The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is a widely used framework that defines language proficiency levels in European languages, including French. The CEFR divides language proficiency into six levels, each with its own set of skills and abilities.
A1 - Beginner
- Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and basic phrases.
- Can introduce themselves and others and ask and answer questions about personal details.
- Can interact in a simple way if the other person talks slowly and clearly.
A2 - Elementary
- Can understand sentences and frequently-used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance.
- Can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters.
B1 - Intermediate
- Can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters.
- Can produce simple, connected text on familiar topics and describe experiences, events, dreams, and ambitions.
B2 - Upper Intermediate
- Can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics.
- Can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible.
C1 - Advanced
- Can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognize implicit meaning.
- Can express themselves fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions.
C2 - Proficient
- Can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read.
- Can summarize information from different spoken and written sources and reconstruct arguments in a coherent presentation.
These levels provide a framework for assessing language proficiency across various skills, including listening, reading, speaking, and writing. Language learners often take proficiency exams like DELF (Diplôme d'Études en Langue Française) or DALF (Diplôme Approfondi de Langue Française) to assess their proficiency levels in French, and these exams are aligned with the CEFR.