While the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) describes speaking performance at each of its six levels, it is difficult to know precisely what these levels mean until they can be seen in the context of live interaction.
Each of the five clips below features the performance of students taking the speaking test section of Cambridge ESOL exams which reflect the following levels:
- A2: Cambridge English: Key
- B1: Cambridge English: Preliminary
- B2: Cambridge English: First
- C1: Cambridge English: Advanced
- C2: Cambridge English: Proficiency
Each video clip has been carefully selected to represent a typical performance (of at least one student) at that level.
Please watch each video in conjunction with the commentary provided, describing the performance and the test scores and explaining how the elements of that performance make it typical of that particular CEFR level.
Legal Note: The persons shown on these recordings have given their consent to the use of these recordings for research and training purposes only. Permission is given for the use of this material for examiner and teacher training in non-commercial contexts. No part of this recording may be reproduced, stored, transmitted or sold without prior written permission. Written permission must also be sought for the use of this material in fee-paying training programmes. While you may link to this page in your website, blog or other online material, to protect the consent of those students who contributed, please do not link directly to the video clips.
A2 - This video clip contains the speaking performances of Mansour (CEFR level A2) and Arvids (CEFR level A2) taking Cambridge English: Key
B1 This video clip contains the recorded speaking performances of Veronica (CEFR level B1) and Melisa (CEFR level B1) taking Cambridge English: Preliminary
B2 This video clip contains the recorded speaking performances of Gabriela (CEFR level B2) and Rino (CEFR level B2) taking Cambridge English: First
C1 This video clip contains the recorded speaking performances of Christian (CEFR level C1) and Laurent (CEFR level C1) taking Cambridge English: Advanced. Please note that this test is from before the revision of 2008.
C2 This video clip contains the recorded speaking performances of Ben (CEFR level C1/C1+) and Aliser (CEFR level C2) taking Cambridge English: Proficiency
How the examples were selected
The above examples were drawn from materials for use by Cambridge ESOL in standardisation training for speaking examiners. Cambridge ESOL has published these extracts as an aid to understanding the CEFR levels for researchers and those with an interest in language learning and teaching. The link below is to a paper outlining how these clips were selected and the processes of data analysis, verification and calibration that enabled us to identify them as typical of their stated levels.
Project overview: Examples of Speaking Performances at CEFR Levels A2 to C2 (PDF 170Kb)