As the CEFR is so well established, your company is probably already using it.
WHAT IS IT?
The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is a scale indicating your language competency. It provides a globally accepted platform which trainers, learners and managers can use to determine a person’s language skills. In fact, as the CEFR is so well established, your company is probably already using it.
Although it was originally designed with general education in mind, the CEFR is an excellent starting point for all business English training programs. However, the CEFR does have 2 major drawbacks when it comes to business English:
- The CEFR is not specifically focussed on business-related communication.
- The CEFR levels are broad, impacting their suitability for assessing the progress of professionals with limited training availability.
| Level | Name | Learning hours required* |
| A1 | Breakthrough/Beginner | 90-100 |
| A2 | Waystage/Elementary | 180-200 |
| B1 | Threshold/Intermediate | 350-400 |
| B2 | Vantage/Upper Intermediate | 500-600 |
| C1 | Effective Operational Proficiency/Advanced | 700-800 |
| C2 | Mastery/Proficiency | 1000-1200 |
*Based on the association of language testers in Europe
The CEFR is widely accepted in and beyond Europe, and defines competency in 6 reference levels
The number of hours required to see a change in levels according to the CEFR is often unachievable for busy professionals. Using the CEFR levels to assess progress can be frustrating for learners, their managers and trainers.





