Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEF)

The CEF is a system which makes it possible to describe and measure (foreign) language communication skills. This allows language skills to be compared and to be transparent – irrespective of the marking systems used in individual European countries. The basis of the CEF is a six-level scale. Each level is associated with precise data for the appropriate skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking). The CEF scale ranges from A1 (initial attempts in the language) to C2 (near mother-tongue level).