CEFR

The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is a guideline used to describe the achievements of learners of foreign languages across Europe and, increasingly, worldwide. Developed by the Council of Europe in the 1990s and first published in 2001, it provides a common foundation for language teaching, learning, and assessment.

It defines six proficiency levels, A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, and C2, arranged from beginner to proficient user. For each level, the CEFR outlines what learners can do in listening, reading, spoken interaction, spoken production, and writing, often expressed through "can-do" descriptors. The framework is designed to be technology- and language-neutral, adaptable to different languages and educational contexts.

Applications: The CEFR is used to design curricula and textbooks, to set qualification requirements for study abroad and employment, and to align national exams and university entry standards. Many language exams and courses around the world report results according to CEFR levels, enabling comparability across languages and institutions.

Relationship and limitations: The CEFR is a reference framework rather than a standardized test. While it provides common reference levels, actual assessment tools must be developed locally. Crosswalks exist to map CEFR levels to other frameworks such as ACTFL. The CEFR has a Companion Volume (2018) that expands descriptors and cross-cultural skills; some criticisms note that level labels can mask variation within a level and that implementation requires careful, context-specific adaptation.