CEFR A1
Everyday essentials
Practise introductions, simple requests and personal details. Listen for names and numbers, read short notices and fill in basic forms.
- Guided learning
- 250 h
- Self-study
- 52 h
- Assessment
- 2 h
- Total qualification time
- 304 h
English Exams / SCQF-aligned ESOL
Compare the six English exam levels.
Explore the skills and study workload Estudyquals lists for its A1–C2 pathway.
Estudyquals ESOL specification
SCQF-aligned English exam pathway.
Estudyquals describes this pathway as SCQF-aligned. Its specification lists A1–C2 as CEFR proficiency levels and covers listening, reading, writing and speaking at each level. The workload figures below are published by Estudyquals and are shown in hours.
CEFR A2
Routine exchanges
Practise making appointments and asking for travel information. Find key details in brief announcements and write short notes about everyday plans.
- Guided learning
- 250 h
- Self-study
- 52 h
- Assessment
- 2 h
- Total qualification time
- 304 h
CEFR B1
Independent communication
Practise following straightforward workplace or study instructions, explaining an experience and supporting a simple opinion in conversation or connected paragraphs.
- Guided learning
- 200 h
- Self-study
- 50 h
- Assessment
- 6 h
- Total qualification time
- 256 h
CEFR B2
Sustained discussion
Practise following longer arguments, comparing options and explaining a position. Work on clear organisation, inference and the tone of longer spoken and written responses.
- Guided learning
- 200 h
- Self-study
- 50 h
- Assessment
- 6 h
- Total qualification time
- 256 h
CEFR C1
Advanced communication
Practise identifying a speaker’s stance, organising complex ideas and adapting tone for academic or professional audiences. Explain and defend a position when challenged.
- Guided learning
- 250 h
- Self-study
- 70 h
- Assessment
- 7 h
- Total qualification time
- 327 h
CEFR C2
Precision and synthesis
Practise identifying subtle differences in meaning, synthesising competing accounts and presenting a precise argument in speech and writing.
- Guided learning
- 250 h
- Self-study
- 70 h
- Assessment
- 7 h
- Total qualification time
- 327 h
The workload is specific to this pathway. A higher CEFR level can have fewer listed hours because the levels describe language ability. The assessment hours are included in the total.
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CEFR and SCQF
CEFR describes language proficiency. SCQF describes the demand of learning on Scotland’s qualifications framework. If credit rating is claimed for your award, check the exact title, SCQF level and credit points against its register entry.
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