The Council of Europe: a Common European

Framework of Reference for Languages:

Learning, Teaching, Assessment
• Production includes speaking activities as diverse as addressing audiences and singing, while
examples of written production include creative writing as well as filling in forms and questionnaires.

• Receptive activities concern listening and reading, including specific purposes for these activities,
listening or reading for gist, for specific information, for detailed understanding, etc.

• Interactive activities may be spoken or written. For speaking, these range from formal discussion,
debate and interviews to informal conversations and verbal exchanges. For writing they include the
exchange of correspondence by memos, faxes, letters and e-mail.

• Mediating activities include translation, interpretation, summarizing and paraphrasing in order to

facilitate communication between others.

This work is consistent with the ALTE projects to develop competency-based proficiency scales and
ALTEs attempts to describe examinations in terms of what language users at each level can do. Examples
are given in the descriptions above of users at each level of the Framework.

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http://www.alte.org
Overall general ability
The table below illustrates typical general ability at each level and in the skill areas.

LEVELS Listening/Speaking Reading Writing

CAN advise on or talk
CAN understand
about complex or CAN write letters on any
documents,
sensitive issues, subject and full notes of
C2 correspondence and
understanding colloquial meetings or seminars
Level 5 reports, including the
references and dealing with good expression and
finer points of complex
confidently with hostile accuracy.
texts.
questions.
CAN contribute CAN read quickly
CAN prepare/draft
effectively to meetings enough to cope with an
professional
and seminars within own academic course, to
correspondence, take
C1 area of work or keep up a read the media for
reasonably accurate
Level 4 casual conversation with information or to
notes in meetings or write
a good degree of fluency, understand non-
an essay which shows an
coping with abstract standard
ability to communicate.
expressions. correspondence.
CAN follow or give a talk
CAN scan texts for CAN make notes while
on a familiar topic or
B2 relevant information, someone is talking or
keep up a conversation
Level 3 and understand detailed write a letter including
on a fairly wide range of
instructions or advice. non-standard requests.
topics.
CAN express opinions on
CAN understand routine
abstract/cultural matters
information and articles,
in a limited way or offer CAN write letters or make
B1 and the general
advice within a known notes on familiar or
Level 2 meaning of non-routine
area, and understand predictable matters.
information within a
instructions or public
familiar area.
announcements.
CAN understand
straightforward
information within a CAN complete forms and
CAN express simple
A2 known area, such as on write short simple letters
opinions or requirements
Level 1 products and signs and or postcards related to
in a familiar context.
simple textbooks or personal information.
reports on familiar
matters.
CAN understand basic
A1 CAN complete basic
instructions or take part CAN understand basic
ALTE forms, and write notes
in a basic factual notices, instructions or
breakthrough including times, dates
conversation on a information.
level and places.
predictable topic.

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http://www.alte.org
ALTE Study typical abilities
The table below illustrates typical ability in the study context and at each level and in the skill areas.
LEVELS Listening/Speaking
CAN understand jokes,
C2
colloquial asides and
Level 5
cultural allusions.
CAN follow abstract
argumentation, for example
C1
the balancing of alternatives
Level 4
and the drawing a
conclusion.
CAN give a clear
presentation on a familiar
B2
topic, and answer
Level 3
predictable or factual
questions.
CAN understand instructions instructions and
B1 on classes and assignments messages, for
Level 2 given by a teacher or
lecturer.
CAN express simple
A2
opinions using expressions simplified text book or
Level 1
such as 'I don't agree'.
CAN understand basic
A1 instructions on class times, CAN read basic
ALTE dates and room numbers,
breakthrough level and on assignments to be
carried out.
http://www.alte.org
Reading Writing
CAN make accurate
CAN access all and complete notes
sources of information during the course of a
quickly and reliably. lecture, seminar or
tutorial.
CAN write an essay
CAN read quickly
which shows ability to
enough to cope with
communicate, giving
the demands of an
few difficulties for the
academic course.
reader.
CAN make simple
CAN scan tests for
notes that will be of
relevant information
reasonable use for
and grasp main point
essay or revision
of text.
purposes.
CAN understand basic
CAN write down some
information at a
example computer lecture, if this is more
library catalogues, or less dictated.
with some help.
CAN understand the
CAN write a very short
general meaning of a
simple narrative or
description, such as
article, reading very
'My last holiday'.
slowly.
CAN copy times,
dates and places from
notices and
notices on classroom
instructions.
board or notice board.
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