How to describe your language levels on a CV (A1 to C2)
"Good English" can mean anything from ordering a coffee to negotiating a contract. To avoid confusion, more and more employers use the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), which describes six levels from A1 to C2. Using it makes your CV clearer in every country, including the Gulf and North America.
The six levels in plain words
| Level | Name | What it means at work |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | Beginner | Basic phrases, introductions, simple questions |
| A2 | Elementary | Routine exchanges, simple e-mails, directions |
| B1 | Intermediate | Familiar topics, simple meetings, short reports |
| B2 | Upper intermediate | Discussions in your field, most meetings, clear writing |
| C1 | Advanced | Complex topics, presentations, negotiation, professional writing |
| C2 | Proficient | Near-native precision and nuance in any context |
Above C2, write native (or mother tongue) for the language you grew up with.
Translating everyday words
If you are used to describing languages with words, here is a rough match:
- Native / mother tongue → native
- Bilingual, fully proficient → C2
- Fluent, advanced, professional working proficiency → C1
- Good, conversational, upper intermediate → B2
- Intermediate → B1
- Basic, notions, school level → A2
"Fluent" is the most overused word on CVs. Use it only if you can work comfortably in that language, which usually means C1.
Mention tests when you have them
A recent certificate makes your level credible, especially for jobs abroad and visa applications:
- English: IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge (B2 First, C1 Advanced, C2 Proficiency), PTE.
- French: DELF and DALF, TCF, TEF (the TEF Canada and TCF Canada are used for Canadian immigration).
- Arabic: fewer standardised exams are widely recognised by employers; describe what you can do instead ("Arabic: native; Modern Standard Arabic for official correspondence").
Write it like this: "English: C1 (IELTS 7.5, 2025)".
Examples
Arabic: native · English: C1 (IELTS 7.0) · French: B2
French: native · English: fluent (C1) · Spanish: intermediate (B1)
For Arabic speakers applying in the Gulf, it can help to specify dialects or registers when the job involves customers: "Arabic: native (Gulf and Levantine dialects, MSA)".
Be honest
Interviewers in international companies often switch language without warning, and many jobs include a written test. Overstating by one level is a common way to lose an offer. If you are between two levels, choose the lower one and mention that you are improving ("currently preparing DELF B2").
Where to put languages
- In a separate section near your skills, or in the side column of a two-column CV.
- In the summary too, when languages are central to the job (customer service, sales, hospitality, translation, international roles).
In CV Passport, each language has a level from A1 to C2 or "Native". The words printed on your CV change with the language and country you choose, for example Langue maternelle in French or اللغة الأم in Arabic.