The CEFR scale
Most school and academy programmes work within Pre-A1 to B2.
Where B1 sits
A learner at B1 can communicate about everyday, academic and work topics with growing independence.
What CEFR is
CEFR stands for the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. It's an international standard, used well beyond Europe, that describes what a learner can actually do in a language at a given level — not what topics they've covered, but what they can understand and produce. It runs from Pre-A1 (absolute beginner) through C2 (mastery), though most school and academy programmes work within Pre-A1 to B2.
What each level actually looks like
Pre-A1 — beginning to understand and use very basic words and phrases.
A1 — can use simple words and familiar expressions for everyday needs.
A2 — can handle everyday conversations and understand familiar information.
B1 — can communicate about everyday, academic and work topics with growing independence.
B2 — can communicate fluently and confidently across a wide range of situations.
Why it's more useful than "good" or "weak" English
"My child's English is weak" doesn't tell a teacher anything actionable. "My child is at A1 and struggles with independent reading" does. CEFR gives parents and teachers a shared, specific vocabulary for where a learner actually is, which is the first step to knowing what to work on next.
How Thrive uses it
Every learner at Thrive is assessed against CEFR before starting, so the starting point is measured rather than guessed. From there, our four-stage approach — assess, learn, practise, progress — gives a clear, visible path from a learner's current level to the next one, rather than a generic course that doesn't account for where they're actually starting.