The hours are Cambridge English's guideline figures and are cumulative, representing the total guided learning hours to reach the level, rather than the gap between levels. They're a rough guide only as your pace depends on the language, how close it is to ones you already know, and how much you practise. More on this below.

A1, Breakthrough (Basic User)
The official descriptor: "Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type."

At A1 you can:

- Introduce yourself and others, and ask simple questions about where someone lives, people
they know and things they have.

- Understand and use everyday phrases and very basic expressions to meet concrete needs.

- Interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is ready to
help.

This is the absolute beginner stage. You're working with single words and set phrases more than full sentences.


A2, Waystage (Basic User)
The official descriptor: "Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment)."

 

At A2 you can:

- Communicate regarding simple, routine tasks that need a direct exchange of information on
familiar topics.
- Describe in simple terms your background, immediate environment and things you need.
- Handle short social exchanges, even if you can't usually keep the conversation going
yourself.

A2 is where survival travel becomes realistic, including ordering, shopping, and asking directions.

It is also the level Memrise’s ‘1000 Most Popular Words’ wordlists are built around: the highest-
frequency vocabulary, taught through native speaker videos so you learn words the way locals actually say them.


B1, Threshold (Independent User)
The official descriptor: "Can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar
matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc."

At B1 you can:

- Deal with most situations likely to come up while travelling where the language is spoken.
- Produce simple connected text on topics that are familiar or of personal interest.
- Describe experiences, events, hopes and ambitions, and briefly give reasons and
explanations.

B1 is the first independent level: you can get by without someone slowing down for you. Many
work and study programmes treat B1 as a minimum entry point. Reaching it takes spontaneous speaking practice, not just vocabulary. This is what Memrise’s MemBot is designed for: 190 AI conversation scenarios, from introducing yourself to ordering a coffee, that let you rehearse real exchanges without the pressure of a real stranger

B2, Vantage (Independent User)
The official descriptor: "Can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in their field of specialisation."

At B2 you can:

- Interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular conversation with native speakers possible without strain on either side.
- Produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects.
- Explain a viewpoint on a topical issue, giving the pros and cons of different options.

B2 is the level most people mean when they say they're "fluent" for practical purposes. They are
comfortable at work, in study and socially. This level is often required for university entry and
skilled-work visas.

C1, Effective Operational Proficiency (Proficient User)
The official descriptor: "Can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognise implicit meaning."

At C1 you can:

- Express yourself fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for words.
- Use the language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes.
- Produce clear, well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects that is well-organised.

C1 is genuinely advanced. You can read between the lines, handle demanding texts, and operate in professional and academic settings.

C2, Mastery (Proficient User)
The official descriptor: "Can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read."

At C2 you can:

- Summarise information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing
arguments and accounts coherently.
- Express yourself spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, distinguishing finer shades of
meaning even in complex situations.

C2 is near-native command. It is worth saying clearly that C2 is not the same as being a native speaker, and it isn't a goal everyone needs. It signals mastery for advanced academic or professional use.


How long does each level take?
The cumulative hours in the table above come from Cambridge English and are meant to provide a planning guide, not a promise. A few honest caveats:

- They're cumulative. Reaching B2 takes roughly 500-600 total guided hours; the jump from B1 to B2 is a slice of that, rather than the full number.

- Cambridge's published figures start at A2. The ~70-100 hours shown for A1 is a widely used
estimate, and not an official Cambridge number.

- The language matters. For an English speaker, Spanish or French tend to be easier to learn. Languages such as Japanese, Arabic and Mandarin often take far longer to reach the same CEFR level.

- Guided hours assume teaching plus study. Self-study with an app, daily practice and real
exposure all change the maths.

Treat the numbers as a sense of scale: A1 is typically weeks, while B2 is a year or two of steady effort, and C2 is a long-term project.


How CEFR maps to common exams
CEFR is the common reference, so most exams publish where they sit on it:

 

There are two things to keep in mind. First, these are approximate. Exam boards stress that each range of tests measure slightly different things, so a conversion is a close equivalent, not an exact swap. If you need a specific IELTS band, you have to sit for the IELTS test. Second, TOEFL iBT changed in January 2026 to a new 1-6 scale aligned directly to the CEFR, so the older 0-120 score charts are being phased out. Check the current TOEFL guidance for the latest mapping.

How to find your CEFR level
● Take a placement test. Free online CEFR or "what's my level" tests provide a quick estimate.
Most language apps, including Memrise, place you near the right level when you start so
you're not stuck practising words you already know. If you are learning English, Memrise
also offers a free CEFR level checker that places you on the scale in a few minutes, and the
app then tracks your CEFR level as you progress.
● Read the can-do statements honestly. Find the highest level where you can do everything
on the list comfortably, that's your level, not the one where you can do a few things.
● Check per skill. You'll often read above your speaking level. Note them separately if it
matters, such as for a job or a visa).
● Sit for an official exam if you need proof. Universities, employers and immigration bodies
usually require a recognised certificate from Cambridge English, IELTS or TOEFL, rather than
a self-assessment.

 

FAQ

What are CEFR levels A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2?

These are the six proficiency levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for
Languages. A1 and A2 are Basic User, B1 and B2 are Independent User, and C1 and C2 are
Proficient User. A1 is beginner, while C2 is near-native mastery.

What CEFR level is considered fluent?
There's no official "fluent" level on the CEFR. In everyday terms, B2 is where most people feel
fluent. At this level, you can converse with native speakers without strain and handle work and study.C1 and C2 are advanced and near-native. For confident social and professional use, B2 is the usual target.

What CEFR level is Duolingo?
Duolingo says its more developed courses are designed to take learners towards roughly B2,
with the bigger courses, such as English, Spanish and French, covering more of the CEFR range than newer or smaller ones. Note that this is for the Duolingo app. The separate Duolingo English Test reports your result against the CEFR directly.

What CEFR level is Memrise?
Rather than targeting a single level, Memrise organises its content around the framework:
wordlists such as ‘1000 Most Popular Words’ and General Vocabulary are tailored to CEFR
levels, and the features scale with you. Native speaker videos and pronunciation practice build the listening skills the A levels demand, the sentence builder moves you from single words to connected sentences as you approach B1, and MemBot’s 190 AI conversations provide the
spontaneous speaking practice that defines B1 and above. English learners can also check and
track their CEFR level for free in the app.

What is a good CEFR level?
This depends on your goal. For travel and basic conversation, A2-B1 is plenty. For working,
studying or living in the language, aim for B2. For academic study or professional use where
precision matters, C1 is a good target. Most learners don't need to reach C2.

How many CEFR levels are there?

Six: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2. Some courses and exams add in-between markers (like A2+ or
B1+), but the official framework has six.