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CEFR Levels

April 21, 2026

CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) is the international standard for measuring language ability. Every lesson in Lingua-e is mapped to a level, so you always know where you stand and what to work on next.

A1Beginner

You can introduce yourself, name your job, and handle the most basic work interactions using simple words and short sentences.

Greetings and Introductions

present simpleverb to besubject & object pronounspossessive adjectivesarticlesbasic contractions

Talking about your work

singular/plural nounsbasic adjectivesthis / that / these / those

Asking basic information

what / where questionsyes/no questionsbasic question structure

Daily standup

there is / there arebasic prepositions: in, on, atcore verbs: work, do, make, fix
A2Elementary

You can report on what you did, what you're doing, and what's coming next. You can make simple requests and suggestions in everyday work situations.

Daily standup

past simplepresent continuousgoing to (future plans)sequencing: then / afterconnectors: and, but, because, so

Talking about your work

countable/uncountable nounsadverbs of frequencya lot of / much / many

Making suggestions

comparatives and superlativessome / anyhow about / why don't we

Asking basic information

can (requests/permission)could (polite requests)question forms with do / does / did
B1Intermediate

You can handle most everyday work situations: standups, retrospectives, one-on-ones. You can express opinions, give reasons, and agree or disagree professionally.

Daily standup

present perfectwill (future simple)first conditionalalready / yet / just

Sprint review

describing outcomespast vs present comparisonbasic passive voice

Retrospective

describing problemsmaking suggestionsgiving reasonsshould / could

1:1 with manager

gerunds and infinitivesrelative clauses: who / which / thatmodals: should, might, have to, mustconnectors: although, however, becausereflexive pronounsbasic reported speech
B2Upper Intermediate

You can debate ideas, write documentation, negotiate, and express complex thoughts with precision. You handle nuance and manage real-time conversations with confidence.

Code review discussion

expressing advantages/disadvantageslinking words: however, therefore, moreovernon-defining relative clausesemphasis structures

Pair programming session

real-time instructionsclarifying misunderstandingsinterrupting politelyphrasal verbs

Backlog grooming

speculatingmodal verbs for possibilitydiscussing edge cases

1:1 with manager

negotiatingpresent perfect continuouspast perfectreported speechmodal verbs for deduction: must, might, can'tsoftening language

Retrospective

second conditionalhypotheticalscause and effect language

Technical writing

passive voiceformal registernominalizationstructured sentences
C1Advanced

You can handle high-stakes, fast-moving conversations: incident calls, executive presentations. You use sophisticated grammar naturally and persuade with precision.

Incident response meeting

cleft sentences: it is / whatadvanced reported speechdiscourse markershedging: might, tends to, appears toinversion for emphasisellipsis and substitution

Presenting to stakeholders

third and mixed conditionalsadvanced passive formsrhetorical structuresparallelismemphasis and contrastinversion (formal)
C2ProficientComing soon

You communicate with the same ease and precision as a native speaker. You understand everything you hear and read, handle any professional situation without effort, and express yourself spontaneously, fluently, and exactly.

Not sure what level you are?

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Roxana Lafuente

Written by

Roxana Lafuente

Lingua-e's founder

Roxana Lafuente is a software engineer with 8+ years of experience. At the beginning of her career, even though she had already passed the First Certificate in English, she still froze every time she had to speak up in the daily standup. That was a gap nobody was fixing. After 2,000+ standups, she figured out what actually builds fluency: practice that looks like your real work. She built Lingua-e so other developers wouldn't have to take the long road to feel confident working in an international development environment.