English level C1 is the fifth level of English in the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), a definition of different language levels written by the Council of Europe.
The Cambridge English Scale is used to measure the results of C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency, but each test has a different range. If you're taking C1 Advanced, your score will be somewhere between 160 and 210, while for C2 Proficiency it'll be between 180 and 230.
C1 Advanced – Level C2
Exceptional candidates sometimes show ability beyond C1 level. If you achieve a scale score of 200–210 (grade A) in your exam, you will receive the Certificate in Advanced English stating that you demonstrated ability at Level C2.
How many language levels are there? There are six levels of language proficiency (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2) according to the CEFR scale. They are grouped into three broader levels: A1-A2 (Basic User), B1-B2 (Independent User), and C1-C2 (Proficient User).
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.
C1, your French CEFR level is “advanced”
You can express yourself spontaniously and fluently. Your use of French is efficient and flexible in all areas of your life: professionnal, social, accademic. You can speak about just about anything, including complex topics in a well structured way.
Advanced: CEFR Level C1.
The answer is yes! You will need to work a lot harder and be serious about your preparation for the C1 Advanced exam. While the B2 First shows you have a good grounding in English, the C1 Advanced is closer to the level of a native speaker.
Level C1 corresponds to proficient users of the language, i.e. those able to perform complex tasks related to work and study.
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.
A C1 Advanced qualification shows that you can:
follow an academic course at university level. communicate effectively at a managerial and professional level.
The candidate's overall score is averaged from the individual scores for each skill (Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking) and for Use of English. C2 Proficiency is targeted at CEFR Level C2, but also provides reliable assessment at the level below C2 (Level C1).
A C1 certificate in English, which is close to bilingual level, allows candidates not only to greatly improve their job potential, but also to access bibliography, technical material and professional connections only available to the most advanced graduates.
C2 is the highest level of the CEFR and DALF C2 is the highest diploma of French as a foreign language. C2 users' proficiency in the language is illustrated by precision, appropriateness and fluency of expression.
In everyday speech, this level might be called “bilingual”, as in “I am bilingual in English and French.” 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.
Level C1 corresponds to users who can express themselves fluently and spontaneously. They can use language flexibly and effectively for all purposes.
The highest level on the CEFR scale is C1, which is close to the level of English proficiency of native speakers.
Level B2: Basic Fluency
Reaching B2 is generally considered by most people as having basic fluency. You'll have a working vocabulary of around 4000 words.
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.
It takes at least 18 years in general for a native speaker to reach C1 level in his own language, so you can hardly expect that a teenage or adult foreigner can take any less than a decade to approach that level.
You can definitely and easily reach C1 level within a time frame of 1 year. I completed A1- B1 level in 4 months(4 hours of German class, five days a week). I used to revise the grammar chapters on regular basis, as it would be much easier to build up new sentences. I also used to read some books and online material.
Hundreds of universities and colleges across the USA accept C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency for admission; including top institutions such as Harvard University, Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Dartmouth College, Wellesley College and The Juilliard School.
Who accepts C1 Advanced? 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.
C1 level: 700 to 800 hours of learning. At this level, you might be able to communicate in most situations, being fluent in French. C2 level: 1000 to 1200 hours of learning. This level is focused on mastering the language, making you able to communicate in really specific situations and fields of study.