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English level B1
B1
Intermediate
B2
A2
EF SET
41-50
At this level you can understand:
Main points on common topics at work,
school, or traveling
General and speci!c details given clear
speech
Factual texts on subjects of interest
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Intermediate (EF SET score
41-50)
English level B1 is the third level of English in
the Common European Framework of
Reference (CEFR), a de!nition of di"erent
language levels written by the Council of
Europe. In everyday speech, this level would
be called “intermediate”, and indeed, that is
the o#cial level descriptor in the CEFR. At
this level, students are beyond the basics but
they are still not able to work or study
exclusively in English.
Find out if you're at B1 level
How to tell if you're at an B1
level in English
The best way to tell if you are at an B1 level in
English is to take a high-quality standardized
test. See below for a list of major recognized
tests and their corresponding B1 scores:
Test
Score equivalent to the
B1 level¹
EF SET
41 - 50
IELTS
4.0 - 5.0
TOEIC (R&L) Total
550 - 780
Cambridge English
Scale
140 - 159
TOEFL iBT
42 - 71
Global Scale of English
(Pearson)
43 - 58
1. For full score comparisons, please visit our
English Score page
What can you do with a B1
level in English?
A B1 level of English would be su#cient
for interactions with English speakers on
familiar topics. In the workplace, people
at a B1 level of English are able to read
simple reports on familiar topics and
write simple e-mails on subjects in their
!eld. However, a B1 level is not
adequate to function fully in the
workplace in English.
According to the o#cial CEFR
guidelines, someone at the B1 level in
English:
1. Can understand the main points of clear
standard input on familiar matters regularly
encountered in work, school, leisure, etc.
2. Can deal with most situations likely to arise
whilst travelling
3. Can produce simple connected text on
topics which are familiar or of personal
interest.
4. Can describe experiences and events,
dreams, hopes and ambitions and brie$y
give reasons and explanations for opinions
and plans.
B1 level English skills in detail
The o#cial can-do statements are
broken down into smaller chunks for
teaching purposes. This more detailed
skill breakdown can help you assess
your own English level, or help a teacher
assess a student’s level. For example, a
student at the B1 level in English will be
able to do all the things that a student in
level A2 can do, and in addition he will
be able to:
discuss your personal and professional
hopes and dreams for the future.
arrange a job interview and interview for
a job in your area of expertise.
talk about your television viewing habits
and favorite programs.
describe your education and your plans
for future training.
talk about your favorite music and music
trends and plan a night out to listen to
live music.
talk about maintaining a healthy lifestyle
and give and get advice about healthy
habits.
talk about relationships and dating,
including meeting people through social
media.
go to a restaurant, order food, engage in
polite dinner conversation and pay for
your food.
participate in negotiations in your area
of expertise, if you have help
understanding some points.
discuss workplace safety issues, report
an injury and explain rules and
regulations.
discuss polite behavior and respond
appropriately to impolite behavior.
Although progress will depend on the
type of course and the individual
student, students can expect to reach
the B1 level in English with 400 hours of
cumulative instruction.
What's next?
Learn about the B2 English level and
what can be accomplished when the
upper intermediate level is achieved.
Further reading
Developing intermediate and upper
intermediate English
Mastering advanced English
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