The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages is a six-level scale — A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2 — defined by the Council of Europe to describe language ability. A1/A2 are basic users, B1/B2 independent users, and C1/C2 proficient users.

How do exam scores map to CEFR?

Each exam body publishes its own CEFR alignment. Some exams (Goethe, DELF, JLPT) are designed at a specific CEFR level, so passing equals that level. Others (TCF, HSK) report a score that falls into a band. This tool uses the published thresholds for each test.

Is the HSK to CEFR mapping exact?

It is approximate. The pre-2021 HSK levels were loosely aligned (HSK 4 to about B2, HSK 6 to about C1), but Hanban and independent studies disagree on the upper bands. The new HSK 3.0 standard reorganises these levels, so treat the result as a guide.

Does JLPT map cleanly onto CEFR?

Only roughly. The JLPT is not built on the CEFR, and Japanese differs structurally from European languages, so equivalences (N1 near C1-C2, N2 near B2) are widely cited estimates rather than an official one-to-one alignment.

Can one score equal different CEFR levels?

Within a single exam, a higher score means a higher or equal CEFR band — it never drops. Across different exams the same nominal number is not comparable, which is exactly why each test needs its own mapping table rather than a shared scale.

What is the CEFR Language Level Checker?

Enter your score on a major language exam — DELF/DALF, Goethe-Zertifikat, DELE, HSK, JLPT or TCF — to see the matching CEFR level (A1 to C2) using the official Council of Europe alignment for each test. It runs free in your browser on Gera Tools, with nothing uploaded.

CEFR Language Level Checker

Name: CEFR Language Level Checker
Creator: Gera Tools
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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CEFR language level checker

The CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference) describes language ability on a six-step ladder — A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2. Different exams report scores in completely different ways, so this tool stores the published CEFR alignment for each major test and tells you which band your result falls into.

How it works

There are two kinds of exam in the mapping:

Level-targeted exams — Goethe-Zertifikat, DELF/DALF and JLPT are each designed at a fixed CEFR level, so achieving the certificate equals that band (e.g. DELF B2 = B2, JLPT N2 ≈ B2).
Score-banded exams — TCF, DELE and HSK report a number or sub-level that falls inside a CEFR range. The tool checks your score against the official threshold table for that exam.

Select your exam, enter the score or level, and the checker returns the matching CEFR band with a one-line description of what that level means in practice.

What each CEFR level means in everyday terms

The six-step scale describes what a speaker can actually do in the language, not just their test score:

Level	Descriptor	What you can do
A1	Beginner	Understand and use basic phrases; introduce yourself and ask simple questions
A2	Elementary	Communicate on familiar topics; describe your background and immediate needs
B1	Intermediate	Handle most travel situations; produce simple connected text on familiar topics
B2	Upper-intermediate	Interact fluently with native speakers; write clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects
C1	Advanced	Express ideas fluently and spontaneously; use language flexibly for social, academic, and professional purposes
C2	Mastery	Understand virtually everything; summarise from different sources into coherent, nuanced writing or speech

Which level do I need?

Different institutions and situations set different thresholds:

University admission in English (for international students): B2 is a common minimum; many competitive programmes require C1.
Work in an EU country in the local language: B1 for customer-facing roles, B2 or above for professional communication in technical fields.
Citizenship and residency: Many EU countries require A2 or B1 for residency applications; naturalisation often requires B1.
International school teaching posts: Typically C1 or C2 for the language you are teaching.

Notes and caveats

European-language exams (DELF, Goethe, DELE, TCF) align tightly to the CEFR because they were built around it. Asian-language exams (HSK, JLPT) were not designed on the CEFR, so their equivalences are widely cited estimates rather than official one-to-one mappings — especially at the C1/C2 end. Use the result as a reliable guide for European tests and an approximate one for HSK and JLPT.

Certificate validity also varies: some exams have no expiry (DELF/DALF), while others such as TCF and IELTS are considered current for two years in most institutional contexts. Always check what the receiving institution or authority accepts.