English Levels Explained: CEFR A1 to C1
"Intermediate" means nothing on a CV. The CEFR gives you a shared scale — A1 to C2 — that schools, employers and exam boards all recognise. Here is what each level actually looks like in practice.
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Written and reviewed by Mourade Boulanouar — Founder & Head of Teaching, EnglifyLast reviewed
In short
CEFR is the shared European scale that schools, employers and exam boards use to describe English: A1 and A2 (basic), B1 and B2 (independent), C1 and C2 (advanced). B2 is the level most Moroccan employers mean by "good English" — you can work, present and negotiate in it. The only reliable way to know your level is a placement test with a spoken part, and each level normally takes several months of steady practice.
Key facts
- A1–A2 basic, B1–B2 independent, C1–C2 advanced
- B2 is what most Moroccan employers actually ask for
- "Intermediate" on a CV means nothing without a CEFR level
- A spoken placement test gives a trustworthy level
- Levels cannot be skipped, but they can be crossed faster
- Englify gives a free level assessment with a teacher
Related questions
A1 — Beginner
You handle fixed situations: greetings, your name and job, numbers, prices, very short questions. You need the other person to speak slowly. Reaching A1 from zero usually takes 60 to 80 hours of class.
A2 — Elementary
You describe your routine, your family and your work in simple sentences, and manage everyday transactions. Most Moroccan learners who studied English at school but never practised sit between A2 and low B1 when tested.
B1 — Intermediate
You cope with most daily situations, tell a story, explain a problem and give a simple opinion. Conversations work as long as the topic is familiar. B1 is where self-study typically stalls without speaking practice.
B2 — Upper intermediate
You discuss abstract topics, defend an opinion, take part in meetings and understand films without subtitles. B2 is the level most employers and universities mean when they write "good English" or "professional level".
C1 — Advanced
You use English flexibly and almost without searching for words, handle nuance and register, and write structured professional or academic documents. C1 is required for many international programmes and senior roles.
How CEFR maps to IELTS and TOEFL
These are approximate bands, not guarantees: exam scores also depend on exam technique, timing and task familiarity, which is why exam preparation is a separate course.
- B1 — roughly IELTS 4.0–5.0, TOEFL iBT 42–71
- B2 — roughly IELTS 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94
- C1 — roughly IELTS 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–120
How long between levels?
Counting from A1, each level takes roughly 150 to 200 hours of guided study, and the gaps get wider at the top. With two live classes a week plus daily practice, one level in 4 to 6 months is a realistic pace.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I know my CEFR level?
- Take a placement test that includes a spoken assessment. Englify runs a free level test during the trial class and tells you your CEFR level and the gap to your target.
- What level do employers in Morocco ask for?
- Most roles that require English day to day expect B2. Customer-facing or international roles often expect B2 to C1.
- Can I skip a level?
- Sometimes. Learners with a strong passive base but no speaking practice often move quickly through one level once they start speaking weekly.
- How much do English lessons cost in Morocco?
- At Englify, small-group online English classes are the most affordable option and private one-to-one classes cost more per hour, because a private teacher works with one student only. Current group and private prices are confirmed on WhatsApp (+212 724 744 137) and on our prices page, since they depend on the format, the number of hours per week and the length of the plan. The trial class is free and no card is required.
- Are Englify classes online or in person?
- Every class is 100% online and live on Google Meet, at Morocco time. Nothing is pre-recorded: a teacher is in the room with you, correcting you as you speak. Students join from Casablanca, Rabat, Marrakech, Tangier, Fez, Agadir and smaller cities, and from abroad.
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