Most people learning English eventually ask themselves: “How good am I, really?” Maybe you’ve been studying for a while, chatting with friends online, or working in an English-speaking environment—and you want to know where you stand.
Do you count as a beginner, intermediate, or advanced speaker?
Do you have the vocabulary and grammar of a B2 or C1 level? Can you measure that on your own without signing up for an expensive test?
The answer is yes. While official exams like IELTS, TOEFL, or Cambridge certificates give you a professional assessment, you don’t need them to get a clear idea of your level.
With the right strategies, you can test yourself and pinpoint your strengths and weaknesses.
Below is a step-by-step guide on how to do exactly that.
Step 1: Understand the Common Levels
Before you measure yourself, you need to know what you’re measuring against. Most language learners follow the CEFR framework (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages). It divides English proficiency into six levels:
- A1 – Beginner: You can understand very basic phrases and introduce yourself.
- A2 – Elementary: You can handle simple daily conversations and describe immediate needs.
- B1 – Intermediate: You can discuss familiar topics, describe experiences, and deal with common problems while traveling.
- B2 – Upper Intermediate: You can understand main ideas of complex texts, join discussions on various topics, and interact fluently with native speakers.
- C1 – Advanced: You can use language flexibly and effectively in academic or professional settings, with few noticeable mistakes.
- C2 – Proficient: You can understand practically everything and express yourself precisely and effortlessly.
Keep these descriptions in mind—they’ll be your measuring stick.
Step 2: Test Your Vocabulary Range
Vocabulary is one of the easiest aspects to measure yourself. A larger vocabulary often means a higher level, though it’s not the only factor.
How to test yourself
- Try an online vocabulary size test (many free versions exist).
- Record the approximate number of words you understand.
Roughly speaking:
- A1 learners know around 500–1,000 words.
- A2 learners know 1,000–2,000 words.
- B1 learners know 2,000–3,500 words.
- B2 learners know 4,000–6,000 words.
- C1 learners know 8,000+ words.
- C2 learners know 16,000+ words.
DIY method
Grab an English book or article. Highlight all the words you don’t know. If you find unfamiliar words every sentence, you’re probably closer to A2. If it’s every paragraph, you’re probably at B2. If you can read a full academic article and only stumble on a rare term, you’re at C1 or beyond.
You can also combine your DIY method with online quizzes. For instance, grammarexercises.org offers a variety of vocabulary and grammar tests you can try for free.
Step 3: Check Your Grammar in Action
Grammar isn’t about memorizing rules—it’s about how you apply them in real communication. To test your grammar level, you need to put it into practice.
DIY grammar test
- Write a one-page journal entry in English about your day.
- Review it for common mistakes: verb tenses, prepositions, articles (“a,” “an,” “the”), and word order.
- Compare your writing to sample texts online at different CEFR levels (e.g., learner samples).
What to look for
- A1–A2: Mostly simple present tense, frequent mistakes with past tense and plurals.
- B1: Can use different tenses but still makes errors, especially with conditionals.
- B2: Can handle complex sentences, relative clauses, and phrasal verbs, but may slip up with advanced structures.
- C1–C2: Rarely makes mistakes. Sentences flow naturally with advanced connectors and varied structures.
Step 4: Assess Your Reading Skills
Reading comprehension is another good measure of your level.
How to test yourself
- Pick texts at different levels:
- A1–A2: Simple news articles for learners or children’s stories.
- B1–B2: General news websites, blogs, or short essays.
- C1–C2: Academic journals, long opinion articles, or professional reports.
- Time yourself reading each text.
- Ask: Did you understand the main idea? The details? Could you summarize it in your own words?
If you can read The Economist or The Guardian without much help, you’re likely at C1. If you’re more comfortable with graded readers or simplified stories, you’re in the A2–B1 range.
Step 5: Test Your Listening
Listening is tricky because it’s fast and unpredictable. But it’s also one of the most telling skills.
DIY listening test
- Choose different audio materials:
- A1–A2: English learning podcasts, simple YouTube videos.
- B1–B2: Movies with subtitles, news channels like BBC.
- C1–C2: Academic lectures, debates, or podcasts with no subtitles.
- After listening, write down what you understood. Could you follow the main point? Did you catch specific details?
- Compare your notes to a transcript if available.
If you can follow a podcast about science or politics without subtitles, that’s a strong C1 indicator.
Step 6: Test Your Speaking
Speaking is the hardest to measure by yourself—but not impossible.
Self-test methods
- Record yourself speaking for two minutes on a random topic (e.g., “my last holiday” or “the role of technology in our lives”). Listen back: Do you hesitate a lot? Do you repeat the same words? Do you use connecting words like however, in contrast, moreover?
- Shadowing technique: Play a short clip of a native speaker and repeat after them. If you can keep up and sound natural, you’re moving towards B2 or higher.
- Video call practice: Use free language exchange apps to chat with native speakers. Afterward, ask them honestly how natural your speaking felt.
Step 7: Evaluate Your Writing
Writing gives you more time to think, but it also shows your grammar and vocabulary range clearly.
How to test yourself
- Pick a writing prompt (e.g., “Do you agree that social media does more harm than good?”).
- Write 200–300 words.
- Check:
- Do you use varied sentence structures?
- Do you connect ideas logically?
- Are your grammar and spelling accurate?
- Can you express abstract or complex ideas?
A B1 text might be simple and direct: “I think social media is good because people can talk to their friends. But sometimes it is bad.”
A C1 text would expand: “While social media connects people across the globe, it can also fuel misinformation and anxiety. The challenge is learning to balance its benefits with mindful use.”
Step 8: Combine the Results
Testing one skill won’t tell you your whole level. Instead, gather results from all areas:
- Vocabulary
- Grammar
- Reading
- Listening
- Speaking
- Writing
You might discover you’re B2 in reading but only B1 in speaking. That’s normal—most learners have uneven skills. Your “official” level is usually your lowest skill, since communication depends on your weakest link.
Step 9: Track Your Progress Over Time
Testing yourself once is useful, but testing regularly is better. Every two or three months:
- Take the same vocabulary test.
- Record yourself speaking on the same topic.
- Write a journal entry and compare it to earlier ones.
- Time yourself reading and see if you read faster.
You’ll see your progress clearly, which is motivating and helps you adjust your learning strategy.
Step 10: Know When You’re Ready for Official Tests
If your goal is academic study, immigration, or a job that requires certification, eventually you’ll need an official exam. By testing yourself regularly, you’ll know when you’re close to the level you need (e.g., IELTS 6.5 for university admission). At that point, you can focus specifically on exam skills.
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