• Skills & Communication

From A1 to C2: The Language Levels at a Glance

  • Lena Hofmann
  • 4 min read
Person sitting in an armchair with a laptop in a modern living room

Do you know your language level in all languages that you speak? Many people misjudge themselves and their linguistic abilities – and pass up the chance of multilingual jobs and interesting projects in different languages. Here, you’ll learn what the different language levels are about and which skills you should have to work at yoummday!

“I always thought I spoke Polish, English and Arabic – not B2, C1 and C2!” That is probably what many of us feel like when we are asked to list our linguistic skills in multiple foreign languages. After all, the combination of letters and numbers seems pretty abstract and confusing at first – and they are everything but self-explanatory. Still, it’s worth taking a look at the different language levels. Because if we don’t know the differences between the various language levels, we are at risk of misjudging our linguistic skills – and pass up the chance of interesting new jobs and fields of activity. 

The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) organises language proficiency into six levels from A1 to C2. The Council of Europe’s CEFR Companion Volume (2020) provides the current expanded descriptors.

A1 to B1: Beginners and intermediate

CEFR levels cover more than grammar and vocabulary. The Council of Europe (2020) distinguishes reception, production, interaction and mediation, so a person’s ability may differ across listening, reading, speaking and writing.

Language level A1: At first, A1 sounds great – in the context of language levels, however, it’s the lowest level. This level is for everyone who is at the very start of learning a new language: From the knowledge and use of familiar, everyday vocabulary to the first simple sentences. This includes being able to introduce yourself and answer simple questions about yourself – for example, about where you live.

Language level A2: You can form and understand coherent sentences that concern you and your environment directly: For example information about yourself, your family, your heritage and your work? You are able to understand and express simple information in everyday situations (like grocery shopping)? Great! In that case, you have already made it to level A2!

Language level B1: Once you have reached level B1, you have finally left the beginner’s status behind you! Now, you can understand all important information on familiar topics in the standard language – for example concerning work, school or leisure, but also describing memories and experiences, hopes and goals. With this, you are also equipped for traveling to the respective area of the world because you can handle most everyday situations of life in this foreign language!

B2 to C2: These are the language levels you need at yoummday

Language level B2: You have no problem having conversations with native speakers, understand everything your counterpart wants to tell you, and you can express yourself in general and in your areas of expertise? And in addition to this, you can understand specific and abstract written texts? Perfect! In that case, you know the respective language so well that you can apply for certain projects in this language at yoummday! In most cases, you don’t have to know the language like a native speaker and it’s enough if you can understand your customers and their questions.

Language level C1: When you reach this language level, you are a real pro already. Now you can express yourself spontaneously and fluently and you can flexibly and comprehensively use the language in your social and professional life – even when it comes to complex issues. You understand a broad spectrum of complex and extensive written texts, and you can read “between the lines”. With the language level C1, you can easily apply for projects involving word processing at yoummday!

Language level C2: You speak a foreign language like your mother tongue, or even grew up multilingually? You can effortlessly understand almost everything down to the last detail, whether spoken or written, and can also reproduce complex facts spontaneously and comprehensively? Congratulations! You have reached the highest language level C2! By the way, it doesn’t matter whether you have an accent or not! 

For an initial self-assessment, use the European Union’s official Europass CEFR grid (accessed 2026). Self-assessment does not replace a recognised language certificate when a project requires formal evidence.

In addition to your native language, you speak one or more foreign languages fluently, on a business level or even like a native? With this, the doors to projects in various languages or even multilingual projects open up at yoummday. Because of this, you should mention all languages in which you can communicate well or very well, and apply specifically for projects in these languages at yoummday!