Six levels, three groups
The CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) defines six levels of proficiency, in three pairs:
• A1 / A2 — BASIC USER (survival level). • B1 / B2 — INDEPENDENT USER (can navigate most situations). • C1 / C2 — PROFICIENT USER (near-native).
It is descriptor-based ('I can introduce myself…') rather than test-based, so it works across exam systems. Many EU jobs, universities, and citizenship applications cite CEFR levels in requirements. Council of Europe publishes the free official descriptors in many languages.
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