The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is a framework that describes language proficiency levels. According to the CEFR, a C1 level is considered "advanced" and a C2 level is considered "proficient" or "native-like. Karol Gabriel Thornton-Remiszewski.
A well-educated native English speaker is technically at a C2 level. Relatively few English learners reach this level because their professional or academic goals do not require it.
If B2 is what many consider “fluent,” then C1 is fluency with increased nuance and understanding. At C1, you can understand subtle jokes in the language, and express yourself with colorful native phrases. When you reach C1, you should have a working vocabulary of about 8000 words – almost double that of B2!
The C1 level would allow for full autonomy in a native English-speaking country. According to the official CEFR guidelines, someone at the C1 level in English: Can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognize implicit meaning.
SKILLS AT LEVEL C1
He/she can express him/herself fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for the right expression.
The C1 level would allow for full autonomy in a native English-speaking country. According to the official CEFR guidelines, someone at the C1 level in English: Can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognize implicit meaning.
Level C1 corresponds to users who can express themselves fluently and spontaneously. They can use language flexibly and effectively for all purposes.
In summary, C2 level is considered the highest level of proficiency in the CEFR framework, and it's considered as a near-native speaker level of proficiency, but not equivalent to the proficiency of a native speaker.
More than 9,000 organisations around the world accept C1 Advanced as proof of a student's ability to communicate at an advanced level in English for academic and professional purposes.
Other level names in this convention are: A1- Breakthrough, A2- Waystage, B1- Threshold, B2- Vantage, C1- Advanced, C2- Mastery. Which CEFR level is the highest? C2 (Proficiency) is the top level you can achieve on the CEFR scale.
CEFR C1. A regular study schedule of 700–800 hours is needed to complete Level C1. At this level, you should be able to comprehend texts that are lengthier and more complicated and their implied meanings, converse freely and spontaneously with others, express yourself, and use English in a variety of ways.
A native English speaker is a person for whom English is their mother tongue. This does not mean, however, that a native speaker must necessarily be of British, American or Australian nationality.
5 – Native / Bilingual Proficiency
Someone at this language proficiency level was either raised speaking the language as their native tongue or has been speaking it so long that they are completely fluent. They have little or no accent.
In order to progress from C1 to C2, a student needs to further develop their listening skills. This means they should become adept at understanding idioms and complex expressions.
A native speaker is not required to pass a C2 level exam, instead, they require only the technical words that are used in their own language. There are also speakers of foreign languages who have a C2 level who are not native of the language.
CEFR-level C1 (advanced)
You can express yourself fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions. You can use language flexibly and effectively for social and professional purposes.
The Cambridge Certificate C1 Advanced (CAE) is difficult to pass without proper preparation. Even if you think you have decent language skills it will test your grammar thoroughly and you may have difficulties on many levels.
A C1 Advanced qualification shows that you can:
follow an academic course at university level. communicate effectively at a managerial and professional level. participate with confidence in workplace meetings or academic tutorials and seminars.
Native Speaker
A native speaker's language is their first language. This usually means that it dominated their youth and is therefore the language they do their thinking in (though there are some exceptions). A native speaker is more than fluent — they correctly and easily use their first language.
A C1 level speaker can also be considered as someone who is a fluent speaker of the language. They will have no problem speaking, reading, writing and understanding the language and don't really need to take pauses to think while they are speaking.
Native means you grew up with the language, knowing it well (culturally especially). Fluent means that you have attained a high level with the language and usually learnt it when you were older.
The main difference between the two tests is the level of English that they allow you to achieve. C1 Advanced is targeted at the C1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), while C2 is targeted at the C2 CEFR level. C2 Proficiency is therefore the more difficult of the two exams.
Candidates who have secured a C1 Advanced grade C, having scored between 180 and 192 on the Cambridge English Scale, are at Level C1 of the CEFR and can be expected to be comparable in ability with candidates who have secured 6.5 or 7.0 in IELTS.