Or in courses, you will definitely come across the concept of “English language levels” or “English language proficiency levels”, as well as such incomprehensible designations as A1, B2, and more understandable Beginner, Intermediate and so on. From this article, you will learn what these formulations mean and what levels of knowledge of the language distinguish, as well as how to determine your level of english.

The levels of English were invented so that language learners could be divided into groups with approximately similar knowledge and skills in reading, writing, speaking and writing, as well as to simplify testing procedures, exams, for various purposes related to emigration, study abroad and employment. Such a classification helps in recruiting students into a group and preparing teaching aids, methods, and language teaching programs.

Of course, there is no clear boundary between the levels, this division is rather conditional, necessary not so much for students as for teachers. In total, there are 6 levels of language proficiency, there are two types of division:

• Levels A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2,
• Beginner, Elementary, Intermediate, Upper Intermediate, Advanced, Proficiency levels.

In fact, these are just two different names for the same thing. These 6 levels are divided into three groups.

Table: English language proficiency levels

The classification was developed in the late eighties - early nineties of the last century, it is fully called the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment (abbr. CERF).

English levels: detailed description

Beginner level (A1)

At this level you can:

• Understand and use familiar everyday expressions and simple phrases aimed at solving specific problems.
• Introduce yourself, introduce other people, ask simple personal questions, such as “Where do you live?”, “Where are you from?”, be able to answer such questions.
• Maintain a simple conversation if the other person speaks slowly, clearly, and helps you.

Many who studied English at school speak the language at about the Beginner level. From the vocabulary only elementary mother, father, help me, my name is, London is the capital. You can understand well-known words and expressions by ear if they speak very clearly and without an accent, as in audio lessons for a textbook. You understand texts like the “Exit” sign, and in a conversation with the help of gestures, using individual words, you can express the simplest thoughts.

Elementary level (A2)

At this level you can:

• Understand common expressions on general topics such as: family, shopping, work, etc.
• Talk about simple everyday topics, using simple phrases.
• Tell in simple terms about yourself, describe simple situations.

If at school you had 4 or 5 in English, but after some time did not use English, then most likely you speak the language at the Elementary level. TV shows in English will not be understood, except perhaps for individual words, but the interlocutor, if he speaks clearly, in simple phrases of 2-3 words, in general, you will understand. You can also incoherently and with long pauses for reflection tell the simplest information about yourself, say that the sky is blue and the weather is clear, express a simple wish, make an order at McDonald's.

Beginner - Elementary levels can be called "survival level", Survival English. It is enough to "survive" during a trip to a country where the main language is English.

Intermediate level (B1)

At this level you can:

• Understand the general meaning of distinct speech on general, familiar topics related to everyday life (work, study, etc.)
• Cope with the most typical situations on a trip, travel (at the airport, in a hotel, etc.)
• Write simple connected text on topics that are common or familiar to you personally.
• Retell events, describe hopes, dreams, ambitions, be able to briefly talk about plans and explain your point of view.

Vocabulary and knowledge of grammar is enough to write simple essays about yourself, describe cases from life, write a letter to a friend. But in most cases, oral speech lags behind written speech, you confuse tenses, think over a phrase, pause to pick up a preposition (to or for?), but you can more or less communicate, especially if there is no shyness or fear of making a mistake.

It is much more difficult to understand the interlocutor, and if it is a native speaker, and even with fast speech and a bizarre accent, then it is almost impossible. However, simple, clear speech is understood well, provided that the words and expressions are familiar. You generally understand if the text is not very complex, and with some difficulty understand the general meaning without subtitles.

Level Upper Intermediate (B2)

At this level you can:

• Understand the general meaning of complex text on concrete and abstract topics, including technical (specialized) topics in your profile.
• Speak quickly enough so that communication with a native speaker occurs without long pauses.
• Compose clear, detailed text on various topics, explain the point of view, give arguments for and against various points of view on the topic.

Upper Intermediate is already a good, sound, confident command of the language. If you are talking on a well-known topic with a person whose pronunciation you understand well, then the conversation will go quickly, easily, naturally. An outside observer will say that you are fluent in English. However, you can be confused by words and expressions related to topics that are poorly understood by you, all sorts of jokes, sarcasm, allusions, slang.

You are asked to answer 36 questions to test listening, writing, speaking and grammar.

It is noteworthy that to test listening comprehension, phrases like “London is the capital” recorded by the speaker are not used, but short excerpts from films (Puzzle English specializes in learning English from films and TV shows). In English-language films, the speech of the characters is close to how people speak in real life, so the test may seem harsh.

Chandler from Friends doesn't have the best pronunciation.

To check the letter, you need to translate several phrases from English into Russian and from Russian into English. The program provides several translation options for each phrase. To test knowledge of grammar, a completely ordinary test is used, where you need to choose one option from several proposed ones.

But you are probably wondering how the program can test the skill of speaking? Of course, an online English proficiency test will not test your speech as a person, but the test developers came up with an original solution. In the task, you need to listen to a phrase from the movie and choose a cue that is suitable for continuing the dialogue.

Talking is not enough, you also need to understand the interlocutor!

The ability to speak English consists of two skills: to understand the speech of the interlocutor by ear and to express one's thoughts. This task, albeit in a simplified form, tests how you cope with both tasks.

At the end of the test, you will be shown a complete list of questions with the correct answers, you will find out where you made mistakes. And of course, you will see a chart showing your level on a scale from Beginner to Upper Intermediate.

2. Test to determine the level of English with a teacher

To get a professional, “live” (not automated, as in tests) assessment of the level of English, you need English teacher who will test you with assignments and an interview in English.

This consultation is free of charge. Firstly, there may be a language school in your city that offers free language testing and even a trial lesson. Now this is a common practice.

In short, I signed up for a trial test lesson, got in touch on Skype at the appointed time, and the teacher Alexandra and I held a lesson, during which she “tortured” me in every possible way with various tasks. All communication was in English.

My trial lesson on SkyEng. Checking grammar knowledge.

At the end of the lesson, the teacher explained to me in detail in which direction I should develop my English, what problems I had, and a little later she sent a letter with a detailed description of the level of language skills (with grades on a 5-point scale) and methodological recommendations.

This method took some time: three days passed from the application to the lesson, and the lesson itself lasted about 40 minutes. But it is much more interesting than any online test.

Friends! I don't do tutoring right now, but if you need a teacher, I recommend this wonderful site- there are native (and non-native) teachers there 👅 for all occasions and for every pocket 🙂 I myself went through more than 80 lessons with teachers that I found there! I advise you to try it too!

Self-critical people like to repeat that they don't know anything (although in fact they can speak the language at a level closer to the average and continue to regularly enroll in English courses), and conceited people claim in an interview that they speak English perfectly (when in fact, again, they can be “average”).

For the most impatient, who check their level after each cup of coffee, the buttons are displayed at the top. This is done for your convenience: no tedious text searches, click on health and get your certificates - we don't mind.

And for the most assiduous who are not used to guessing on coffee grounds, we offer to plunge into multi-level English. With feeling, sense, arrangement, we will talk about how Elementary differs from Intermediate and whether Advanced is as scary as it is painted.

Basically, he will evaluate the fundamental base - i.e. grammar. However, the degree of proficiency in foreign speech depends on it. Because you can chat incessantly in English, but at the same time make so many mistakes that the interlocutor can hardly guess what the conversation is about. Or you can make sentences slowly in oral speech, weighing each word without making gross mistakes - and thus create the impression of a person who speaks English well.

Level 0 - Complete beginner(or Complete...beginner)

Just don't say now that it's you. If you know the name of the letter "i" or even remember something from the school like "teacher", "book" - feel free to move on. Zero level - only for those who studied another language at school. Or not studied at all.

Level 1 - Elementary(Elementary)

Holmes would be happy with such a name. And the majority of those who graduated from regular high school - too. Because this level, unfortunately, is the most common among those who learned English through a stump-deck and happily got a “three” at the final exam.
What characterizes Elementary: you can quite tolerably read many words (especially without any gh, th, ough), there are mother, father, I am from Russia and other most common phrases in the vocabulary, and you can sometimes catch something from the song that familiar.

Level 2 - Upper-Elementary(Higher Elementary)

A good student of an ordinary school with the study of English can boast of such a level. And also quite often it is on Upper-Elementary for some reason that those who studied the language on their own decide to stop. Why? Because there is an illusion of knowing English: the vocabulary is already decent enough to support some basic topics of conversation (in any case, in a hotel abroad it will already be possible to express oneself without obscene gestures), reading usually goes quite well, and even American films in the original become more or less clear (25 percent).
However, such conclusions are misleading. Especially if you look at other levels of English.
You can jump from the usual Elementary to Upper in 80 hours if you work hard.

Level 3 - Pre-Intermediate(Lower Intermediate)

If you passed the English level test and got such a result - our congratulations. Because it's a very decent command of English. It occurs in ordinary school excellent students, specialized school students and the bulk of those who combine English courses with trips abroad.
What characterizes this level: in pronunciation there are no “f” or “t” instead of [θ] and in general the speech of such a student does not have a strong Russian accent, written speech is quite literate and completely understandable, you can even communicate on unfamiliar topics using simple sentences. In general - among the levels of English, Pre-Intermediate is most often found among serious students.

Level 4 - Intermediate(Average level)

A very worthy result. Practically unattainable for schoolchildren in a regular school and quite real for those who did not mess around in English lessons in a specialized school. Among self-learners of English, not everyone reaches this level. They usually give up at the previous one, because you can reach Intermediate in about half a year of foreign courses with accommodation, a year of good courses or a year of classes with a tutor.
What characterizes this level of English: a clear pronunciation, a good vocabulary, the ability to communicate on various topics, the ability to compose complex written appeals (up to official documents), films in English with subtitles go with a bang.
With this level, you can already take international tests TOEFL, IELTS.

Level 5 - Upper Intermediate(Upper middle level)

If you passed the test for the level of English and received such a result, then you can almost without deception write in your resume for a position: "English is fluent." College graduates at the Faculty of Foreign Languages ​​usually reach this level.
What is characterized by: skillful manipulation of different styles in his speech (business, conversational, etc.), almost flawless pronunciation, the ability to act as a simultaneous interpreter in an informal setting, fluent reading, understanding the most difficult style - the language of newspapers and magazines in English, deft compilation of even particularly complex sentence structures.

Level 6 - Advanced(Advanced)

This is probably the pinnacle that learners of English can reach in a country where it is not official. Those who manage to speak at the Advanced level are usually perceived by interlocutors as people who have lived in the United States or another English-speaking country for several years.
In fact, you can achieve Advanced even at the Faculty of Foreign Languages ​​in a college, not to mention universities. And this proves that 5 years, during which it will be spread out for 1-2 hours a day to study English, is enough. And if you choose intensive courses, the result will be achieved even earlier.
What characterizes the level of English Advanced: by right it is fluency in English. Pronunciation with almost no accent, conducting formal and informal conversations, working as a simultaneous interpreter, fully understanding films / books / songs in the original, no grammatical errors in written speech and minimal errors in oral speech, understanding of idioms and colloquial expressions. You can confidently plan a career abroad, as well as studying in foreign universities.

Level 7 - Super-Advanced(Super Advanced)

Are there any here? If yes, then the computer, most likely, failed on the test for the level of English.) For language proficiency at this level is the lot of natives living in a country where English is the official language.
What characterizes the Super-Advanced level? Imagine… yourself speaking Russian. You will understand any speech, even if it is a conversation between two emo teenagers discussing topics unknown to you. You will understand even jargon. But with all this, you yourself also own the art of the word, deftly operating with terms and folding them into beautiful sentences, without mistakes (including stylistic ones). And now - the same in English. Well, how?

Dia friend! Are you already feeling itchy in your fingers? Are the belts fastened? And are you still here?
Click on the button - and go! Do not forget to insert paper into the printer to print the certificate and proudly show it to everyone interested.

specially for

Make your choice and get a certificate
	If you only know the Terminator phrase in English or decide to test the theory of probability “what if you answer at random” - do not bother, get a novice certificate (“Full Beginner”) and rejoice.		And for all those who suffer to test their knowledge and get documentary evidence of their success - click the "determine your level of English" button and take the test. Be honest with yourself! And may English be with you. Advanced.

When you have already mastered the initial level, it's time to move on - Pre-intermediate will allow you to master new syntactic and lexical schemes, and pay attention to communication skills.

At this stage, it is meant to study new, complex topics of grammar and expand the base of words through new variants of lexical forms. For example, our teachers will analyze in detail the types of questions in English and talk about universal answers, as well as consider the nuances of correct pronunciation. The topic of English tenses is one of the most difficult, more than one lesson is devoted to it, however, knowledge of the rules will make it possible to understand the text even in cases where you do not know some of the words.

Thanks to experienced teachers and a methodology that has proven to be very effective, English Club TV channel cycles will allow you to learn English without boredom. Expressions and a set of words from the lessons can be put into practice right away, and interesting topics will help you get to know London and Britain in general.

Building a successful career in an international company and need to pass IELTS or TOEFL? The exams necessarily include not only a conversational block, but also an English grammar test, so it is worth planning your preparation taking this fact into account. Our programs are aimed at the uniform study of all levels of the language, which will help you successfully cope with any test.

Pre-intermediate videos

• Everything is great until students are faced with one unpleasant aspect of learning English - the need to know grammar. Many people hate grammar lessons if the material is not presented well enough. And doing exercises or reading books seems boring to them. To solve this problem, you need to not just memorize grammar rules, but try to speak English as often as possible, applying these rules. Sheryl Lowe, host of City Grammar, is here to help. In this program, she walks around the bustling city, showing viewers the local […]

• For those people who are learning business English, and have already overcome the initial level, it is important to replenish vocabulary at an accelerated pace, memorize official expressions and phrases. And where can you hear these phrases more often than in the news release? Having mastered the standard language constructions, you will be able to freely express your thoughts and keep up a conversation on given topics. This is exactly what the average level of knowledge of English implies. ECTV Simple NEWS video lessons are not just educational material that will help you learn English quickly and efficiently. It […]

• English Club TV offers a new approach to learning English. In the program "English Up" viewers are told about the way of life of the British. The host of the program is a native speaker. His lessons cover topics ranging from public transport in the UK to eating habits. At the end of each program, viewers can take a test to see how well they have learned the material. English Up is a great show for English learners!

• Is learning English not your only goal? Do you want to expand your knowledge in different areas and become a real erudite? Then our program is just for you. This is not just boring encyclopedic knowledge. This is the most incredible thing that nature can surprise us with. All the information in Flash Facts is accompanied by a great visual design, so it will be much easier to perceive and remember. This will help increase comprehension and make video English lessons even more interesting. Coming to the middle […]

• Do you know how to learn English grammar without boring textbooks? With the Grammar Wise program, studying will turn into an exciting experience. The programs are designed specifically for students with a Pre-Intermediate language level (below average). Tom Headley, host of the program, shows videos of interesting life situations. Then he explains in detail which grammatical rules were used by native speakers in the conversation. The conversations are divided into several parts. After each part, the facilitator asks a few questions regarding the grammar rules used in the video.

• If you often make grammar mistakes, "Grammar Wise" is a great choice for you. This program consists of a series of video lessons that will help you improve your level of English easily. In each episode, Host Tom Headley shows interesting videos to help you improve your grammar. At the end of each lesson, you will be able to test yourself by answering a few questions on the topic covered. Grammar Wise will help you speak English confidently.

• English is the universal language used throughout the world. Studying it has many benefits. The ability to communicate with people from different countries opens the door to a world of possibilities. The hosts of “Here and there” tell interesting facts about different countries. Stories are accompanied by photos or videos. At the end of each broadcast, viewers are asked to complete several tasks related to the lesson. For example, connect images with words or complete sentences. “Here and there” is a great program that will help you learn grammar, become fluent in […]

• In the modern world, for many people, exhausting gymnastic exercises seem like a waste of time and a boring task. They have no motivation to play sports and lead a healthy lifestyle. "Keep fit" is a program that makes sports interesting even for the laziest, and also helps to learn English. Trainers show and explain different exercises in English. The lessons are simple and understandable to everyone. They help adults and children lead a healthy lifestyle. Play sports and learn a language with […]

• Do you want to speak English like a native speaker? “Perfect English” is a series of video lessons designed for those who want to improve their pronunciation. The transmission takes place outdoors. The presenter walks around different parts of the UK and tells the audience about them. She explains in great detail how to pronounce sounds correctly in certain words. “Perfect English” is a program for students with a level of language proficiency from elementary to intermediate.

• “Say it right” is a program for those who want to learn or improve their pronunciation. The words are spoken slowly and clearly so that the viewer can understand. First of all, the teacher tells the theory of certain sounds. Then he uses them in words, after which he combines these words into sentences. The viewer is given time to repeat sounds and words after the leader. Moreover, the program tells interesting facts about the origin of words and their use in our time.

• “Speak up” is a fun program that helps viewers learn various idioms. The host of the program analyzes and explains their meaning, origin and use in speech. She shows how to pronounce these idioms correctly and in what position the facial muscles should be. Lessons help viewers learn new set expressions, as well as improve their pronunciation.

• This program will help you learn English words related to everyday topics. Chris, the host of the program, names the items we all use every day, as well as the activities we do every day. For example, in one of the lessons, he appears in the bathroom with a toothbrush and toothpaste, explaining his actions step by step in English. All words used by the presenter are displayed on the screen. Learn everyday English with the “Step by step” program!

• Step-by-Step is a program that helps you improve your English language skills, whether it's everyday communication or business English. These exciting programs are useful for students of all ages. Each of them includes different aspects of learning English, such as improving listening, speaking and writing skills. The best thing about these lessons is that you can watch them over and over again until you master the lesson.

  Regularity is the basis of any learning, and even more so when it comes to learning a language. If at least at the end of the week you can afford to set aside an hour for study, then The week in Review program is great for you. With it, you will really save time, you will not only learn English, but also get acquainted with the most important world events over the past week. Our video English lessons have acquired a news form not by chance. The vocabulary in these shows is perfect for […]

What does English grammar look like by levels?

In this post, we will discuss in detail what grammar is taught at different levels of learning English - from beginner to advanced. Let's see examples of this grammar and do a little test.

Just in case, let me remind you that grammar is just one aspect of learning a language. Necessary, useful, yes. But far from the only one.

And how good it would be - I learned grammar and, consider, mastered English))

English grammar by levels

You will see that often the same grammar is repeated at different levels. Read more about why this happens in. Briefly:

• not all grammatical constructions are learned the first time (repetition is the mother of learning)))
• at lower levels, phenomena are considered separately from each other, and at higher levels they are compared with each other
• as the level of English improves, it turns out that each grammatical construction has nuances and subtleties, about which insidious teachers are silent for the time being, so as not to create confusion

English grammar by levels - in different textbooks - looks about the same. Therefore, I will take as a basis one of the most popular textbooks - English File.

By the way, this English grammar by levels can be a kind of test. Take a look at any section and see if you understand sentences with grammar examples? But - more importantly - do you use such constructions in speech? If not, it might not be your level yet. If yes, go to the next level and do the same.

English grammar by levels - a short way to the desired section:

Grammar level Beginner / Starter

At the Beginner level, the basics of the basics go through - the simplest constructions. At the same time - and the most important, because all the complex grammar of higher levels will be based on them.

At this level, a lot of attention is paid to forms - again, to achieve a certain automatism in simple things like I am, you are, he is. Grammar constructions at the Beginner level are mostly treated separately from each other to avoid confusion of comparisons and nuances.

What grammar pass at the level Beginner / Starter	Grammar example
statements denial questions	I "m from Russia / You" re in class 2 / He "s 30 years old. I "m not from Moscow / You aren" t late / He isn't French. Am I late? Are you from the UK? Is he French? How are you? Where is he from?
The only and plural number	a book - books a watch - watches an umbrella - umbrellas
this, these that, those	What's that? What are those?
Possessive pronouns	he - his / she - her / it - its
Possessive "s	Maria "s children, John"s birthday, my parents" car
adjectives	It "s a fast car - This car is fast They "re expensive shoes - These shoes are expensive
statements denial questions	I have breakfast at home / She lives in a flat. I don't go to work by bus / She doesn't have a pet. Do you understand me? / Does she work here? Where do you live? / When does she start work?
Adverbs (adverbs of frequency)	always, usually often, sometimes, hardly ever, never
Questions with be and do	Where are you from? / Where do you live?
can, can't	I can play the guitar / I can "t sing. / Can I park here?
like, love, hate with gerund	I like swimming / I love reading I hate doing housework
Present Continuous	I "m driving to the airport at the moment What are you doing?
There is / there are	There is a bar in this hotel but there aren't any restaurants.
past simple: was / were regular verbs (regular verbs) irregular verbs (Irregular Verbs)	I was born in 1988. Where were you at 7 o "clock last night? I arrived in Stockholm early in the morning. What time did you arrive? I bought some souvenirs. What did you buy?
Present Continuous for future tense	I"m arriving in Venice on April 10. Where are you staying?

Elementary Grammar

The Elementary level is very similar to the previous level. I will say more, often instead of Beginner, my students and I take on Elementary right away, we just go through it a little more carefully.

Grammar Elementary almost one to one repeats the grammar of the previous level.

What grammar pass at the level Elementary	Grammar examples
to be: am / is / are statements denial questions	My name "s Anna / You" re early / My email address is... I "m not English / It isn't far Where are you from? / What's your phone number? How old are you?
Possessive pronouns	I - my / you - your / we - our / they - their he - his / she - her / it - its
The only and plural number	a book - books / a watch - watches an umbrella - umbrellas a man - men, a woman - women, a person - people
this, these that, those	What's this? What are these? How much is this bag? What's that? What are those?
adjectives	It "s an empty box- This box is empty. They're cheap / quite cheap / really cheap
imperative inclination (imperative) Let's	Open the door / Sit down / Turn off your mobile. Let's take a break / Let's go to the cinema.
statements denial questions	I wear glasses / They drink tea / It rains a lot I don't have children / They don't live here / It doesn't work Do you live in a flat? / Does she speak German? What time does it open?
Possessive "s Whose	Justin Bieber's sister, George Clooney's father Whose bag is it?
prepositions of time and places	at 7am, in the morning, at the weekend, in March on Monday, at school, in the park
Adverbs	always, usually, often, sometimes, hardly ever, never every day, twice a week, three times a year
can / can't	Where can I park? / I can't hear you.
Present Continuous	What's happening? What are you looking at?
object pronouns	I - me / we - us / they - them he - him / she - her / it - it
like/love/enjoy don't mind hate with gerund	I like / love / enjoy reading in bed. I don't mind cooking. I hate getting up early.
	Are you a fan of any band? When do you usually listen to music?
past simple was / were regular verbs (regular verbs) irregular verbs (incorrect ch.)	Where were you? I was at a party last weekend / They were angry They chatted and listened to music. What did they do? I wore a black dress. What did you wear?
there is / there are some / any	There's a dining room. There are three bedrooms. Are there any neighbors? There are some paintings.
there was/there were	Was there a mini-bar in your room? There were 3 other guests.
Countable and uncountable nouns	an apple, a banana some sugar, some rice We need some sugar / There isn't any milk.
how much / how many a lot of, some, none	How much free time do you have? How many friends do you have on Facebook?
Comparative adjectives	A proton is heavier than an electron. Mosquitoes are more dangerous than sharks. good - better / bad - worse / far - further
Excellent adjectives	It's the longest river in the world. It's the most popular art gallery in the world.
Going to plans	I "m going to travel round Europe.
Going to for predictions	You're going to like it.
Adverbs	speak fast, know him well, drive carefully
Verbs with infinitive	want to talk to you, would like to learn to cook need to stop
Articles	I "m a student / It" s the oldest university in Europe.
Present Perfect	I "ve seen Harry Potter but I haven't read the book. Have you ever eaten sushi?

Pre-intermediate grammar

At the Pre-intermediate level, they are already starting to compare different designs with each other and find out the nuances. Why is somewhere better to say I study economics, and somewhere I'm studying economics.

What grammar pass at the level Pre-intermediate	Grammar example
Word order in questions	Do you speak English? What languages ​​do you speak? Did you go out last night? Where did you go?
Present Simple	She has a lot of hobbies. We don't get on very well.
Present Continuous	John is wearing a suit today! He usually wears jeans.
past simple	Where did you go on holiday last year? We went to Italy.
	When you called me, I was talking to my boss.
unions	although, but, so, because
going to plans forecasts	What are you going to do when you leave school? We are going to be late for work!
Present Continuous for future agreements	I "m meeting Joe at 3 o" clock. When are you coming back?
Relative clauses	This is the restaurant where they make great pizza.
Present Perfect yet, just, already	I"ve just started a new job. I "ve already seen this film. / Have you finished yet?
Present Perfect and Past Simple	Have you ever been to Mexico? When did you go there?
something / anything nothing (where / one)	Did anyone phone? No, no one. Is there anywhere to park?
Comparative adjectives and adverbs	Driving is more dangerous than flying. I "m as tall as my brother. Can you speak more slowly, please?
Excellent adjectives	It "s the best film I"ve seen this year. It "s the worst meal I" ve ever eaten.
Quantifiers	how much / how many / too / enough
will / won't / shall forecasts, spontaneous decisions promises, etc.	Shall I open the window? You'll like it. I think I'll go home now. I'll always love you.
Use infinitive	Try not to talk about politics. I came to this school to learn English. Be careful not to drive too fast.
Using -ing form (gerund)	Waking up early in the morning makes me happy. He left without saying goodbye.
Modal verbs have to, don't have to must, mustn't	I have to get up at seven every day. I don't have to wear a uniform. You mustn't leave your bags here.
should	What do you think I should do? You should see a doctor.
First Conditional (first conditional)	If I miss the last train, I "ll get a taxi.
Possessive pronouns	mine, yours, theirs, ours his, hers, its
Second Conditional (second conditional)	I "d do more exercise if I had more time. What would you do if you won a million dollars?
Present Perfect for, since	How long have you lived here? I "ve known her for 15 years / since we were children.
passive present and past	Nowadays a lot of toys are made in China. This morning I was woken up by the neighbor's dog.
used to	She used to wear glasses.
might	She might come with us, she's not sure yet.
	into, out of, over, along, across, through
So do/am/did I Neither do / am / did I	I "m married. - So am I. I don "t know him. - Neither do I.
past perfect	The show had already finished by the time I arrived.
Reported speech (indirect speech)	He said that he was hungry. She told me that her car had broken down.
Questions without auxiliary verbs	How many people came to the meeting? Who invented the radio?

Grammar at the Intermediate level

At the Intermediate level, they also compare already familiar phenomena with each other and, of course, study new ones.

What grammar pass at the level intermediate	Grammar example
action / non-action	I never cook vs What are you cooking? I have a dog vs I "m having lunch I think it "s a good idea vs I" m thinking about you
Future: will / won't going to Present Continuous	I "ll help you. Do you think it" ll rain? You"ll love this film! I "m going to buy a new car. Barcelona are going to win. They are getting married in October.
Present Perfect vs Past Simple	I "ve been to London before. He hasn" t found a new job yet. When did you go there? How did the interview go?
Present Perfect Pres. Perf. Continuous for, since	They"ve known each other for 5 years / since 2010. I"ve been studying English for 10 years. How long have you been waiting?
Degrees of comparison adjectives (comparative adj., superlative adj.)	My brother is a bit/much taller than me. This chair isn't as comfortable as that one. It's the most expensive city in the world. He "s the smartest person I" ve ever met.
Articles	I saw a nice house with a fancy porch. The porch was decorated with plants.
can, could, be able to	I can sing. I could swim when I was 4. I "ve never been able to dance. I" d like to be able to draw.
must / mustn "t have to / don't have to should / shouldn't	You must wear a seatbelt / You mustn "t exceed the speed limit. Do I have to pay now? / You don't have to come. You should stop smoking / You shouldn't drink so much coffee.
past simple Past continuous past perfect	When I got home, my family had dinner. When I got home, my family were having dinner. When I got home, my family had had dinner.
usually vs used to	I usually get up at 6am. I used to get up at 11 when I was unemployed.
The Passive (all times)	A lot of films are shot on location. The film is being shot. The film has been shot. The film will be shot on location.
might, must, can("t) for guesswork	She might like the idea. This must be difficult for you! You can't be serious!
First Conditional future time clauses	The boss won "t be happy if you are late for work again. As soon as you get your exam results, call me.
Second Conditional	What would you do if you met a celebrity? If I were you, I "d buy a new car.
Reported speech (indirect speech)	I asked him if he wanted to join us. She told me she had lost her wallet.
Gerund and infinitive (gerund and infinitive)	I "m not good at remembering names. I don" t mind getting up early. Shopping is my favorite pastime. I don't know what to do. My house is easy to find. Try not to make a noise.
Third Conditional	If I had known about the party, I would have gone.
Quantifiers	I eat a lot of chocolate. She earns a lot. We have plenty of time. There aren't enough parks. There's too much traffic.
Relative clauses	That's the house where I was born.
Question tags	They live in New York, don't they? You aren't angry, are you?

Upper-intermediate grammar

By the advanced level of Upper-intermediate, the basics of the basics are usually enlightened. The basics have already been completed. It remains to repeat them a little and proceed to the interesting and subtleties of grammar.

What grammar pass at the level Upper-intermediate	Grammar examples
Question formation (word order in questions)	Are you talking about me? What are you talking about? What time does it open? Do you know what time it opens?
Auxiliary verbs (auxiliary verbs)	I like dogs, but my wife doesn't. - I loved the film! - So did I. - I "ve finished. - Have you?
the ... the ... comparisons	The sooner, the better. The longer you wait, the worse it gets.
Present Perfect vs Present Perfect Continuous	She has been writing novels since she was a student. She's written 30 novels.
Adjectives as nouns adjective order (adjectives as nouns, adjective order)	The Chinese invented paper. The poor are getting poorer. They need to create more jobs for the unemployed. I bought a beautiful Italian leather bag.
Narrative tenses: past simple, past continuous, past perfect Past Perfect Continuous	We had been flying for about two hours when suddenly the captain told us to fasten our seat belts because we were flying into a thunderstorm. When this happened, most passengers hadn't finished their meals yet.
so ... that such ... that	There was so much traffic that we nearly missed the flight. It was such a great show that I want to see it again.
Position of adverbs and adverbial phrases (adverbs)	He walks slowly. I "ve almost finished. Ideally, we should leave at 8.
Future Perfect Future Continuous	They will have finished painting the house by Monday. Don't phone between 6 and 7, we'll be having dinner then.
Zero and First Conditionals future time clauses	If you haven't been to Paris, you haven't lived. If we are lucky, we "ll have sold the house by Christmas. I "ll call you as soon as I" ve talked to the boss.
unreal conditionals	If you exercised more, you "d be much healthier. He would have died, if he hadn't been wearing a helmet.
Constructions with wish	I wish I was 20 years younger! I wish I hadn"t bought this car! / If only I hadn"t bought ... I wish you would stop calling me at night.
Gerunds and infinitives (gerund and infinitive)	Remember to lock the door VS I remember locking the door. I stopped to smoke VS I stopped smoking.
Used to, be used to get used to	I used to live in the countryside. I was used to the world and quiet. I can't get used to the noise of the city.
must have been/done might have been/done can't have been / done	It must have been difficult for you. They might have left. I can't have lost it.
Verbs of the senses (verbs of perception)	It smells good. It feels comfortable. You look tired. sounds interesting.
(passive voice) + it is said that ... + have something done	My car has been stolen. You can be fined for making noise. The church was being renovated when I last saw it. The criminals are believed to have fled the country. I need to have my car fixed.
Reporting verbs	He persuaded me to quit my job. She apologized for not being on time.
Clauses of contrast and purpose (subordinate clauses opposition and goals)	I went to work even though I wasn't feeling well. Although I was tired, I didin't want to go to bed. In spite of / Despite the fact that she's 85, she's very active. I went to the bank in order to speak to my bank manager. I wrote it down so as not to forget.
whatever, whenever whoever	Have a seat wherever you like. Whatever happens, stay calm.
Uncountable and plural nouns (uncountable nouns and noun in sets. number)	I need some advice. I "ll give you two pieces of advice. It's made of glass. Can I have a glass of water? The hotel staff is very friendly. The police are canvassing the area.
Quantifiers	All fruit contains sugar VS All the animals in this zoo look sad. She wanted to study either physics or mathematics.
articles	My father is in hospital. They're building a new hospital.

Advanced Grammar

What grammar pass at the level Advanced	Grammar examples
Have - auxiliary or main verb (have like auxiliary and main verb)	Do you have any money on you? Have you got any cousins? I haven't a clue. Do I have to pay now? I need to have my eyes tested.
Discourse markers and linkers (conjunctions and copulas)	Despite / In spite of her age, she's still very active. Despite / In spite of the fact that she's 85, she's very active. I keep checking my email in case there's an urgent message.
Pronouns (pronouns)	They say it's never too late to change your life. We decorated the house ourselves.
past events: habitual or specific Habitual and single events in the past	I "d wanted to buy a new car for a long time. I" d been saving up for 2 years and when I finally bought it, I was over the moon. I used to have a car but I don't anymore. Every night my mom would tell me a bedtime story.
Get Values and use	Let's get a taxi. / It's getting dark. / He might get sacked. I need to get my passport renewed. Get Jane to call me.
Discourse markers: adverbial expressions	As a matter of fact, I don't like football. On the whole, I believe women are better drivers than men. As far as the price is concerned...
Speculation and deduction Guess and assumptions	I must have forgotten to lock the door. You might have been injured. It can't have been easy. It ought to have arrived by now.
inversion (reordering words in a sentence)	Never have I heard such a ridiculous argument. Not only is he attractive, (but) he's also smart. Little did I know.
Distancing	It appears that the situation is going to get worse. There seems to be a mistake in the bill. There is thought to be some tension between them.
Unreal uses of past tenses	If only you hadn "t forgotten the map! I "d rather you left the dog outside. It's time we stopped arguing.
verb + object + infinitive / gerund	We expect the bus to arrive at 7. I want Real Madrid to win.
Conditional sentences + mixed conditionals	They won't get a table unless they've booked it in advance. Provided the bank lends us the money, we're going to buy it. If I "d listened to your advice, I wouldn't be in trouble now.
permission, obligation necessity	You don "t need to take a jacket VS You needn" t lock the car. You aren't supposed to park here.
verbs of the senses	You seem to have made a mistake. I saw him cross the street VS I saw him crossing the street.
complex gerunds and infinitives	She thanked him for having helped her. By the time I "m 30, I hope to have started a family.
future plans and arrangements	My brother is due to arrive at 8. I am about to get promoted. The Prime Minister is to visit India next week.
Ellipsis	- You must see his latest film. - I already have. He did it even though I told him not to. - It wasn't my fault. - Well, if you say so...
nouns -s" of compound nouns	I borrowed my mother's car / She's at the hairdresser's. She "s got ten years" experience. Can you remember the name of the film? I opened the car door, got in and fastened the seat belt.
Adding emphasis (gain) cleft sentences	What I need is some rest. What happened was we left our umbrellas in the taxi. The reason why I bought it was because it was cheap.
Relative clauses	My brother who lives in Australia is a programmer. VS My brother, who lives in Australia, is a programmer. I haven't seen him for 2 weeks, which is a bit worrying.

That's all English grammar by levels.

Does English grammar really end after the Advanced level? No, of course)) If you look at the levels, there is also the Proficiency level, but the lines of conversational courses really end at the Advanced level.

Perhaps this is because:

• even an ambitious English user rarely needs a level higher than Advanced (not to mention the average learner who stops in the Intermediate area)
• at high levels, people already know how to find the necessary authentic materials on their own and organize their own learning
• at high levels, many think about a more practical and targeted use of English - for example, preparing for international exams (IELTS, TOEFL and others) or specialized courses in a profession

And there are still a lot of subtleties even after the Advanced level!

How do you like English grammar by level?

Did you manage to determine your level with it? Share in the comments!

Before starting a story about the levels of the English language, we must immediately agree that they cannot be driven into a strictly defined framework. No one can tell you that if you learn 15 more words, then your level will no longer be initial, but intermediate. And in general, no one judges the level of language proficiency only by the volume of vocabulary. Therefore, if you were told that you successfully passed the exam at the Intermediate level, then with full confidence you can brag to your friends that you have the Upper-Intermediate level, that is, its initial part.

To a person inexperienced in teaching methods, it may seem that there is absolute confusion in the classification of language proficiency levels. So, for example, if you take Murphy's famous "English Grammar In Use" grammar book (blue-bound version), which says "for intermediate students" on the cover, you will notice that this textbook covers material which is quite enough to pass the FCE exam, for which the courses prepare advanced students (Advanced) level. A logical question arises: are there several classifications of English language levels? Let's look at their classification and slightly open the veil over the mysticism hovering over the definition of the level of the English language.

There is an organization accredited by the European Commission on Education ALTE(The Association of Language Testers in Europe), which developed a common scale of foreign language proficiency levels. This scale divides all students into six levels: A1 (Breakthrough level), A2 (Level 1), B1 (Level 2), B2 (Level 3), C1 (Level 4) and C2 (Level 5), covering the gap from basic to almost perfect level of language proficiency.

Cambridge exams are tied to this scale. British publishers of dictionaries for learners of English, reference books and exercise books for grammar, vocabulary, etc. also rely on this scale. In general, it is used for almost all types of teaching aids, except for one large group: basic English courses.

In simple terms, the basic English training courses are Top Notch, True Colors, Headway, Cutting Edge, Streamline English, True to Life, Reward, etc. known to all of us. These series of textbooks use their own scale of English levels. It consists of six levels: beginner or Basic, Elementary, Pre-Intermediate, intermediate, Upper Intermediate and Advanced. Almost all English courses using a communicative approach are guided by this scale.

Is it possible to find out the correspondence between this scale and the one proposed ALTE? Yes, an approximate ratio is shown in the table below.

Comparative table of English levels

ALTE levels	Levels from tutorials Headway, Cutting Edge, etc.	Exams
A1 Breakthrough	Beginner (Basic)	-
	Elementary
A2 Level 1	Pre-Intermediate
B1 Level 2	intermediate
	Upper Intermediate
B2 Level 3	Advanced	FCE(First Certificate in English) IELTS 5.0-5.5 TOEFL 570-610 (PBT), 230-255 (CBT)
C1 Level 4	-	CAE(Certificate in Advanced English) IELTS 6.0-7.0 TOEFL 630-677 (PBT), 270-300 (CBT)
C2 Level 5		CPE(Certificate of Proficiency in English) IELTS 7.5-9.0

As can be seen from the table, the Advanced level, which is offered by almost all language courses, corresponds only to the average level on the scale ALTE.
Let's make a reservation right away that you should not be upset, dear English learners, since all organizations and educational institutions working with people for whom English is not their native language are familiar with the scale below and are aware of these differences in levels. And if you are going to study at a university in an English-speaking country or get a prestigious job that is directly related to the use of language knowledge, then they won’t even ask you about the level of the language there - they will need results TOEFL, IELTS etc.

All these exams have their own gradation and correspond to the last levels on the scale ALTE. In the case of preparing for TOEFL or IELTS, it is usually about passing an exam for a certain score. Cambridge exam preparation courses - FCE, CAE, CPE - last at least an academic year each, while it is understood that each of these levels takes you to a qualitatively new level of language proficiency. Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) - a document confirming that you speak English almost as fluently as your native language.

The last level that can be reached is Post-Proficiency. It describes people who know English almost perfectly, at the level of an educated native speaker. At this level, when communicating in English, only cultural difficulties may arise: for example, the meaning of a joke may slip if it beats a quote from a TV show, movie or book. A Post-Proficiency student rarely makes mistakes when using English, but at the same time he practices a lot so as not to lose his skills. Further, there is no more gradation of levels, you will simply be called a "native English speaker".

Below is a description of the levels of English proficiency as recommended by the British Council:

• beginner
• Elementary
• Pre Intermediate
• intermediate
• Upper Intermediate
• Advanced

Beginner level

Conversation

• say your name and personal details
• answer elementary questions (what is your name, how old are you, etc.)
• count to one hundred

Understanding

• Know the alphabet and be able to spell words
• Understand basic sentences and questions

Elementary level

Conversation

• Learn and provide brief information about yourself and others
• Recognize and provide brief non-personal information
• Express your thoughts in such a way that you are understood and ask to clarify this or that situation, so that it becomes clear to you what is at stake
• Express simple ideas and feelings
• Speak with a pronunciation that everyone can understand
• Use the language to communicate and resolve problems in any English-speaking country

Understanding

• Capture the main meaning of listening in the lesson
• Understand the main key points of listening
• Read short texts and catch the main ideas.

Letter

• Make sentences correctly
• Send a postcard, e-mail, a small request or notification
• Write a short description about yourself
• Smartly start a phone conversation

Level Pre-Intermediate

Conversation

• Speak with clear pronunciation
• Provide personal and non-personal information
• Clearly explain what you do not understand
• Understand the explanation of certain questions in a situation of misunderstanding
• Express your thoughts and feelings clearly
• Handle basic communication situations

Understanding

• Understand the main idea of ​​the text
• Clearly distinguish between stress, sounds and intonation
• Read simple texts and understand the main ideas

Letter

• Describe a situation, place or person
• Formulate your attitude to objects, problems and people
• Write a postcard, official \ informal letter, e-mail, request, apology or petition
• Write about yourself
• Clearly and grammatically coherently build a sentence by coordinating words with each other

At the end of this level, students can prepare for the International Cambridge Exam. PET(Preliminary English Test).

Intermediate level

Conversation

• Learn other people's opinions, attitudes and emotions and express your own
• Express incomprehension of the situation and ask for clarification
• Express your ideas in a simple way
• Speak with a clear and understandable pronunciation for others
• Express emotions and feelings with stress and intonation
• Correctly combine words in a sentence in spoken and written English

Understanding

• Understand the main ideas in the listening exercises in class
• Understand main points and general meaning from context and recognize content
• Recognize and distinguish the pronunciation of a person speaking English
• Improve the ability to understand and distinguish between informal and formal written and spoken language in various situations

Letter

• Fill out various papers: declarations, questionnaires, etc.
• Write letters, postcards
• Write informative formal and informal letters
• Write down the sequence of events, write stories
• Describe people, places and situations
• Supplement the presentation of a particular situation with personal comments
• Express thoughts and attitudes simply and grammatically

Upper Intermediate Level

Conversation

• Record and provide information under various circumstances
• Use official and unofficial language in different situations
• Discuss with two or more people and be able to keep the conversation going
• Catch your own shortcomings and mistakes in pronunciation
• Speak with a small number of grammatical and lexical errors and be able to correct them during a conversation (with explanation)

Understanding

• Understand the main ideas of the text from the first time
• Understand by ear the attitudes and emotions expressed in the text
• Capture different regional accents
• Receive and conduct telephone conversations
• Read newspapers and magazines and understand the main key points
• Distinguish between styles: colloquial, formal, street, etc.
• Draw conclusions from what you read

Letter

• Writing formal and informal letters
• Write basic instructions and instructions
• Write a synopsis of a movie or story
• Handle simple and complex syntactic constructions
• Use different styles in writing letters, stories
• Express thoughts clearly and grammatically so that the listener can easily understand what was said

At the end of this level, students can prepare and take the international Cambridge exams. IELTS(International English Language Testing System), FCE(First Certificate in English) and American exam TOEFL(Test of English as a Foreign Language).

Advanced level

Conversation

• Use formal and informal styles appropriate for the place and time
• Speak with a limited number of grammatical and lexical errors
• Be fluent on various topics
• Know and be able to put into practice idiomatic expressions and well-established phrases or phrases
• Operate with the phonological features of the language, be able to highlight with intonation or put logical stress in accordance with the laws of the language at the place of the sentence, the attention of the interlocutor to which you want to draw.

Understanding

• Understand the key points the first time and recognize the attitude and opinion of the speaker to the issue
• Evaluate intonation and draw conclusions about the feelings and emotions of the speaker

Letter

• Write formal and informal letters, e - mail and convey your own feelings and emotions in accordance with the canons of etiquette
• write narration
• Write discursive essays, i.e. by logical reasoning
• Compile reports, write articles and reviews of books, films, events

At the end of this level, students can take the Cambridge exam. CAE(Certificate in Advanced English), as well as prepare for the exam CPE(Certificate of Proficiency in English).