Spanish levels A1 A2 B1 B2 C1 C2 explained with clear examples

So you keep seeing A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2 and wondering what they really mean. These are CEFR levels, an international scale that describes what you can do in a language. Below you will find clear can do descriptions, grammar highlights, short example texts, and interactive mini tasks to make the levels feel real. For real reading practice at each band, explore our levelled Spanish stories.

A1 Beginner

You can:

• Greet and introduce yourself
• Ask and answer simple questions about personal details
• Understand very common words for everyday needs like aguawater, billeteticket, bañobathroom
• Handle basic shopping, directions, and numbers

Grammar building blocks:

• Present tense of essential verbs like ser, estar, tener (see ser vs estar, tener, and starter regular -ar verbs)
• Gender and number agreement (un libro, dos libros) (review gender and articles)
• Question words and basic negation (no, nunca)

Tiny sample at A1:

• Hola, me llamo Ana. Soy de México. Vivo en Sevilla. Trabajo en una tienda. Me gusta el café.

Want more? Read an A1 story and review basic greetings.

A2 Elementary

You can:

• Talk about daily routines, past weekends, future plans with ir a
• Describe people, places, and simple preferences with reasons
• Handle short messages and simple emails

Grammar building blocks:

• More present tense verbs, reflexives, gustar type verbs
• Common past forms in short contexts like fui and he ido (start with the preterite regulars)
• Comparatives and superlatives

Tiny sample at A2:

• El sábado fui al mercado con mis amigos. Compré fruta y pan. Por la tarde voy a cocinar una ricatasty cena.

Try an A2 story and practice sequence connectors.

B1 Intermediate

You can:

• Share opinions and experiences and give simple explanations (practice expressing opinions)
• Deal with most travel situations and everyday admin
• Understand the main points of TV or podcasts if the topic is familiar

Grammar building blocks:

• Narrative pasts (pretérito vs imperfecto) in connected stories
• Future, conditional for polite requests, reported speech basics
• Subjunctive appears in common phrases like Es importante que (build the present subjunctive)

Tiny sample at B1:

• Cuando era niño, vivía en un pueblo pequeño. Hace tres años me mudé a Valencia y ahora trabajo en una empresa de tecnología.

Now read a B1 story and review the present perfect.

B2 Upper Intermediate

You can:

• Follow complex discussions in your field and defend your views (see arguing and persuading)
• Write clear, detailed texts and emails with a coherent structure
• Interact with native speakers without strain for either party

Grammar building blocks:

• Confident command of past tenses and aspect
• Wider range of connectors like sin embargo, por lo tanto, aun así
• Subjunctive in more contexts for emotion, doubt, purpose (including the imperfect subjunctive)

See how expression grows from A2 to B2:

Keep going with a B2 story and polish reported speech.

C1 Advanced

You can:

• Understand long and demanding texts and pick up implied meaning
• Express yourself fluently and flexibly for social, academic, or professional purposes (including formal vs informal registers)
• Produce well structured, detailed writing on complex subjects

Grammar building blocks:

• Broad and accurate use of the subjunctive and conditionality
• Nuanced connectors and discourse markers like no obstante, con todo, por más que (master advanced connectors)
• Native-like reformulation strategies and idiomatic turns

Tiny sample at C1:

• Aunque el proyecto avanzó con retraso, logramos cumplir los objetivos gracias a una coordinación eficaz y a decisiones tomadas a tiempo.

Then read a C1 story.

C2 Proficient

You can:

• Understand virtually everything you read or hear, even at speed
• Summarize information from different sources and reconstruct arguments
• Express very fine shades of meaning with precision

Grammar building blocks:

• Mastery of register, idiom, and subtle aspect choices
• Consistent control of complex syntax with natural rhythm
• Stylistic choices that fit audience and context

Tiny sample at C2:

• A primera vista, el informe parece impecable, pero una lectura minuciosa revela supuestos discutibles que conviene someter a revisión.

What changes as you move up

• Reach: from everyday survival (A) to independent functioning (B) to nuanced control (C)
• Text length and cohesion: from short phrases to connected paragraphs to extended argument
• Grammar load: from present and basics to full tense system and rich connectors to stylistic choices
• Vocabulary depth: from essential words like saludarto greet and necesitarto need to domain specific terms and idioms (explore idiomatic expressions)

Choose the right study focus for your band

• A1 to A2
  • Drill high frequency verbs and chunks like me gustaría, tengo que
  • Practice short dialogs and daily tasks
• A2 to B1
  • Build storytelling with past tenses and linking words (see pretérito vs imperfecto)
  • Write short paragraphs about experiences and plans
• B1 to B2
  • Expand connectors and argument structure (use advanced connectors)
  • Listen to podcasts and take notes to improve comprehension speed (try news and current events)
• B2 to C1
  • Read opinion pieces and summarize
  • Push range and precision with the subjunctive and register choices
• C1 to C2
  • Refine style, idioms, and tone (practice Spanish proverbs)
  • Do critical summaries and presentations

Try a quick self check

• If you can only communicate in single words or short phrases you are likely A1.
• If you can handle routine tasks and simple past or future you are likely A2.
• If you can connect ideas and explain reasons you are likely B1.
• If you can debate and write detailed messages you are likely B2.
• If you can understand implied meaning and adapt style you are likely C1.
• If you rarely struggle and can summarize complex sources you are likely C2.

Your next step with InkLingo

• Take a short placement to estimate your CEFR band
• Follow a path tailored to your current level and your goals
• Practice with targeted drills and real world tasks to level up faster