The “Common Reference Levels” included in the CEF, and widely referred to in European educational contexts, were developed between 1993 and 1996 in a Swiss National Science Research Council project, organised as a follow-up to the Rüschlikon Symposium.

The Common Reference Levels

The Common Reference Levels provide a set of six defined criterion levels (C2, C1, B2, B1, A2, A1) for use as common standards:
Mastery
Effective Operational proficiency
Vantage
Threshold
Waystage
Breakthrough

Levels C1 – C2

C2

Mastery, corresponds to the top examination objective in the scheme adopted by ALTE. It could be extended to include the more developed intercultural competence above that level which is achieved by many language professionals.

C1

Effective Operational proficiency, which was called “Effective Proficiency” by J. Trim, “Adequate Operational Proficiency” by E.A. Wilkins, and represents an advanced level of competence suitable for more complex work and study tasks.

Levels B1 – B2

B2

Vantage, reflecting the third Council of Europe content specification, a level described as “limited operational proficiency” by E.A. Wilkins, and “adequate response to situations normally encountered “ by J. Trim.

B1

Threshold, reflecting the Council of Europe content specification.

Levels A1 – A2

A2

Waystage, reflecting the Council of Europe content specification.

A1

Breakthrough, corresponding to what E.A. Wilkins in his 1978 proposal labelled “Formulaic Proficiency”, and J. Trim in same publication “Introductory”.