When you have already mastered the initial level, it is time to move on - Pre-intermediate will allow you to master new syntactic and lexical schemes and will pay attention to communication skills.

At this stage, it is meant to study new, complex topics of grammar and expand the base of words through new variants of lexical forms. For example, our teachers will analyze in detail the types of questions in English and talk about universal answers, as well as consider the nuances of correct pronunciation. The topic of English tenses is one of the difficult ones; more than one lesson is devoted to it, but knowing the rules will make it possible to understand the text even in cases where you do not know some of the words.

Thanks to experienced teachers and a methodology that has proven itself to be very effective, the English Club TV channel's series of programs will allow you to learn English without boredom. Expressions and vocabulary from the lessons can be immediately put into practice, and interesting topics will help you get to know London and Britain in general better.

Are you building a successful career in an international company and need to take IELTS or TOEFL? The exams necessarily contain not only a speaking section, but also an English grammar test, so it is worth planning your preparation taking this fact into account. Our programs are aimed at uniform learning of all levels of the language, which will help you successfully cope with any test.

Pre-intermediate videos

• Everything is great until students are faced with one unpleasant aspect of learning English - the need to know grammar. Many people hate grammar lessons if the material is not presented well. And doing exercises or reading books seems like a boring activity to them. To solve this problem, you need not just cram grammatical rules, but try to speak English as often as possible, applying these rules. Cheryl Lowe, host of City Grammar, can help. In this program, she walks around a bustling city, showing viewers local […]

• For those people who are learning business English and have already passed the initial level, it is important to quickly expand their vocabulary and memorize official expressions and phrases. Where can you hear these phrases more often than in the news? Having mastered standard language structures, you will be able to freely express your thoughts and maintain a conversation on given topics. This is exactly what an average level of knowledge of English assumes. ECTV Simple NEWS video lessons are not just educational material that will help you learn English quickly and efficiently. This […]

• English Club TV offers a new approach to learning English. In the program “English Up” viewers are told about the way of life of the British. The host of the program is a native speaker. His lessons cover topics ranging from public transport in the UK to eating habits. At the end of each program, viewers can take a test to check how well they have understood the material. “English Up” is a great show for English language learners!

• Isn't learning English your only goal? Do you want to expand your knowledge in different areas and become a real scholar? Then our program is just for you. This is not just boring encyclopedic knowledge. This is the most incredible thing that nature can surprise us with. All the information in Flash Facts is presented in a superb visual format, making it much easier to understand and remember. This will help improve comprehension and make English video lessons even more interesting. Going to the middle level [...]

• Do you know how to learn English grammar without boring textbooks? Grammar Wise makes studying fun. The programs were created specifically for students with a Pre-Intermediate (below intermediate) language level. Tom Hedley, the show's host, shows videos about interesting life situations. Then he explains in detail which grammatical rules were used by native speakers in conversation. Conversations are divided into several parts. After each part, the host asks a few questions regarding the grammatical rules used in the video.

• If you often make grammatical mistakes, “Grammar Wise” is a great choice for you. This program consists of a series of video lessons that will help you easily improve your English level. In each episode, program host Tom Hedley shows interesting videos that will help you improve your grammar level. At the end of each lesson, you will be able to test yourself by answering several questions on the topic covered. “Grammar Wise” will help you speak English confidently.

• English is a universal language used all over the world. There are many benefits to studying it. The ability to communicate with people from different countries opens the door to a world of opportunity. The hosts of “Here and There” tell interesting facts about different countries. Stories are accompanied by photographs or videos. At the end of each program, viewers are asked to complete several tasks related to the lesson. For example, connecting images with words or completing sentences. “Here and There” is a great program that will help you learn grammar, become fluent in English and […]

• In the modern world, for many people, grueling gymnastic exercises seem like a waste of time and a boring activity. They have no motivation to exercise and lead a healthy lifestyle. “Keep fit” is a program that makes sports interesting even for the laziest, and also helps to learn English. Trainers show and explain different exercises in English. The lessons are simple and understandable to everyone. They help adults and children lead a healthy lifestyle. Play sports and learn a language with [...]

• Do you want to speak English like native speakers? “Perfect English” is a series of video lessons designed for those who want to improve their pronunciation. Transmission takes place outdoors. The presenter walks through different parts of Great Britain and tells viewers about them. She explains in great detail how to correctly pronounce sounds in certain words. “Perfect English” is a program for students with a language level from elementary to intermediate.

• “Say it right” is a program for those who want to learn or improve their pronunciation. The words are spoken slowly and clearly to make it clear to the viewer. First of all, the teacher explains the theory of certain sounds. Then he uses them in words, after which he combines these words into sentences. The viewer is given time to repeat sounds and words after the presenter. Moreover, the program tells interesting facts about the origin of words and their use in our time.

• “Speak up” is a fun program that helps viewers learn various idioms. The presenter of the program analyzes and explains their meaning, origin and use in speech. It shows how to pronounce these idioms correctly and in what position the facial muscles should be. The lessons help viewers learn new common expressions and improve their pronunciation.

• This program will help you learn English words related to everyday topics. Chris, the show's host, names items we all use every day, as well as activities we do every day. For example, in one of the lessons he appears in the bathroom with a toothbrush and toothpaste, explaining his actions step by step in English. All words used by the presenter are displayed on the screen. Learn everyday English with the “Step by step” program!

• Step-by-Step is a program that helps you improve your English, whether it's for everyday communication or business English. These exciting programs are beneficial for students of all ages. Each of them covers different aspects of learning English, such as improving listening, speaking and writing skills. The best thing about these lessons is that you can watch them over and over again until you master the lesson.

  Regularity is the basis of any learning, and even more so when it comes to learning a language. If you can afford to set aside an hour at the end of the week to study, then The week in Review is perfect for you. With it you will really save time, you will not only learn English, but also get acquainted with the most important world events over the past week. It was not by chance that our English video lessons acquired news form. The vocabulary in these programs is ideal for [...]

English language proficiency will vary from person to person. Thus, native speakers speak it perfectly, foreigners who have studied the language for a sufficient amount of time can freely explain everyday topics in it, and those who have just started learning or have been learning English for a long time know the language at an elementary level. Figuring out what level a person speaks a language is not so easy. For this purpose, there are numerous tests on the Internet; they really help determine language proficiency. But they mainly check the student’s vocabulary and grammar, but knowledge of the language is not only vocabulary and the ability to understand the rules. Therefore, in foreign language courses you will be offered not only a written test, but also will talk a little with each potential student in a foreign language, ask him various questions and invite him to speak out. Only after the student has demonstrated his knowledge in oral and written speech, in grammar and vocabulary, can one declare his level of language proficiency.

What levels of language proficiency are there?

Intermediate is an average level of English proficiency. There are 6 or 7 such levels in total, depending on different approaches to determining the level of language competence: Beginner, Elementary, Pre-Intermediate, Intermediate, Upper-Intermediate, Advanced, Proficiency. Sometimes in foreign language courses, some of these levels are divided into sublevels in order to more accurately determine which group to enroll the student in.

What do you need to know at the Intermediate level?

At the Intermediate level, he is expected to have a good knowledge of the basic tenses of the English language and be able to use them in writing and speaking. The volume of his vocabulary is about 3-5 thousand words, which allows the student to speak well enough on everyday topics, understand English, and compose written texts of normal complexity. At the same time, such a student may make mistakes in speech, speak not too fluently, stammer a little, or take a long time to find words. He understands fairly complex texts well - stories, novels written in literary language, popular science articles, he can read the news, but does not always perceive them well by ear. A person with an Intermediate level is unlikely to be able to correctly maintain a conversation on specific and complex topics; he does not speak business vocabulary unless he has been specifically trained in words and expressions with certain specifics.

In general, the Intermediate level is a fairly good level of knowledge of the English language. It may include those who are not fluent in oral speech, but are excellent at reading books in English, as well as those who speak well, but are not very well versed in the written features of the language. This level may be sufficient for employment with the requirement of mandatory knowledge of the English language. This level of proficiency is shown by good graduates of regular schools or students of grades 8-9 of specialized schools and gymnasiums with in-depth study of the English language.

A systematic approach to the process of learning foreign languages ​​involves the use of the Common European Framework of Reference. This assessment mechanism allows you to accurately determine the thematic level of training of a native speaker of a particular foreign language. Level B2 reflects the concept of “above average level of English”. In total, this system of language standards uses six levels (from A1 to C2).

Global cosmopolitan processes, determined by the dynamic development of international corporations and the desire of modern people to break out of the boundaries of certain countries and traditions, establish certain requirements for overcoming the so-called language barrier. Due to the fact that the world community has long chosen the English language as an international verbal method of interaction between people, its study today seems to be a direct necessity for all inhabitants of the planet. Naturally, all people for whom English is not their native language have significantly different abilities to comprehend foreign speech. Therefore, from the pan-European scale of standardization of training, it is level B2 that seems to be the most in demand, as it corresponds to the basic norms of communication.

When can you start learning English at level B2?

It is important to understand that dividing levels of knowledge of foreign languages ​​into categories is a rather arbitrary assessment system. And levels B2 and C1 correspond to almost fluent proficiency in oral and written language. Moreover, a higher degree of preparation implies the ability to read literature in the original and conduct business negotiations using terminology in various areas of life.

Before deciding to master the b2 level of English, you need to make sure that the applicant has a b1 level, which is characterized by fluent reading of literature and the press with an understanding of the basic rules of grammar, a high level of oral speech, allowing the free expression of their thoughts. In this case, readiness to comprehend level B2 allows for the presence of unfamiliar words in the text, which, however, do not affect the comprehension of the main meaning in it. In a general sense, this level of English language learning corresponds to the concept of “advanced degree” or “above intermediate level”. However, it should be understood that this amount of knowledge implies the presence of some language problems that require further improvement.

Basic knowledge at level B2

Comprehension of grammar at the Upper-Intermediate level involves studying the following topics:

Mastery of all tenses, including clear awareness of when Simple, Continuous, Perfect or Perfect Continuous are used;

Knowledge and practical application of the table of irregular verbs;

Ability to create indirect speech from direct speech;

Use of passive voice (Active voice);

Knowledge of impersonal forms of verbs such as infinitive, participle and gerund;

Use of modal verbs.

Vocabulary knowledge at level b2 is especially strongly focused on reading literature, listening and increasing vocabulary. Moreover, here you need to be able to use not only individual words, but also more complex speech structures, including phrasal verbs, idiomatic expressions and various phraseological units.

It is important to understand that any new words and figures of speech should not just be memorized in the form of lists, but should be regularly used when communicating. Only in this case they will not be forgotten and will bring tangible benefits in the learning process. In this context, it is necessary, first of all, to use such word forms, the equivalents of which are used in everyday life, when you have to build communication, talking about work, personal life and hobbies. To do this, it is advisable to always have vocabulary on hand.

To master level B2, English speech must be structured in such a way that it contains not only simple words, but also idioms (turns of speech that do not have a literal translation and are characteristic exclusively of a given language). In this case, the meaning of these phraseological units corresponds to equivalent phrases in the target language. It is these elements of speech that can make the language more diverse and colorful.

An important aspect of learning English at level B2 is the use of phrasal verbs, which correspond to a combination of verbs with adverbs or prepositions. Such phrases significantly change the original semantic meaning and do not obey any rules. Therefore, they simply need to be memorized as indivisible semantic units. For example: be about - to be nearby; call for - to call for someone; look for - to search.

And, of course, to give speech a more refined and sophisticated meaning, it is important to have in stock the required number of synonyms for the most frequently used words.

Reading and listening comprehension

For optimal adaptation of development from level a1 (beginner) to c2 (high) when learning English, it is necessary to use special literature. These are mainly classical works of fiction that use certain grammatical structures and vocabulary. An excellent thematic test can be considered one when, after reading two or three pages of a work, unfamiliar words are counted. So, with an indicator of up to 20-25 lexical units with an unclear meaning, you can safely undertake a full reading of the text.

It is important to understand that level B2 implies fluent reading of periodicals and works of modern authors. For effective learning at this stage, it is advisable to constantly write down all unfamiliar words and figures of speech in order to subsequently learn them and use them in everyday life.

Listening comprehension can be developed using adapted audiobooks. In order for the learning process in this aspect to be most effective, as a rule, you need to start listening according to the “-1” principle. That is, if a student’s general level of English corresponds to level b1, then it is advisable to start using the audio format from level a2.

Level of English B2-C1 allows you to use entertainment shows, films and TV series as training. Moreover, film projects with subtitles in this context can be considered the most optimal at the initial stage. However, it is important not to overdo it, so that the ability to perceive speech by ear is not lost for the sake of reading the text.

Written and spoken language

The development of written language is directly related to regular, daily practice. In this case, it is important to find for yourself the most appropriate way of writing the text. For example, blogging or correspondence on social networks, writing stories or essays may be suitable for this. The main thing is that each time there is a progressive process of enriching the language stock, which includes new constructions and figures of speech.

Level B2 should correspond to the following writing skills:

The ability to express themselves not only in the form of simple, but also complex and complex sentences;

Use of idioms, phrasal verbs and fixed expressions;

Writing various speech structures;

Free correspondence with native English speakers, including discussion of everyday issues;

Writing a story or article on a familiar topic.

Upper-Intermediate corresponds to the level of English proficiency, when oral speech is conducted in a free form when discussing everyday topics. For optimal improvement, it is better for learners to communicate with native English speakers. It is conversations with them on everyday topics that correspond to the level of knowledge within B2-C1. To implement this format of communication, you can use social networks or language exchange sites, where you can always find friends.

In addition, the following techniques can be used:

Try to describe everything that catches your eye, including the landscape outside the window, a city street, and various objects;

Retell books read, TV series or TV shows watched;

Make a list of questions to which you can subsequently give a detailed answer.

Pre Intermediate is the third of six levels of foreign language proficiency according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages ​​- - and is designated B1. It can be translated into Russian as “pre-threshold” or simply “below average”.

General characteristics of the level

Proficiency in English Pre Intermediate assumes that the student has already mastered the two previous levels: Beginner and Elementary. At the first level, he learned the alphabet, became acquainted with the basics of phonetics, learned basic vocabulary and learned how to write simple sentences - this level is basic. At the Elementary level, he had to start speaking, continue to expand his vocabulary, get acquainted with the basics of grammar, understand word formation and tenses of the Simple group: , and .

After this, you can move on to Pre Intermediate. This level assumes that the student will have to master more complex aspects of grammar, take the first step towards getting rid of an accent, learn to read and understand long articles and adapted English literature, and much more interesting things.

Level competencies

At the Pre Intermediate level, the student already communicates quite fluently, albeit with errors, in English, including with foreigners; perceives English speech, constructs complex and complex sentences, reads, watches videos and listens to songs in English.

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Irregular English verbs: table, rules and examples

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Reading and translation

At the Pre Intermediate level, the student can read and understand, occasionally using a dictionary:

• newspaper, magazine, entertainment articles;
• children's and teenage books, fairy tales, song lyrics;
• literature adapted for English language learners.

Letter

If you speak English at a pre-threshold level, you will be able to:

• write a short story about yourself, your hobbies and plans;
• conduct friendly or any informal correspondence;
• write a short essay on a simple everyday topic;
• communicate on social networks, meet English-speaking foreigners;
• Congratulate someone on their birthday, anniversary, and other holidays in writing.

Listening

At the Pre Intermediate level, speaking English no longer seems as difficult as before. The only difficulties that arise are numerals, geographical names, homophones and other complex words. So, the student, although not completely, already understands:

• newscasters speaking slowly and clearly;
• colloquial speech without regional accents;
• simple films and TV series: comedies, sitcoms, melodramas;
• video blogs and podcasts.

Speech

The pre-threshold level implies that you know about 1500 words and can:

• clearly pronounce all English sounds, speak without long pauses or hesitations;
• talk about yourself, your hobbies, family and other general topics;
• ask a foreigner for help;
• make purchases, book a hotel room, use public transport.

Grammar

At this level the student knows:

• adverbs;
• comparative and superlative degrees;
• general and special issues;
• conditional sentences of the second and third types;
• tenses of the groups Present/Past/Future Continuous and Present/Past/Future Perfect;
• modal verbs;
• phrasal verbs;
• indirect and direct speech.

What it takes to get to the next level

When you realize that you can and know everything listed above, the main thing is not to stop there. If you want the English language to help you build a career, get an education, learn something new and move freely around the world, then the Pre Intermediate level is only the middle of the road, and you still have a lot of work to do. To keep your progress in learning English from slowing down, follow these five tips:

1. Develop the habit of studying English every day. Yes, even on weekends and holidays.


2. Explore different topics. Are you only interested in English cinema and comics? This is great, but in order to grow to the Intermediate level, not to mention Advanced, you need to know vocabulary from many other topics: from politics to mathematics.


3. Communicate with native speakers. Communicating with an English-speaking foreigner is the best practice of speaking.


4. Practice your pronunciation. Try to copy the speech of TV presenters, politicians and audiobook actors to develop clear pronunciation.


5. Think in English. The English language has a peculiar logic in the construction of sentences, which is not similar to Russian. If you translate sentences in Russian word for word, it will be difficult for your foreign interlocutor to understand you.

Video about pre intermediate level:

Pre-Intermediate is the level to which all those who have already left Beginner courses behind them go, but cannot yet say that they speak English at a solid intermediate level. And you need to know the peculiarities of this intermediate level, at least in order to control the process of your learning, to be able to choose the most suitable textbooks, manuals, and courses. In fact, the line between Pre-Intermediate and Intermediate is quite thin; some courses skip intermediate levels altogether, offering groups only for beginners, intermediates and advanced. However, if you need to pass any exam, this difference will be very noticeable indeed.

For example, in order to successfully pass the Unified State Exam in English, you must have an Intermediate or Upper-Intermediate level. This exam does not require anything too complex, only very basic grammar and vocabulary, but the knowledge must be reliable. The level of English Pre-Intermediate in this case will be clearly insufficient, because it is characterized by some instability. There is knowledge, but it is still too fragmentary. There is no freedom or confidence in answering grammar questions, or in reading or listening, although everything seems very familiar.

To understand the difficulty of dividing a language into levels, try to answer the question: how does knowledge accumulate from lower to higher levels? Getting acquainted with phonetics and pronunciation, we inevitably must master some set of words, at least the simplest grammatical structures, etc. In fact, when studying a language, we do not move up the steps, stepping from one to another, but plunge into a body of water, going deeper and lower, and seeing in front of you everything the same as it was at the beginning, but in a broader perspective.

Pre-Intermediate compared to Beginner and Intermediate levels

At the previous level, Beginner or Elementary, we are introduced to a wide variety of topics, such as greetings, talking about yourself, characteristics of people; everyday vocabulary is acquired (clothing, furniture, food, etc.) The student learns the rules of reading; at the end of the initial course, he can actually read, but only fairly simple texts; reading the rest can hardly be called such; it is more likely to be an analysis of texts with a dictionary, rather than reading. A newbie can fill out a form or write a birthday greeting to a friend via email, but writing a detailed letter recounting all the local news will require intense effort. His reading style is reminiscent of the reading of a child who has just learned how syllables form words, and still spends quite a lot of effort on the actual reading process, and not on understanding. And even if he reads fluently, he comes across many passages that seem to have been read, but are completely incomprehensible. Beginner's knowledge is enough to communicate using gestures and words at the airport, in a store, on the street. Any interlocutor will understand you, but he will also understand that your knowledge is very shallow and will try to speak more slowly and simply.

At the Pre-Intermediate level, the same knowledge is deepened, emphasis is placed on grammar and further expansion of vocabulary. The main thing at the end of this level is to master the structure of the language, since at the next level an active movement “in breadth” begins; it is not for nothing that Intermediate in the West is sometimes called functional, because it represents a reliable knowledge base that provides a lot of opportunities, including for work or studying at a university. You need to be prepared for this, so at the Pre-Intermediate level, basic ideas about grammar are gained, which are finally consolidated at the Intermediate level. All other skills, such as reading and speaking, develop, but it is at this level that different students clearly reveal their inclinations and abilities. Someone understands that he has excellent hearing and a certain artistry - he perfectly recognizes the nuances of pronunciation and reproduces them, someone, on the contrary, has a strong logical mind and cracks grammatical problems like nuts, but cannot connect two words in any case. , it is felt that the student has not yet reached the “fireproof sum”. If he stops studying at this point, he will inevitably forget most of what he learned, and subsequently he will have to start all over again.

If at the elementary level the student understands only clear and slow speech on familiar topics, at the intermediate level he can listen to and understand any popular television programs, then the Pre-Intermediate level, which is intermediate between them, is very difficult to characterize unambiguously. Yes, you can already understand fluent speech, but selectively. You can talk about your musical tastes, but find it difficult to justify your preferences. You can read not only fairy tales, but also adult literary works. Although it would be difficult to call it a pleasure, because you will have to do some work translating incomprehensible words and parsing complex structures, since even the most fascinating detective stories of Agatha Christie, written in a fairly simple and clear language, cause difficulties for students with the Pre-Intermediate level.

Vocabulary at different levels is approximately:

• Beginner - 1000 words;
• Pre-Intermediate - 1200 words;
• Intermediate - 1500 words.

Of course, these figures are very arbitrary. Some courses offer such a Pre-Intermediate, at the end of which you will know about 1800 words. In any case, in order to communicate freely or read as native speakers do, you need to know about 8 thousand words. If you know more, then we are talking about special knowledge or erudition. 1500 words is enough for everyday communication or confident, but not yet fluent reading.

Pre-Intermediate - the level at which you can:

1. Pronounce familiar words clearly and understandably.
2. Build sentences grammatically correctly in oral and
3. Talk about yourself, describe a situation or person, express an opinion.
4. Ask your interlocutor to explain an unclear place.
5. Feel confident in everyday life and on tourist trips.
6. Capture the main meaning of any text, including scientific articles.
7. Read literary works written in simple language with a dictionary.
8. Distinguish all sounds, it is good to hear familiar words in fluent speech. It is good to understand clear, not too fast speech.
9. Write a fairly meaningful letter to a friend using simple grammatical structures.
10. Fill out the form, questionnaire, questionnaire.

Pre-Intermediate - a level at which you cannot:

1. Freely read literary works “that you have long dreamed of.”
2. Understand the nuances of a particular author’s style.
3. Talk with friends about complex philosophical topics.
4. Understand people who have some peculiarities of pronunciation, for example, with fluent, distorted speech.
5. Maintain a simple conversation on a topic that you “haven’t studied”, for example, discuss with a car enthusiast neighbor his new car if you learned your vocabulary from travel texts.
6. Confidently give a scientific report, make a presentation and answer questions from the audience.

Of course, as mentioned above, all these skills depend on the course, purpose and focus of training. For example, people with a general Pre-Intermediate level can successfully communicate on work topics, for example, in the IT field. Of course, this is possible provided that specific vocabulary is studied. And although everything else, like watching popular movies, will cause difficulties, in certain situations a person with a Pre-Intermediate level of English will feel confident.

Or during courses, you will definitely come across the concept of “levels of English” or “levels of English proficiency”, as well as such incomprehensible designations as A1, B2, and the more understandable Beginner, Intermediate and so on. From this article you will learn what these formulations mean and what levels of language proficiency are distinguished, as well as how to determine your level of English.

Levels of the English language were invented so that language learners could be divided into groups with approximately similar knowledge and skills in reading, writing, speaking and writing, as well as to simplify testing procedures, examinations, for various purposes related to emigration, study abroad and employment. This classification helps in recruiting students into a group and preparing teaching aids, methods, and language teaching programs.

Of course, there is no clear boundary between the levels; this division is quite arbitrary, needed not so much by students as by teachers. In total, there are 6 levels of language proficiency, there are two types of division:

• Levels A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2,
• Levels Beginner, Elementary, Intermediate, Upper Intermediate, Advanced, Proficiency.

Essentially they are just two different names for the same thing. These 6 levels are divided into three groups.

Table: English language proficiency levels

The classification was developed in the late eighties - early nineties of the last century, it is completely called the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment (abbr. CERF).

English language levels: detailed description

Beginner level (A1)

At this level you can:

• Understand and use familiar everyday expressions and simple phrases aimed at solving specific problems.
• Introduce yourself, introduce other people, ask simple personal questions, for example, “Where do you live?”, “Where are you from?”, be able to answer such questions.
• Maintain a simple conversation if the other person speaks slowly, clearly and helps you.

Many who studied English at school speak the language at approximately the Beginner level. From the vocabulary only elementary mother, father, help me, my name is, London is the capital. You can understand well-known words and expressions by ear if they speak very clearly and without accent, as in the audio lessons for the textbook. You understand texts like the “Exit” sign, and in a conversation with the help of gestures, using individual words, you can express the simplest thoughts.

Level Elementary (A2)

At this level you can:

• Understand common expressions on general topics such as family, shopping, work, etc.
• Talk about simple everyday topics using simple phrases.
• Talk about yourself in simple terms, describe simple situations.

If you got a 4 or 5 in English at school, but after that you didn’t use English for some time, then most likely you speak the language at the Elementary level. TV programs in English will not be understandable, except for individual words, but the interlocutor, if he speaks clearly, in simple phrases of 2-3 words, will generally understand. You can also incoherently and with long pauses for reflection tell the simplest information about yourself, say that the sky is blue and the weather is clear, express a simple wish, place an order at McDonald's.

The Beginner – Elementary levels can be called a “survival level”, Survival English. It is enough to “survive” during a trip to a country where the main language is English.

Intermediate level (B1)

At this level you can:

• Understand the general meaning of clear speech on common, familiar topics related to everyday life (work, study, etc.)
• Cope with the most typical situations while traveling (at the airport, in a hotel, etc.)
• Compose simple, coherent text on general or personally familiar topics.
• Retell events, describe hopes, dreams, ambitions, be able to briefly talk about plans and explain your point of view.

Vocabulary and knowledge of grammar are enough to write simple essays about yourself, describe incidents from life, write a letter to a friend. But in most cases, oral speech lags behind written speech, you confuse tenses, think about a phrase, pause to find a pretext (to or for?), but you can communicate more or less, especially if there is no shyness or fear of making mistakes.

Understanding your interlocutor is much more difficult, and if it is a native speaker, and even with fast speech and a bizarre accent, then it is almost impossible. However, simple, clear speech is understandable well, provided the words and expressions are familiar. You generally understand if the text is not very complex, and with some difficulty you understand the general meaning without subtitles.

Upper Intermediate level (B2)

At this level you can:

• Understand the general meaning of complex text on concrete and abstract topics, including technical (specialized) topics in your profile.
• Speak quickly enough so that communication with a native speaker occurs without long pauses.
• Compose clear, detailed text on various topics, explain points of view, give arguments for and against various points of view on the topic.

Upper Intermediate is already a good, solid, confident command of the language. If you are talking on a well-known topic with a person whose pronunciation you understand well, then the conversation will go quickly, easily, naturally. An outside observer will say that you are fluent in English. However, you may be confused by words and expressions related to topics that you do not understand well, all sorts of jokes, sarcasm, hints, slang.

You are asked to answer 36 questions to test your listening, writing, speaking and grammar skills.

It is noteworthy that to test listening comprehension, they do not use phrases recorded by the speaker like “London is the capital”, but short excerpts from films (Puzzle English specializes in learning English from films and TV series). In English-language films, the characters' speech is close to how people speak in real life, so the test can seem harsh.

Chandler from Friends doesn't have the best pronunciation.

To check a letter, you need to translate several phrases from English into Russian and from Russian into English. The program provides several translation options for each phrase. To test your knowledge of grammar, a completely ordinary test is used, where you need to choose one option from several proposed ones.

But you're probably wondering how the program can test your speaking skills? Of course, an online English test will not test your speech like a human, but the test developers have come up with an original solution. In the task you need to listen to a phrase from the film and choose a line suitable for continuing the dialogue.

Talking is not enough, you also need to understand your interlocutor!

The ability to speak English consists of two skills: listening to the speech of your interlocutor and expressing your thoughts. This task, although in a simplified form, tests how you cope with both tasks.

At the end of the test, you will be shown a complete list of questions with the correct answers, and you will find out where you made mistakes. And of course, you will see a chart with an assessment of your level on a scale from Beginner to Upper Intermediate.

2. Test to determine the level of English with a teacher

To get a professional, “live” (and not automated, as in tests) assessment of the level of the English language, you need English teacher, which will test you with tasks and an interview in English.

This consultation can be done free of charge. Firstly, there may be a language school in your city that offers free language testing and even a trial lesson. This is now a common practice.

In short, I signed up for a trial lesson-test, got in touch on Skype at the appointed time, and teacher Alexandra and I had a lesson during which she “tortured” me in every possible way with various tasks. All communication was in English.

My trial lesson on SkyEng. We check your knowledge of grammar.

At the end of the lesson, the teacher explained to me in detail in which direction I should develop my English, what problems I have, and a little later she sent me a letter with a detailed description of the level of language skills (with ratings on a 5-point scale) and methodological recommendations.

This method took some time: three days passed from submitting the application to the lesson, and the lesson itself lasted about 40 minutes. But this is much more interesting than any online test.