The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages is a six-level scale — A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2 — defined by the Council of Europe to describe language ability. A1/A2 are basic users, B1/B2 independent users, and C1/C2 proficient users.

How do exam scores map to CEFR?

Each exam body publishes its own CEFR alignment. Some exams (Goethe, DELF, JLPT) are designed at a specific CEFR level, so passing equals that level. Others (TCF, HSK) report a score that falls into a band. This tool uses the published thresholds for each test.

Is the HSK to CEFR mapping exact?

It is approximate. The pre-2021 HSK levels were loosely aligned (HSK 4 to about B2, HSK 6 to about C1), but Hanban and independent studies disagree on the upper bands. The new HSK 3.0 standard reorganises these levels, so treat the result as a guide.

Does JLPT map cleanly onto CEFR?

Only roughly. The JLPT is not built on the CEFR, and Japanese differs structurally from European languages, so equivalences (N1 near C1-C2, N2 near B2) are widely cited estimates rather than an official one-to-one alignment.

Can one score equal different CEFR levels?

Within a single exam, a higher score means a higher or equal CEFR band — it never drops. Across different exams the same nominal number is not comparable, which is exactly why each test needs its own mapping table rather than a shared scale.

CEFR Language Level Checker

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CEFR language level checker

The CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference) describes language ability on a six-step ladder — A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2. Different exams report scores in completely different ways, so this tool stores the published CEFR alignment for each major test and tells you which band your result falls into.

How it works

There are two kinds of exam in the mapping:

Level-targeted exams — Goethe-Zertifikat, DELF/DALF and JLPT are each designed at a fixed CEFR level, so achieving the certificate equals that band (e.g. DELF B2 = B2, JLPT N2 ≈ B2).
Score-banded exams — TCF, DELE and HSK report a number or sub-level that falls inside a CEFR range. The tool checks your score against the official threshold table for that exam.

Select your exam, enter the score or level, and the checker returns the matching CEFR band with a one-line description of what that level means in practice.

Notes and caveats

European-language exams (DELF, Goethe, DELE, TCF) align tightly to the CEFR because they were built around it. Asian-language exams (HSK, JLPT) were not designed on the CEFR, so their equivalences are widely cited estimates rather than official one-to-one mappings — especially at the C1/C2 end. Use the result as a reliable guide for European tests and an approximate one for HSK and JLPT.