This is one of the most common questions students and parents ask before beginning a course. Unfortunately, there is no single answer that applies to everyone. The time you need depends on your current level, how regularly you study and how much contact you have with English outside the classroom.
Firstly, all students take a placement test before starting at English Academy. This allows us to assess their current level of English and place them in the most appropriate course. As we offer courses at all levels, from A0 to C2, the time it takes to progress will depend largely on the student’s starting level.
Cambridge English estimates that it takes approximately 200 hours of guided study to progress from one CEFR level to the next. For example, we would normally expect someone to need around 200 hours to progress from B2 to C1. For this reason, we offer Upper-Intermediate B2 and Pre-Advanced B2+ courses, each consisting of approximately 100 hours of study, before students progress to C1
In some circumstances, students may progress more quickly and skip a course. Many of our students also study English at school and practise at home, while some simply acquire languages more quickly than others. In such cases, we ask students to consult their teachers, who will advise them when moving to a higher level is appropriate.
Achieving C1 and obtaining an internationally recognised qualification is the goal of many of our students. Once they have reached the necessary level, we offer Cambridge C1 Advanced and IELTS preparation courses to help them obtain the results they need to study abroad or improve their employment opportunities.
Our C1 Advanced and IELTS preparation courses are three-month intensive courses. They focus primarily on exam preparation, strategies and techniques rather than on teaching the general English required to move up an entire CEFR level. The aim is to help students use their existing language skills effectively and achieve the highest possible result in the exam. For this reason, students preparing for C1 Advanced should already be at, or close to, C1 level. The level required for IELTS depends on the band score requested by the university, employer or other organisation.
It is also important to remember that applying CEFR levels to young learners is not always straightforward. For example, we would not expect an 11-year-old native speaker to demonstrate all the skills associated with C1. The language required at this level is complex and includes advanced vocabulary, abstract ideas and formal styles of writing that children may not yet have developed, even in their first language.
In 2004, while working at the British Council, I met Brian North, one of the main contributors to the development of the CEFR. We discussed how difficult it can be to relate the CEFR levels directly to children’s language development, as children and adults learn and use languages in very different ways.
Parents sometimes expect their children to complete one or two courses at a particular level and then move automatically to the next one. However, rather than trying to fit every child into a particular CEFR category as quickly as possible, we focus on helping children become confident speakers, enjoy using English and look forward to coming to their lessons. In my experience, developing this confidence and enthusiasm is the most important foundation for long-term success in learning a language.
Mark McTaggart
English Academy Director
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