read more about the Spanish Levels
A1: Beginner
This is the first stage of the Spanish Levels. The competences that you will acquire are noted. It will take about 60-80 hours to finish. Are you ready to begin? I wish you good luck!
Listening
You are able to understand familiar words and very basic phrases concerning yourself, your family, and when people speak slowly and clearly.
Speaking
You can use simple phrases. When conversing others needs to speak slowely and help you in the conversation.
Writing
You can write short and simple postcards, and forms requiring personal details. Think of cards for holidays and subscription forms.
Reading
You can understand familiar names, words and very simple sentences, for example on notices and posters or in catalogues.
A2: Elementary
This is the second stage of the Spanish Levels. The competences that you will acquire are noted. It will take you cumulatively 160-200 hours to finish.
Listening
You can understand high frequency words and often used expressions that are personally relevant (e.g. shopping, employment, and geography).
Speaking
You can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar topics and activities
Writing
You are able to write a simple letter and a simple message. You are capable of thanking someone for something that he or she has done.
Reading
You can read very short, simple texts such as advertisements, prospectuses, menus and timetables and you can understand short simple personal letters.
B1: Intermediate
This is the third stage of the Spanish Levels. The competences that you will acquire are noted. It will take you cumulatively 360-400 hours to finish.
Listening
You can understand the main points of clear standard speech on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, and leisure.
Speaking
You can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes and ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.
Writing
You can write simple connected text on topics which are familiar or of personal interest, and write personal letters describing your experiences.
Reading
You can understand texts that consist mainly of high frequency everyday or job-related language, and letters containing: events, feelings, and wishes.
B2: Upper Intermediate
This is the fourth stage of the Spanish Levels. The competences that you will acquire are noted. It will take you cumulatively 560-650 hours to finish.
Listening
You can understand extended speech and lectures and follow even complex lines of argument provided the topic is reasonably familiar. I can understand most TV news and current affairs programmes.
Speaking
You can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party.
Writing
You can produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.
Reading
Can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in their field of specialization.
C1: Advanced
This is the fifth stage of the Spanish Levels. The competences that you will acquire are noted. It will take you cumulatively 810-950 hours to finish.
Listening
You can understand extended speech even when it is not clearly structured and when relationships are only implied and not signalled explicitly. You can understand television programmes and films without too much effort.
Speaking
You can express ideas fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions. You can also use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes.
Writing
You can express yourself in clear, well-structured text, You can write about complex subjects in a letter, an essay or a report, underlining what you consider to be the salient issues. You can select a style appropriate to the reader in mind.
Reading
You can understand long and complex factual and literary texts, appreciating distinctions of style. You can understand specialised articles and technical instructions.