How Our English Level Test Works

Our free English level test contains 30 grammar questions organised into six progressive stages, one for each CEFR level from A1 (Beginner) to C2 (Proficiency). The test begins with straightforward A1 questions and gradually increases in difficulty as you advance through the stages.

Each question presents a grammar scenario — either a fill-in-the-blank or a multiple-choice format — covering topics like verb tenses, conditionals, reported speech, articles, and sentence structure. Your result is calculated based on which stages you pass, not just your total score.

The entire test takes approximately 15 minutes, with a 25-minute time limit. You can finish early at any point if you already have a clear picture of your level. No sign-up is required, and your result is displayed instantly.

Why Confidence Weighting Makes Results More Accurate

Most online English tests only track whether your answer is correct or incorrect. This means a lucky guess counts the same as a knowledgeable answer, which can inflate your score and place you at a level higher than your actual ability.

Our test uses a confidence slider that changes how each answer is weighted. When you select an answer, where you click on the option bar matters: clicking towards the left means you are guessing, the middle means you are fairly sure, and clicking towards the right means you are certain. On mobile, you tap your answer and then select a confidence emoji.

This confidence information adjusts your score in two important ways. First, a correct answer with high confidence earns full marks, while a correct answer with low confidence (a lucky guess) earns less. Second, an incorrect answer with high confidence is penalised more than an incorrect answer with low confidence, because it reveals a genuine misconception rather than a random guess.

The result is a placement that reflects what you genuinely know, not what you happened to guess correctly. This approach is based on research into confidence-based assessment, which has been shown to produce more reliable results than traditional correct-or-incorrect scoring.

Understanding CEFR Levels: A1 to C2

The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is the international standard for describing language ability. It divides learners into six levels, from A1 (absolute beginner) to C2 (near-native proficiency). Here is a summary of what each level means in practice:

Our level test assesses your English grammar across all six of these levels, giving you a clear starting point for targeted practice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What to Do After Finding Your Level

Once you know your CEFR level, use it to guide your study plan. Here are some starting points based on common results:

• •A1–A2: Start with present perfect basics and zero conditional exercises.
• •B1–B2: Practise conditionals, reported speech, and question tags.
• •C1–C2: Challenge yourself with mixed conditionals, so vs such inversion, and wish & if only.