about five minutes.
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.
Your pace depends on how regularly you study, on self-study, practice and your starting level. That is why the table gives a range of hours for each level.
If grammar is what holds you back, you can work on it separately on the English grammar course without repeating the whole level.
A closer look at each level
Pre-Intermediate
A2Confident communication in everyday situations and your first authentic 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. May meet the language requirements of some study and visa programmes
Advanced
C1Spontaneous, fluent speech, complex texts, subtext and humour. The level some universities and international companies require
Proficiency
C2The highest degree of precision, appropriateness and ease. Mostly needed by teachers, translators and researchers
Interactive calculator
How long it will take to reach your goal
Pick your level, your goal and how many lessons a week, and the calculator will show 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
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 in the table because that is the level most of these papers certify, and IELTS preparation can start from B1; we do not turn anyone away earlier. Below that level the sensible route is General English first. Business English and English for IT are open from A2, though most learners get the full benefit from B1. 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 test will help you work out which level to start from.