Testing Your Other Language (CEFR)
Why This is Different To Testing English
If your first language is English, you will be working into English, so your Other Language is the one you need to assess. This guide explains how to check your level and read your result against the CEFR scale, the standard used across the UK and Europe and on all our courses.
What the CEFR is
The CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) is the international standard for describing language ability, across six levels:
A1 (Beginner): Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases.
A2 (Elementary): Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g., basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography).
B1 (Intermediate ≈ GCSE): Can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters. For professional Translation and Interpreting, B1 is the realistic minimum.
B2 (Upper-Intermediate ≈ A-level): Can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics.
C1 (Advanced ≈ Degree): Can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognise implicit meaning.
C2 (Proficient ≈ Master’s Degree): Can understand with ease virtually everything heard or written.
Why this is harder than testing your English
For English, the British Council offers one free test with a clear CEFR result. For other languages we can’t find a single equivalent, and we found that provision varies enormously, such as:
Official national institute tests, the most credible where they exist.
University and language-school placement tests, often sound.
Commercial sites, some useful, some just marketing to sell a course or certificate.
Free versus paid
Most tests we point you to are free and give an instant, indicative result, which is all you need to choose a course.
Some sites charge for a certificate you do not need for placement.
Formal proficiency exams (the equivalent of IELTS or TOEFL) matter only if an employer or university asks for proof. We name them where they exist.
How accurate these tests are
Most assess reading, grammar and vocabulary, and only some include listening. Few test speaking or writing properly.
Most report in CEFR levels, so your result reads straight across to our course levels. Where a test uses another scale, our per-language guide explains the mapping.
On a boundary, take the lower level and contact us if unsure.
Find a test for your language
Choose your language below to see what we found, how reliable it is, and how to read your result against the CEFR scale. We are adding languages over time, so if yours is not listed, search online for a free CEFR test or contact us.
Important, please read
These are indicative self-checks to help you choose a course, not formal qualifications or a substitute for a recognised proficiency exam. We do not run them and are not responsible for their content. Availability, cost and accuracy change over time. Our research is a starting point, and you will likely need to do some of your own. If in doubt, get in touch.
