An overview of international language qualifications

Internationally recognised language certificates serve as proof of good language skills. These qualifications are recognised by thousands of educational institutions, companies and organisations worldwide and can therefore be extremely useful for studying or pursuing a career abroad. Not only abroad, but also in the UK, many employers see great value in foreign language skills and with an internationally recognised qualification you can prove your skills easily and quickly. A language certificate is therefore highly desirable professionally.

Most certificates are based on the language levels (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2) of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for Languages

The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) aims to create a common reference point for different language levels so that various European language qualifications can be compared with one another. There are six levels:

• A1 - Beginner: At A1, you should be able to understand and use familiar and everyday expressions and very basic phrases to get by.
• A2 - Basic knowledge: A2 means that you can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas such as personal and family information, shopping, work and your immediate environment.
• B1 - Advanced language use: At B1, you can understand the main points when clear standard language is used and when it is about familiar things from work, school, leisure and so on.
• B2 - Independent use of language: At B2, you can understand the main content of complex texts on both concrete and abstract topics. You should also be able to hold a normal, spontaneous and fluent conversation with a native speaker without too much effort.
• C1 - Proficiency: C1 means that you can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts and also make sense of implicit meanings. In addition, C1 means that you can express yourself fluently, in a structured and spontaneous way, without having to think for a long time.
• C2 - Almost native knowledge: C2 is the highest level. At this level, you should be able to understand practically everything you read or hear with ease and express yourself spontaneously, fluently and precisely.

If you would like to know more in depth about the different levels, check out this information about the Common European Framework of Reference.

French

When people talk about French language certificates, they usually mean the Diplôme d'Etudes en Langue Française (DELF) or the Diplôme Approfondi de Langue Française (DALF). In total, there are six independent certificates which correspond to the six levels of the CEFR:

• DELF A1
• DELF A2
• DELF B1
• DELF B2
• DALF C1
• DALF C2

These six qualifications are known worldwide and are integrated into the public education system in many countries. They facilitate your access to French-speaking universities and increase your chances on the job market.

If you want to find out more about these French language certificates, we recommend you visit the official website.

Spanish

The main Spanish language certificate is the Diploma de Español (DELE). This certificate is issued by the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport. The exams, on the other hand, are organised by the Instituto de Cervantes and prepared, corrected and evaluated by the Universidad Salamanca. Like the DELF/DALF, the Spanish language diploma distinguishes between six levels according to the CEFR:

• DELE A1
• DELE A2
• DELE B1
• DELE B2
• DELE C1
• DELE C2

For more information about the Spanish language certificate, please check out the official website and the Instituto de Cervantes.

Italian

There are also language qualifications for the Italian language. One of the best known are the language certificates from the Centro per la Valutazione e le Certificazioni Linguistiche (CVCL) of the Università per Stranieri di Perugia. The CVCL writes and prepares exams to accurately measure the ability to use the Italian language at various levels of competence. These certificates, known by the acronym CELI (Certificati di Lingua Italiana), are based on the levels of the CEFR:

• CELI 1 - A2
• CELI 2 - B1
• CELI 3 - B2
• CELI 4 - C1
• CELI 5 - C2

For more information on this qualification, please visit the official website.

German

When we talk about German language qualifications, the Goethe-Zertifikat is the standard. In total, there are six independent certificates corresponding to the six CEFR levels:

• Goethe-Zertifikat A1
• Goethe-Zertifikat A2
• Goethe-Zertifikat B1
• Goethe-Zertifikat B2
• Goethe-Zertifikat C1
• Goethe-Zertifikat C2

These six certificates are known worldwide and integrated into public education in many countries. They make it easier for you to gain access to German-speaking universities and increase your chances on the job market. For more information, check out the official website.

Conclusion: If you’re learning a foreign language, it’s a great idea to get a qualification to prove your ability and make you stand out to employers in the UK and abroad. Unlike GCSEs and A-Levels, these qualifications are based on the CEFR levels and therefore internationally recognised. If you have the opportunity to take an external language exam to gain a qualification like these at your school, don't hesitate!

Sources:

Council of Europe, Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for Languages, n.d., (13.12.2022).