CEFR levels and what they mean
What A1 to C2 describe, how the levels map to exam scores, and how to use yours to pick text.
The CEFR scale is everywhere in language learning and almost nowhere properly explained. It is a set of can-do statements, not a grammar syllabus, and the six levels are not evenly spaced.
These articles set out what each band actually describes, what the published hour estimates and exam mappings say, and — the useful part — how to turn a level into a decision about what to read next.
- Reading method
- CEFR and levels
- Vocabulary
- IELTS and TOEFL
How Many English Words Do You Actually Need?
Two thousand words gets you most of a page. Nine thousand gets you a novel. Here is why the gap between those two numbers is so large.
Read the article
How to Choose Reading Material at Your Level
Most reading plans fail because the text was wrong, not because the learner was lazy. Here is how to pick correctly, in about thirty seconds per text.
Read the articleCEFR Levels Explained: What A1 to C2 Actually Mean
A1 through C2, without the jargon: what each level means in practice, how long each one takes, and why the gaps between them are not equal.
Read the articleExtensive vs Intensive Reading: How to Split Your Time
Two reading methods, two different jobs. A practical guide to what each one actually gives you and how much of each you need.
Read the articlePractise on passages at your own level
LingoRead generates reading passages at the CEFR level you choose, with comprehension questions and a vocabulary list built from the passage itself — so the difficulty stops being a guess.
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