Friends, you already know what it is First level and basic level of study in English. If you have already completed these stages of learning English, then we sincerely congratulate you! Proficiency at the Elementary level is a huge plus for students of English, because this is a basic, basic level that allows you to navigate everyday conversational situations, maintain a dialogue and communicate.
If you have passed this level, it's time to test yourself. We would like to offer you English language tests. Such tests will allow you to test and evaluate how well you speak Elementary English. If you're ready, then go ahead!
Testing our knowledge of English
Pay attention to the test we provide below. It contains tasks of the Elementary level. Take your time with his decision, don’t rush, think. The main thing is to be confident in yourself!
- A) didn’t go B) don’t go C) didn’t go
2.He had breakfast ________ ago.
- A) this morning B) three hours C) 7.30 a.m.
3.When _____ you last _______ football?
- A) did/play B) do/play C) did/played
4.______ you like _______ tea?
- A) do/any B) are/some C) would/some
5.There isn’t ________sugar in the cupboard.
- A) many B) much C) a
6.Have you got _________ sisters?
- A) some B) any C) the
7.The buildings in Rome are __________ the buildings in Washington.
- A) older than B) more older than C) much older than
8.Paris is __________ city in France.
- A) the most beautiful B) the beautiful best C) more beautiful than
9.This restaurant is very, very good. It’s __________ restaurant in Moscow.
- A) the better B) the good C) the best
10.I ________ a sweater and a parka because it’s cold today.
- A) wear B) "s wearing C) "m wearing
11.________ Tim _____ today?
- A) Do / work B) Is / working C) Does / works
12.Look, it’s very cloudy. It __________.
- A) "s going to rain B) rainy C) raining
13.When _____ Alice _____ with her friend in Paris?
- A) does / going to stay B) - / is going to stay C) is / going to stay
14.I"m going to Egypt ___________ the pyramids.
- A) seeing B) to see C) going to see
15._________ did you buy your anorak?" "At a store in town."
- A) When B) Why C) Where
16."How much did you pay for your book?" ____________
17.______ you ever _____ American food?
- A) Have / eat B) Have / ate C) Have / eaten
18.Jim __________ to Athens.
- A) has never been B) has ever been C) hasn’t never been
19."I"ve met Leonardo Dicaprio." "When __________ ?"
- A) have you met B) did you meet him C) did you meet him
- A) yet B) just C) ever
21.Has Ann cooked lunch _____?
- A) yet B) ever C) just
22.________ "s the weather like in London City?
- A) low B) What C) Which
23.My grandfather started work ________1960.
- A) in B) by C) on
24.It's wet - please drive _____.
- A) carefully B) easily C) careful
- Let's go for a ______ swim.
- A) quick B) badly C) well
The next English language test is to test your knowledge at the Elementary level. This test will help you determine your level of knowledge in English - Elementary or Beginner:
1.My favorite sport… handball.
is be 2.Carlo is Italian. He's...Italy.
to at 3… you help me, please?
4.Moscow is the… of Russia.
5.I leave for work… quarter past seven.
6.My friend told that I…smoke.
7... that boy in the red cap?
8.Is...your new car? It's wonderful!
9.This postcard is for Jim. Give it to...
10.They…to school every day.
go 11.He often … fish because it’s good for him.
12.She...a letter now.
13.What… on Sundays?
do you do 14.Look at Alice! She...a green dress today!
15.Yesterday we … to the cinema and saw a great film.
16.When... Praga? Last summer or last winter?
are you visiting
17. London is ... than Boston.
18.Paris is the… city I’ve ever seen.
19…your homework yet?
Have you finished
Are you finishing
20… you help me with my homework, please?
The next Elementary level test is to test your grammatical knowledge. This test is designed for verb tenses:
1.I"m afraid he __________ (do) his homework now. Call again at about 6.30 p.m.
2.Why __________ (they arrive) late for every lesson?
3.Miss anders __________ (teach) us this year. She's got a different class.
4.My brother __________ (have to) wear a uniform at his school. He wears what he wants.
5.______________ (you go) to Italy for your holiday every year?
6.We _________ (go) for a walk in the forest. Do you want to come?
7.I ____________ (go) out with my friends on Saturday nights.
8.Where ___________(they have) the chess club on Tuesdays?
9.____________ (he have to) walk to University every day?
10.There _________ (be) some stockings on the floor.
You can also find basic level tests online and solve them for yourself to test your knowledge. We hope that you have passed all our tests and have fully achieved a basic level of knowledge of the English language. Do not stop at the results achieved, conquer the next peaks! We wish you good luck!
The Elementary level of knowledge is the key to the English language, since it teaches the basic rules, thanks to which it will then be possible to build more complex structures.
This test is suitable for those who have decided to learn English in courses and want to find out which level of English language training they should apply for: Beginner or Elementary. At the level Beginner
At the level Elementary
The test will help you determine your level of English proficiency (mainly in terms of grammar). If you want a more “correct” diagnosis, do not use dictionaries, Internet search engines, etc. (You can do this after diagnosis).
In sentences, instead of ellipses, you need to select and mark the proposed word or phrase. After answering all questions, click the “Show result” button. The program will evaluate your knowledge and provide an answer with recommendations. Try to complete the answers in no more than 15 minutes.
Well, are you ready? Don't be distracted, close the door of the room, turn off the TV, and let's get started!
Test Elementary
You are taking a level test Elementary- elementary or basic level.
1. Anna and Kate _________ to the cinema last Sunday.
A) d> B) don't go C) didn't go
2. I had breakfast ________ ago.
A) this morning B) three hours C) 7.30 a.m.
3. When _____ you last _______ tennis?
A) d> B) do/play C) did/played
4. ______ you like _______ coffee?
A) do/any B) are/some C) would/some
5. There isn’t ________milk in the fr >
A) many B) much C) a
6. Have you got _________ brothers?
A) some B) any C) the
7. The buildings in Venice are __________ the buildings in New York.
A) older than B) more older than C) much older than
8. Vienna is __________ city in Austria.
A) the most beautiful B) the beautiful forest C) more beautiful than
9. This restaurant is very, very good. It's __________ restaurant in London.
A) the better B) the good C) the best
10. I ________ a jumper and a jacket because it’s cold today.
A) wear B)'s wearing C)'m wearing
11. ________ Jim _____ today?
A) Do/work B) Is/working C) Does/works
12. Look, it’s very cloudy. It __________.
A)‘s going to rain B) rainy C) raining
13.When _____ Polly _____ with her friend in Madr >
A) does / going to stay B)- / is going to stay C) is / going to stay
14. I’m going to Egypt ___________ the pyramid >
A) seeing B) to see C) going to see
15. _________ d >
A) When B) Why C) Where
17. ______ you ever _____ Mexican food?
A) Have/eat B) Have/ate C) Have/eaten
18. Olivia __________ to Rome.
A) has never been B) has ever been C) hasn't never been
19. ‘I’ve met Robbie Williams.’ ‘When __________?’
A) have you met B) d> C) did you meet him
20. Raquel and James have _______ had a baby.
A) yet B) just C) ever
21. Has Nigel cooked dinner _____ ?
A) yet B) ever C) just
22. ________ ‘s the weather like in Mexico City?
A) low B) What C) Which
23. My grandmother started work ________1960.
A) in B) by C) on
24. It’s snowy - please drive _____.
A) carefully B) easily C) careful
25. Let’s go for a ______ swim.
A) quick B) badly C) well
Result:
You dialed.
Level test: Beginner or Elementary?
This test is suitable for those who decide learn English via Skype or on courses, and wants to know what level of English language training to apply for: Beginner or Elementary.
At the level Beginner learning starts from scratch. This is a step that can be taken by someone who has never learned a language or has studied for a very long time and ineffectively, that is, there is almost no knowledge left.
At the level Elementary grammar also starts from the very basics, but still it is designed for those who have at least a superficial acquaintance with the language, know a certain number of words and have an understanding of simple grammatical phenomena. Those who studied English at school or tried to study on their own usually start at this level.
Key to the test
If you scored less than 10 correct answers, your level is Beginner , we recommend starting your study from scratch.
If you get more than 10 correct answers, your level is Elementary . The foundation of knowledge has been laid, continue studying.
If you answered 19-20 questions correctly, perhaps your level of knowledge is higher, take the test Elementary or Pre-Intermediate .
Complete Level Determination Test: Beginner or Elementary?
If you find an error, please highlight a piece of text and click Ctrl+Enter.
My favorite sport…… tennis.
Roberto is Italian. He's......Italy.
…… you help me, please?
Moscow is the…… of Russia.
- country
- nationality
- capital
I leave for work…… quarter past eight.
The doctor told me that I……smoke.
- won't
- mustn't
- doesn't
…… that man in the red hat?
- Whose
- Who's
Is……your new car? It's great!
- these
- there
This letter is for Tom. Give it to……
We……to school every day.
She often…… fish because it’s good for her.
- eats
She……a letter at the moment.
- write
- is writing
- writes
What......on Saturdays?
- are you doing
- do you
- do you do
Look at Jane! She……a red dress today!
- wearing
- is wear
- is wearing
Yesterday we…… to the cinema and saw a great film.
- have gone
When......Rome? Last summer or last winter?
- are you visiting
- do you visit
- did you visit
London is……than New York.
- nosiest
- noisy
- noisier
Paris is the…… city I’ve ever seen.
- beautiful
- more beautiful
- most beautiful
……your homework yet?
- Do you finish
- Are you finishing
- Have you finished
…… you help me with my project, please?
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Elementary level - first steps in English
The Elementary level of English is the foundation on which your knowledge of the English language will rest
In the European system of stages of ownership foreign language level A1 Elementary has the same letter designation as Beginner. However, it is the Elementary level of English that is considered the survival level. That is, the knowledge acquired at this level is enough to communicate in English at an everyday level. For example, if you are abroad, you can check directions with local residents, make purchases, book a hotel room, etc.
As a rule, students come to the Elementary level with a small amount of knowledge acquired in the Beginner course, at school or another educational institution. If you have previously studied English, it means that you already have at least some basic knowledge, even if it seems to you that you studied a long time ago and don’t remember anything. In fact, you have already “met” the English language, you know the letters and sounds, you can read, you can introduce yourself and say simple phrases about yourself, your friends, family, home. This is enough to start studying at the Elementary level.
We recommend starting to study English at the Elementary level if you:
- have studied English a little or briefly before and have acquired basic knowledge;
- speak almost no English, although you know basic grammar and about 300-500 words;
- you have a vague idea of English grammar and would like to understand all tenses and constructions;
- you have basic knowledge, but do not understand English by ear at all;
- have completed the Beginner level of training in English courses or with a personal teacher.
Material that a person should know at the Elementary level
If you think your English skills are slightly better than the categories described above, you may already be at the Elementary level. To verify this, check out the table below. It is considered that you know English at the Elementary level and can move to the Pre-Intermediate level if you have the following knowledge:
| Skill | Your knowledge | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grammar (Grammar) |
You understand how the verb to be is used (I am a student, It is cold). You know the three simple tenses (Present, Future and Past Simple), the present continuous tense ( Present Continuous), have an idea of the Present Perfect tense. Do you understand the difference between sentences in the future tense: I'm going to bake a cake (construction to be going to), I'll bake a cake (Future Simple), I'm baking a cake (Present Continuous to indicate future action) . You know the three forms of irregular verbs (drive-drove-driven). You can ask questions to your interlocutor (Word order in questions). Do you understand the difference between a cat and the cat (indefinite and definite articles). You are not surprised that you can say a cookie, but you cannot say a toast (toast, a toasted piece of bread) (Countable and uncountable nouns). You understand what lady’s dress, James’ house (Possessive Case) means. You know the degrees of comparison of adjectives (big-bigger-the biggest). Do you understand the difference between that cup, this cup, these cups, those cups (Demonstrative pronouns). You know object pronouns (me, him, her, us, them) and the rules for their use. You know some adverbs of frequency (often, usually, always, sometimes) and manner of action (well, quickly, hard). You know what There is no snow on the ground (There is/are/was/were) means. You know what the sentences I can read, I can’t swim, You should work (Modal verbs can/can’t/should) mean. You understand what I like reading, I hate shopping means (Construction like/love/hate + -ing). |
Lexicon (Vocabulary) |
Your lexicon ranges from 1000 to 1500 words and phrases. You know commonly used words and phrases in English. |
Speaking (Speaking) |
You can introduce yourself, your family and your home in a few simple sentences. You know how to talk about your preferences and hobbies. You easily describe your workday and weekend rest. You can shop in a store abroad or communicate with staff at a hotel using vocabulary that is familiar to you. You can talk about simple everyday topics. You can answer simple questions on topics that are familiar to you. |
Reading (Reading) |
You understand adapted literature at your level. You can understand signs and announcements in public places or on the street. You can understand the essence of general news. |
Listening (Listening) |
You understand audio recordings adapted for your level. You understand what native speakers are saying to you if they speak slowly and use vocabulary that is familiar to you. |
Letter (Writing) |
You can write a simple personal letter to a friend. You can write a short text about yourself, your hobby, family, home. You can fill out simple personal information. |
If you are still not sure about the choice of level of study, we recommend testing your knowledge using our English level test.
The Elementary level program includes the study of such topics in the curriculum
| Grammar topics | Conversational topics |
|---|---|
|
|
How your speaking skills will develop in the Elementary course
In the Elementary course, as at other levels, you will work on four main skills: By speaking, Listening, By reading, By letter. You will become familiar with simple grammatical structures of the English language, expand your vocabulary with the most necessary words and phrases, and develop correct pronunciation and intonation.
Your main task at any level is to learn speak (Speaking). At the Elementary level, you will already be able to take part in small dialogues, ask questions within the framework of the topics you have studied and understand the answers to them, especially if the interlocutor does not use words that are unfamiliar to you. You will be able to tell a monologue of 5-10 sentences about yourself, your family, and hobbies.
At A1 Elementary level you will learn understand by ear (Listening) individual familiar words and simple phrases that sound rather slowly and clearly. Simple texts and dialogues are used as listening material, which will be fully understandable to you after the second listen.
Concerning reading (Reading), new texts in English will be present in almost every lesson. Each of these texts is a source of new words and expressions that you will learn at this level. In the Elementary course, you study basic vocabulary: you learn the words and phrases that are most necessary in everyday life. Also at this stage you will memorize the reading rules. You will learn to correctly read “automatically” all the letter combinations you encounter, without consulting a dictionary. Moreover, you will do this while reading an interesting text.
Concerning letters (Writing), then the training will begin with the simplest actions. You will learn to sign postcards, fill out small forms where you need to indicate your first and last name, nationality, and so on. By the end of the level, you will be able to write short essays and personal letters.
At the English Elementary level lexicon (Vocabulary) will expand to 1000-1500 words. Level A1 is full of the most useful words and phrases that are often used in all typical communication situations (shop, airport, on the street, etc.). Most words at this level are universal and can be used in written and oral speech, regardless of style. However, the volume of material to study will be quite large, because even for simple dialogues we will need to know a lot of words. But don’t be afraid that you will be forced to learn lists of words by heart. The communicative technique is aimed at mastering the language in the process of communication, so you will memorize new words through dialogues on the topic being studied.
Duration of study at the Elementary level
The duration of learning English at the Elementary level depends on individual characteristics the student and his initial knowledge. The average duration of training for the Elementary course is 6-9 months. Although this is one of the first levels of language proficiency, it covers a wealth of material that will enable you to express yourself in the most common everyday communication situations. At this stage of training you gain basic knowledge, which is why it is important to lay a strong foundation that will allow you to subsequently achieve high levels of English proficiency.
And for those who want to not only test their knowledge of the English language, but also improve it, we invite you to sign up for English language courses via Skype at our school. The teacher will determine your level, weaknesses and strengths and help you improve your knowledge.
English levels: from A1 to C2, from Beginner to Proficiency
Langformula.ru > Blog about the English language > Notes about language and culture > Levels of English: from A1 to C2, from Beginner to Proficiency
No matter how you study the language, on your own or in courses, you will definitely come across the concept of “English language levels” or “English proficiency levels”, as well as such incomprehensible designations as A1, B2, and the more understandable Beginner, Intermediate, etc. Further. From this article you will learn what these formulations mean and what levels of language proficiency are distinguished, as well as how to determine your level of English.
Levels of the English language 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, examinations, for various purposes related to emigration, study abroad and employment. This classification helps in recruiting students into a group and preparing teaching aids, methods, and language teaching programs.
Useful websites for the English language:
Of course, there is no clear boundary between the levels; this division is quite arbitrary, needed not so much by students as by teachers. In total, there are 6 levels of language proficiency, there are two types of division:
- Levels A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2,
- Levels Beginner, Elementary, Intermediate, Upper Intermediate, Advanced, Proficiency.
Basically it's 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 completely called the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment (abbr. CERF).
English language levels: detailed description
Beginner level (A1)
At this level you can:
- Understand and use familiar everyday expressions and simple solution-oriented phrases specific tasks. Introduce yourself, introduce other people, ask simple personal questions, for example, “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 approximately 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 accent, as in the audio lessons for the 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.
Level Elementary (A2)
At this level you can:
- Understand common expressions on general topics such as family, shopping, work, etc. Converse on simple everyday topics using expressive language in simple phrases. Talk about yourself in simple terms, describe simple situations.
If you got a 4 or 5 in English at school, but after that you didn’t use English for some time, then most likely you speak the language at the Elementary level. TV programs in English will not be understandable, except for individual words, but the interlocutor, if he speaks clearly, in simple phrases of 2-3 words, will generally 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, place an order at McDonald's.
The Beginner – Elementary levels can be called a “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 clear speech on common, familiar topics related to everyday life (work, study, etc.) Cope with the most typical situations when traveling (at the airport, in a hotel, etc.) Compose simple, coherent text on general or familiar topics 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 are enough to write simple essays about yourself, describe incidents from life, write a letter to a friend. But in most cases, oral speech lags behind written speech, you confuse tenses, think about a phrase, pause to find a preposition (to or for?), but you can communicate more or less, especially if there is no shyness or fear of making mistakes.
Understanding your interlocutor is much more difficult, 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 understandable well, provided the words and expressions are familiar. You generally understand films and TV series with subtitles, unless the text is very complex, and have some difficulty understanding the general meaning without subtitles.
Upper Intermediate level (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. Write clear, detailed text on different topics, explain a point of view, give arguments for and against various points of view on a topic.
Upper Intermediate is already a good, solid, 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 may be confused by words and expressions related to topics that you do not understand well, all sorts of jokes, sarcasm, hints, slang.
You know grammar to the extent of the school curriculum - that is, sufficient for most tasks; the vocabulary allows you to read simple fiction in English, understanding most of the text, or literature in your specialty. Simple films are understandable both with and without subtitles, many shows and television programs are also mostly understandable.
Often the Intermediate – Upper Intermediate level is enough for many tasks. For example, emigrants often speak the language at this level, and this is enough for them to live and work in an English-speaking country. Having reached this level, many give up taking classes with a tutor and improve their language skills only through practice.
Advanced level (C1)
At this level you can:
- Understand complex, voluminous texts on many topics, understand the hidden meaning (read between the lines). Speak fluently, without thinking about expressions or choosing words. Master different speaking styles, communicating flexibly and effectively both in an informal environment and in a professional or academic environment. Write clear, well-structured and detailed text on complex topics.
Excellent level. If you communicate on topics that you understand, you may be mistaken for a native speaker. You correspond freely in English, you can write texts of different genres, using stylistic techniques, figurative and expressive means of language. You understand almost everything you hear by ear, with the exception of complex special moments, and watch movies and TV shows without any problems.
Proficiency level (C2)
At this level you can:
- Easily understand almost any speech or text. Summarize information received from various oral and written sources, analyze and create your own presentation based on it. Speak fluently, accurately, expressing subtle shades of meaning in various complex situations.
Level of educated native speaker. You understand almost everything, you can express any thought in any form, using the subtleties of language. The foreigner in you may be betrayed by your ignorance of the cultural characteristics of the country. For example, you won’t understand a joke from some 90s TV show or a reference to a popular song.
Not all English language learners strive to achieve the Advanced level, and especially Proficiency. Usually such good command of the language is simply not necessary, a more modest level is enough. However, if you practice a lot, read and listen in English, and communicate with native speakers, you can easily reach the Advanced level.
To achieve Proficiency, it is advisable to live in an English-speaking country, constantly communicate in English and at the same time consciously and regularly improve your knowledge of the language: read a lot, write, study various subtleties.
Inaccuracies and inconsistencies in language proficiency levels
In textbooks like “Headway” and in language courses, a six-level classification is often used, which differs from the one given above (European). Here's the approximate ratio.
As you can see, in this gradation there are no Advanced and Proficiency levels (in the “CERF” sense) at all, probably because you can’t get to such advanced levels with textbooks alone – you need extensive practice.
But that's not all.
In one language school I saw a division into 24 levels, that is, each of the six was divided into 4 more. There were some absolutely wonderful names like Beginner Starter, Beginner Two or something like that. The other had only 3 levels: beginner, intermediate, advanced.
It is important to remember that the levels were invented primarily for the convenience of compiling textbooks, methods, testing, to simplify the distribution of students into groups, testing knowledge when applying for a job, and only in general outline characterize the real language skills of students.
In practice, in a group of students with an Intermediate level, there will be a noticeable difference between the students’ skills, because language skills are a complex thing, and the very concept of “Intermediate level” is broad. Some remember words better, but are embarrassed to speak, some have difficulty with grammar, but speak fluently using simple constructions, and some find it difficult to read simply because they are not accustomed to reading in their native language. Some are close to, relatively speaking, the lower limit of the level, while others are close to the upper limit, but both fall into the same group.
Moreover, language skills are fickle. They can both develop and worsen. For example, my speaking skill quickly “rusts” without practice, but it recovers quickly. What can I say, even your command of your native language deteriorates noticeably if you don’t use it for a long time. People who live for a long time in other countries begin to speak with intonation atypical for their native language, confuse cases and forget certain words.
How to name your level of language proficiency?!
I don't like to resort to the standard six levels. When you say “advanced” or “intermediate”, the interlocutor can understand anything by this. Often people with a rusty, stale Intermediate level say that they have “absolutely zero level”, although their skills only need to be lubricated and stirred up, and someone boasts of Proficiency, not being able to pronounce this word correctly.
If you write your level of English proficiency on your resume, then only the HR manager knows how to decipher it. In general, it is not customary to be modest in a resume. As they say, a person is never as close to perfection as he is during a job interview.
I think that in a conversation, if they ask about the level of English, it is easier to say in clear expressions like “confident”, “fluent”, “I speak well, but I don’t understand well” or something like that. And in a resume, boast of knowledge in a descriptive way, for example: “I speak the language confidently,” “I speak English fluently,” “I speak it at an everyday level.” If knowledge of the language is an important point when finding a job and you need to pass an interview in English, then even if you are a C2 with a bunch of certificates, your language proficiency will be judged by the interview.
How to determine your level of English?
When you start working on your English, it's a good idea to know what stage you're at, but how do you know what your level of English is? First, let's decide what exactly we need to know. When testing a student’s level of English, they determine skills in reading, listening, writing, speaking, as well as the approximate volume of vocabulary and knowledge of grammar. And if vocabulary and grammar can be more or less “measured” using special tests, then with speech skills it is more difficult. I offer two ways to determine your level of English: 1) fast and imprecise, 2) long but accurate.
1. A quick way to find out what level of English you have
A quick but inaccurate method is an online test. Of course, no online test for English proficiency will be able to test your communication skills in the language or the quality of written work, but you can still get some idea of the level, especially about listening comprehension skills and knowledge of grammar. Consider the English language test from Puzzle English.
You are asked to answer 36 questions to test your listening, writing, speaking and grammar skills.
It is noteworthy that to test listening comprehension, they do not use phrases recorded by the speaker like “London is the capital”, but short excerpts from films (Puzzle English specializes in learning English from films and TV series). In English-language films, the characters' speech is close to how people speak in real life, so the test can seem harsh.
Chandler from Friends doesn't have the best pronunciation.
To check a 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 your knowledge of grammar, a completely ordinary test is used, where you need to choose one option from several proposed ones.
But you're probably wondering how the program can test a skill colloquial speech? Of course, an online English test will not test your speech like a human, but the test developers have come up with an original solution. In the task you need to listen to a phrase from the film and choose a line suitable for continuing the dialogue.
Talking is not enough, you also need to understand your interlocutor!
The ability to speak English consists of two skills: listening to the speech of your interlocutor and expressing your thoughts. This task, although in a simplified form, tests how you cope with both tasks.
At the end of the test you will be shown full list questions with correct answers, you will find out where you made mistakes. And of course, you will see a chart with an assessment of 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” (and not automated, as in tests) assessment of the level of the English language, you need English teacher, which will test you with tasks and an interview in English.
This consultation can be done free of charge. Firstly, in your city there may be Language school, in which they offer to go free testing for language knowledge and even a trial lesson. This is now a common practice.
Another, less troublesome, option is to take such a “trial and testing” lesson with a teacher via Skype. Many online English schools (which teach remotely via Skype) offer this service. I took a trial lesson at the SkyEng online school; you can read more about this in the SkyEng school review.
In short, I signed up for a trial lesson-test, got in touch on Skype at the appointed time, and teacher Alexandra and I had a lesson during which she “tortured” me in every possible way with various tasks. All communication was in English.
My trial lesson on SkyEng. We check your knowledge of grammar.
At the end of the lesson, the teacher explained to me in detail in which direction I should develop my English, what problems I have, and a little later she sent me a letter with a detailed description of the level of language skills (with ratings on a 5-point scale) and methodological recommendations.
This method took some time: three days passed from submitting the application to the lesson, and the lesson itself lasted about 40 minutes. But this is much more interesting than any online test.
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English language level test
This test allows you to determine your level of knowledge of English grammar. This test will also help you check your weak points that need to be improved (you can always gain theoretical knowledge here).
And one more thing: no one is prohibited from taking this online English language test out of sheer curiosity.
We will open the curtain of intrigue in advance and tell you what result you can expect after passing the test, namely, what levels of English are:
Level 0 - Full beginner (or complete...beginner)
Level 1 - Elementary
Level 2 - Upper-Elementary (higher elementary)
Level 3 - Pre-Intermediate (lower intermediate level)
Level 4 - Intermediate
Level 5 - Upper-Intermediate (upper intermediate level)
Level 6 - Advanced
Level 7 - Super-Advanced.
For similarities and nuances about English language levels, you can contact us around the clock
to the article Have you determined your English level?
A nice bonus: after passing the test, you will receive... personalized certificate, which confirms the level of proficiency in English grammar. You can and should print it out, decorate your wallpaper with it, and show it off to your friends and parents. And if you have nothing special to brag about, then don’t despair, but catch up and improve your English. To get better results in a week/month.
Online English language test. Grammar beginner/elementary
Level Elementary
According to the pan-European scale of language competence CEFR (The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages), it is customary to distinguish six levels: A1 - Beginner, Elementary, A2 - Pre-Intermediate, B1 - Intermediate, B2 - Upper-Intermediate, C1 - Advanced, C2 - Proficiency . The Elementary level of English includes the very minimum set of knowledge that you will need to survive in a foreign country. Without worrying, knowledge at the Elementary level will help you go to the store, check into a hotel, and even maintain a simple conversation. What kind of level this is and what features it has are revealed in detail below.
What is the Elementary level
The most necessary communication skills, basic phrases are at the Elementary English level. What does it mean? This is level A1 or, in other words, the basic level of English. The student will be able to solve only immediate problems; it is not for nothing that it is called the survival level. To make sure that a student’s knowledge is up to the level, it is enough to pass a standard test. Many tests are free and results can be found immediately online. Other options for determining the level are EF SET and TOEIC. According to the established criteria, in order to confirm the Elementary level, you need to score 31-40 points in EF SET, TOEIC Reading - 115-270, TOEIC Listening - 110-270.
A basic level of English gives you the basics you need. Do some shopping? - Easily. Give instructions to the taxi driver? - Please. As soon as the conversation becomes informal, the student may experience some problems. It is possible to maintain contact with the Elementary level, but if the student plans to make friends, this will be more difficult, because a set of standard, commonly used phrases is unlikely to help matters. A simple conversation on a familiar topic will be within the student’s strength, and in order to understand the interlocutor, he must speak in simple phrases and short sentences. Watching TV or reading a newspaper is also unlikely to be enjoyable - it will not be enough to understand the basic level.
Readiness to learn
Many people think that the Elementary level is the 3rd level of English, but in fact, it is the A1 level. Before you start learning English at the Elementary level, you need to complete the Beginner level. However, this is not necessary if the student still has some skills from school or university. In the Beginner course, you get your first acquaintance with the language - the alphabet, numbers, and constructing the simplest sentences. If the student has an understanding of the language system, he can begin to study English at a basic level.
Some signs indicating that a student will cope with tasks at the Elementary level:
- he still has an elementary base after school or he studied the language at the Beginner (Starter) level;
- the student's vocabulary is about 300-500 words;
- has difficulty constructing sentences, however, can answer simple questions or at least understand them;
- has difficulty understanding speech by ear, even if the tempo is slow;
- familiar with the language system, at least superficially;
- can say his name and make several sentences about his age, job; able to understand simple sentences And
- answer questions that are asked when meeting people (What is your name? How old are you?);
- can count to 100;
- knows what they are called english letters, can read, can spell a word.
On average, a course of study takes approximately 200 hours of study – this is about six months or 9 months. Ultimately, everything depends on the abilities and desires of the student - he can set the desired duration and frequency of classes. Someone can master this level in a much shorter period of time, this is determined by the individual abilities of the student. It must be remembered that “Practice makes perfect”, i.e. “Practice is the path to perfection.” Elementary is no exception. What level is this and what topics will be studied in the course, read below.
Topics for the Elementary program
Elementary is a level of English that covers a certain range of grammatical and lexical topics. Regardless of the textbook you choose, it will cover standard topics in one way or another. If a student has studied at the Beginner level, some topics may seem the same. The topic may be repeated, but the vocabulary and grammar will be more difficult. Every new level learning is a deeper level of immersion in the language, not only repetition, but consolidation of acquired knowledge and its systematization.
The course of study includes the following grammatical topics:
- the main English verb to be in the present, past and future tenses (Present Simple, Past Simple, Future Simple);
- imperative constructions or imperative mood (Imperative mood);
- present time in the aspects of Simple, Continuous and superficial acquaintance with Perfect;
- three/two types of future tense: Future Simple, Present Continuous, to be going to;
- simple past tense (Past Simple) and Irregular Verbs in three forms;
- word order in various types of sentences (Word order);
- Demonstrative Pronouns
- objective pronouns (Objective Pronouns);
- adjectives and degrees of comparison (Degrees of Comparison);
- case indicating ownership (Possessive Case);
- plural nouns (Plural Nouns);
- definite and indefinite articles (Definite/Indefinite Article);
- countable and uncountable nouns (Countable/Uncountable);
- adverbs of frequency
- adverbs of manner;
- prepositions of place, time (Prepositions of Place/Time);
- modal verbs: can/can’t and should;
- gerund (Gerund) after some verbs: like, love, hate;
- location construction there is/there are.
Lexical topics, for the most part, are also standard:
- about myself and my family (About myself and my family);
- countries of the world, languages and nationalities;
- personal preferences, what we like and don’t like – like/dislike (Personal Preferences);
- professions, work and daily routine (Jobs and Daily Routine);
- holidays and traditions (Holidays);
- dates and numbers;
- weather (The weather);
- food and drinks, order at a restaurant (Food and drinks);
- sports and healthy image life (Sports and fitness);
- transport and fares (Transport);
- the city and places in the city, how to navigate, ask for directions (Places in city);
- music and films (Music and Films);
- houses and furniture, describe the furnishings of the apartment (Houses and Furniture);
- shop and shopping, ask about the cost of the item (In shops (clothes, coffee);
- description of a person's character and appearance (Describing a person).
Having completed the training at the level, the student will be able to carry on a conversation on these topics. For successful communication, frequently used words and phrases must remain in memory.
Learning outcomes for level A2
The English elementary level, like other levels, involves the development of four basic skills - Listening (listening to speech), Reading (reading), Writing (writing), Speaking (oral speech). To understand that a student is ready to study the next level, you can test his acquired skills. What a student should be able to do at the Elementary level:
Listening
The student understands short sentences and phrases that are frequently used and common. The pace of speech should be slow or moderate. It is undesirable if the sentence contains ambiguity. The student can identify the main idea from audio recordings that are adapted for the Elementary level. Knowledge of the English language and its listening comprehension is possible within the framework of familiar topics related to the main areas of life. The student will understand simple stories about family, work, or descriptions of appearance.
Like listening, the student develops reading skills by reading short, simple texts. On the street in an English-speaking city, he can easily understand a sign or advertisement, and in a restaurant he will place an order after reading the menu. The student focuses on the words he knows and sees the information he needs. He is able to understand simple personal writing. At this level, adapted literature is the best option. As a rule, the student easily reads fairy tales and short stories with simple vocabulary. The student often turns to the dictionary.
The student can easily fill out a questionnaire or registration form, and, if necessary, write a simple note or short personal letter. The results may not always be perfect, but experience comes with practice.
Speaking
Vocabulary
At the Elementary level, the vocabulary ranges from 1000 to 1300 words. Words and phrases occur frequently, so in simple situations the language barrier will be minimal.
When taking a level test, a student usually faces a grammar test. Grammar is the most common criterion for determining any level. English at the elementary level includes many topics, since at this stage the knowledge base is laid.
By trying to answer the questions, the student can test his knowledge.
Elementary level student:
- Knows the peculiarities of using the verb to be. How to understand these sentences and are there any errors there? - He is a doctor. I am thirty-six.
- Knows how to use Present Simple, Future Simple and Past Simple, Present Continuous and a little Present Perfect. What is the difference between these offers? – Mike paints pictures. He painted three pictures last month. He is painting a picture right now.
- Understands the difference between various forms of the future tense - Future Simple, Present Continuous and to be going to, for example: I’ll buy a computer. I’m going to buy a computer soon. I'm buying a computer tomorrow.
- Knows irregular verbs in three forms. How to finish these chains? Give – … – given. Think – thought – .
- Can ask questions, paying attention to the correct word order. How should these sentences be corrected? – Writing are you a note? Do you have a job?
- Understands the difference between the definite and indefinite articles. How to translate these sentences, paying attention to the articles? There was a house. The house was new, but ugly.
- Understands the difference between Countable and Uncountable nouns. Which of the sentences is correct? - I have a lot of money. I don't have much money.
- Knows how to use the possessive case. Which sentence is correct and why? My parents’ house is in Moscow. Mike's Smith's mother is a nice woman.
- Knows degrees of comparison of adjectives. How to finish these chains? Big – … – the biggest, but comfortable – … – ….
- Knows object pronouns and can easily translate the phrase “I like her.”
- Knows the differences between types of demonstrative pronouns. What is the difference between: this house and that house? And these flowers and those flowers?
- Understands what it means turnover there is/there are. Which sentence is correct and how to translate it? There is an orange in my bag. In the refrigerator there is an apple.
- Knows the gerund and when to use it. Which is correct? – I love watching Netflix or I like watching cartoons.
- Knows how to use adverbs of frequency/manner. Which of the sentences is correct? – I sometimes go to the theater. Mike always goes shopping to Walmart.
- Knows modal verbs and knows how to use them. What is the difference between: I can do it. I should do it immediately.
Learning a language is a fascinating process, but it requires a lot of effort and time, even at the Elementary level. English level A2 allows the student to express himself on the simplest topics in standard situations.
If you have ever studied English, you should definitely have some residual knowledge. Sometimes interest in a language awakens a few years after graduating from school or university. In many cases, a person is forced to start learning a language by going to work where it is necessary to communicate with foreigners. The prospects of going abroad, both for work and for study, also become an incentive to learn English.
How to evaluate yourself?
In order to find the most optimal course of study for yourself, you need to pass a test to determine your level of English language proficiency. This will save you time, effort, and sometimes significant money. The most popular and effective is the multiple-choice lexical-grammatical test, in which questions are arranged in order of increasing difficulty.
We invite you to take an English language test for beginners
In the initial part of the test (the first 10 questions), it is determined whether the test taker knows forms of the verb be, simple tense forms of main verbs and modal verbs.
If a person answers at least the first eight questions out of these ten, then he has an elementary level of lexical and grammatical skills, and after repeating the material a little, he can take on exercises of this type from the upper-elementary section.
Having crossed the upper-elementary level, you can take on the next 10 questions of the test. So, here is an English test for beginners. Your goal is to get 15 or more correct answers!
The test is over, what's next?
So you have passed the English language proficiency test. Take a look at the results and if you score more than 15 points, move on to the new Pre-intermediate level. But keep in mind that to overcome this barrier you need to seriously engage in the so-called four types of speech activity:
- Listening - listening to texts with varying degrees of information perception. The main ones are: 1) listening with assimilation of the main idea; 2) listening to the text in order to determine specific information and 3) assimilation of detailed information while listening to the text;
- Reading - performing tests for the same purposes, only having supporting speech materials in the form of printed texts.
- Writing - learn to write personal letters and compose statements with elements of personal reasoning (in other words, write essays)
- Speaking - which is the main goal of learning English.
You can practice all these exercises online. You will feel the effect of training using Oleg Limansky’s method very quickly and be sure to complete the test with 20 points!
By the way, if you like tests, on our website you will find a large number of online English language tests on a wide variety of topics: grammar, vocabulary, articles, prepositions, tests for students, students, Unified State Exam and many others.