How good is my English? It’s a very common question from soooooo many students that study English. The level of English is very hard to calculate because some people are great at speaking, some can understand almost everything they hear. Other students can have 100% comprehension when reading English, but have poor writing skills. As you probably know, there is the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for Languages. The CEFR grades (explained in the table below) give students a language level from Elementary to Proficiency. If you want to get an estimate of your English level, do the SGI ENGLISH GRAMMAR TEST here.
How good is my English?
Now, Pearson English have released a new global standard for English called the Global Scale of English (GSE). For English learners, the Pearson GSE aims to provide the answers to ‘How good is my English?, ‘How much progress am I making?’ and ‘What do I need to do next?’ The GSE has been in development for 25 years and is based on a numeric scale of 10 – 90, so as to be more accurate in assessing a learner’s English ability than a broad term like ‘intermediate’.
Global English scale
Research done for Pearson English by LinkedIn showed that
- 70% of employers currently assess their employess’ level of English
- 80% of global businesses said that staff who are able to speak good English are more likely to be successful in their company.
- 90% of global business people agree that if employees speak English then it has benefits for their company.
With statistics like that it really highlights the point that if you are serious about any career in the 21st Century, then you should definitely improve your Business English immediately!
CEFR Language Levels explained
- A1 – Elementary
- Can understand and communicate basic sentences about personal and family info, shopping, jobs. Can talk about personal background in simple terms.
- A2 – Beginner
- Can only understand very simple language. Can introduce themselves & give personal details. Can only interact in a simple way when the other person talks slowly and is prepared to help the conversation.
- B1 – Intermediate
- Can understand main points of communication on familiar topics such as work, school, free time etc. Can cope with situations related to travel/holidays. Can write simple connected text on familiar topics. Can describe experiences, hopes, plans & ambitions. Can give reasons, explanations and opinions
- B2 – Upper Intermediate
- Can understand main ideas in a complex text including technical jargon in their specialised field. Can interact with a native without problems. Can write clear detailed texts on current affairs and give opinions.
- C1 – Advanced
- Can understand a wide range of demanding, long communication and implied meanings. Can express ideas fluently & spontaneously without searching for expressions. Can use language for social, professional & academic purposes. Can write clear, detailed texts on complex subjects.
- C2 – Proficiency
- Can easily understand every type of communication. Can summarise info from other sources, reconstructing complex arguments. Can spontaneously express themselves using fluent and subtle shades of meaning.
