For what uses is CEF intended?

The CEF provides firm guidelines for the assessment of language competence.

The uses include:

The planning of language learning programmes in terms of:

  • their assumptions regarding prior knowledge
  • their objectives
  • their content

The planning of language certification in terms of:

  • content
  • assessment criteria

The planning of self-directed learning, including:

  • raising the learners’ awareness of their present state of knowledge
  • self-assessment
  • selection of material

These categories are based mainly on the four traditional language skills of:

  • Listening
  • Reading
  • Speaking
  • Writing

Within these areas the CEF defines a framework of language tasks extending over six internationally comparable levels of proficiency in three bands.