An app says you’ll reach B2, or even C1, but what does that mean in real life? If you’ve ever finished a “B1 section” and still freeze when someone speaks to you at normal speed, you’ve felt the gap between marketing and measured progress.
Checking language app CEFR levels isn’t about being picky. It’s about protecting your time. CEFR (A1 to C2) is meant to describe what you can do with the language, not how many lessons you completed or how many streaks you kept.
This guide shows how to verify an app’s CEFR claims, how to test the content against real descriptors, how to judge the app’s assessment, and how to sanity-check your level with outside benchmarks.
What CEFR alignment means (and what it doesn’t)
CEFR levels describe performance in real tasks: understanding, speaking, reading, and writing in situations that get harder from A1 to C2. A CEFR-aligned course usually has three things:
- Clear targets (can-do outcomes per unit)
- A level map (what content belongs to A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2)
- Evidence that tasks and tests match those targets
What CEFR alignment doesn’t mean: that a course is “complete,” that you’ll reach a level just by finishing units, or that a single quiz score equals your level. CEFR is about skills in context, not only vocabulary size or grammar points.
Step 1: Verify the app’s CEFR claims (quick credibility checks)
Start skeptical. A trustworthy claim sounds like a syllabus, not a slogan.
Look for these signals inside the app, the help center, or the curriculum page:
Good signs
- The app says which skills it trains at each level (not just “you’ll be B2”).
- Units are labeled with CEFR outcomes (“can book a hotel room and handle problems,” not “Travel 3”).
- Sample lessons show longer tasks at higher levels (summaries, arguments, role-play).
Red flags
- The app uses CEFR labels but only offers multiple-choice vocab drills from start to finish.
- “C1/C2 content” is mostly rare words, trivia, or speedrun grammar explanations.
- There’s no placement process, or the placement is a 2-minute quiz.
If you can’t find any description of how the app maps content to CEFR, treat the level labels as loose categories, not a standard.
Step 2: Test lessons against CEFR descriptors (use real can-do statements)
Don’t guess your level by how hard a lesson feels. Match tasks to descriptors.
Two reliable starting points:
- The Council of Europe’s CEFR self-assessment grid
- The Council of Europe’s CEFR Companion Volume descriptors
Now open 5 to 10 lessons from the level the app claims you’re in. Ask: do these lessons train the can-do outcomes, or do they just test recognition?
A1 to C2 snapshot: what learners can do, and what app evidence looks like
| CEFR level | What a learner can typically do | What app evidence should look like |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | Use basic phrases, introduce self, ask simple questions if speech is slow | Short dialogues with pictures, very controlled speaking prompts, survival phrases with repetition and audio |
| A2 | Handle routine tasks (shopping, directions), talk about daily life in simple sentences | Mini role-play choices (ordering, booking), short messages, listening with clear context and predictable topics |
| B1 | Manage common situations, explain plans, understand the main points of clear speech | Longer dialogues, short stories, “tell me about…” speaking tasks, guided writing (email, message) with feedback |
| B2 | Follow extended speech, argue a viewpoint, read articles with less support | Multi-step tasks (summarize + respond), debates, mixed accents at natural speed, writing with structure (opinion, report) |
| C1 | Use language flexibly, understand implicit meaning, produce clear, detailed text | Authentic materials (talks, articles), pragmatic choices (tone, register), speaking prompts that require nuance and repair strategies |
| C2 | Understand virtually everything, express precisely, handle complex texts and style shifts | Advanced listening and reading with inference, writing that adapts style, tasks that reward precision, not just “more words” |
A simple rule: as CEFR rises, tasks should move from recognition to production, from scripted to open-ended, and from isolated sentences to connected speech and text.
Step 3: Evaluate the app’s assessment (is it measuring skills or just content?)
Many apps confuse “progress” with “level.” A CEFR claim needs an assessment that matches CEFR-style performance.
Check the app’s assessment with these questions:
1) Does it cover all four skills?
If the app claims B2 but never scores speaking or writing, it can’t honestly certify your overall level. At best, it’s measuring reading and listening, or even only grammar and vocab.
2) Are tasks level-appropriate?
A level test that’s 50 multiple-choice questions can be useful, but it mostly measures recognition. CEFR also cares about production: explaining, persuading, repairing misunderstandings.
3) Is there any scoring transparency?
Look for cut scores, skill breakdowns, or at least an explanation of what moved you from A2 to B1. If the app only says “Great job, you’re B1 now,” that’s not evidence.
Non-branded examples of stronger assessment tasks
- A timed listening task with a short summary (not just picking words)
- A speaking prompt that expects a 60-second response and checks key points
- A writing task (email, complaint, opinion) graded with a rubric
Step 4: Validate with external benchmarks (reality checks that keep you honest)
Even a good app can be off by half a level. Use an outside reference to calibrate.
Helpful documents:
- ALTE Can Do statements (practical “can-do” descriptions linked to CEFR)
- The CEFR alignment handbook (EALTA) (how alignment is done, and what “aligned” should mean)
Then add one independent check:
- Take an independent placement test from a language school or exam provider (ideally skill-based, not only grammar).
- If you need proof for school or work, use a certified CEFR-aligned exam as your final reality check.
If your app says B2 but an external placement puts you at B1, believe the outside test first. Apps often overrate because it keeps users happy.
What to do if the app isn’t CEFR-aligned (or the level feels wrong)
You don’t have to quit the app. You just need to stop treating its level labels as the truth.
Build your own CEFR “overlay”
Pick 10 to 15 can-do statements from the CEFR grid for your target level, then track them like a checklist. If the app doesn’t train “I can write a clear email asking for information,” you add that task elsewhere.
Supplement based on your goal (not the app’s path)
Travel and daily life
- Focus on A2 to B1 speaking and listening tasks
- Add short role-play speaking practice (ordering, checking in, fixing a problem)
- Use simple listening at natural speed, even if you miss details
School (classes, study abroad)
- Add reading and writing early
- Practice summaries, short opinions, and note-taking from audio
- Use the app for vocab and grammar, then write weekly paragraphs with feedback
Professional use
- Aim for B2 tasks sooner: meetings, emails, explaining tradeoffs
- Practice switching tone (friendly, firm, formal)
- Record 1-minute speaking updates and self-correct for clarity
Exam prep
- Treat the app as warm-up only
- Train exam-style tasks and timing, using official sample materials from the exam you’ll take
- Track weak skills separately (many learners avoid writing because apps let them)
If you’re comparing popular tools, a side-by-side review can still help you judge structure and skill coverage. See this Rosetta Stone vs Duolingo: detailed comparison and pay attention to how each app handles speaking, listening, and progression.
Conclusion
CEFR labels can be useful, but only when an app shows real evidence behind them. Verify the claim, test lessons against CEFR descriptors, scrutinize the assessment, then confirm with an outside benchmark. If the app falls short, you can still use it, just stop letting it define your level.
Your best sign of progress isn’t finishing a “B2 unit.” It’s hitting can-do outcomes you can repeat on a tired day, in a new situation, with a real person.
