If you are like most people, ssa, you probably guess what your English level is based on a good day.

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• The barista understands your coffee order the first time, so you decide you must be B2 by now.
• You catch most of a film without needing subtitles, so you assume you're basically fluent.

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It feels convincing in the moment, but one good conversation or one clear film doesn't tell you your actual level.

Try this instead.

Read through the three lists below and see if you can handle these situations at each level:

Start here. Can you:

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• Order food in a restaurant
• Make small talk at a gathering
• Talk about your job and daily life
• Understand the general idea of most conversations on familiar topics

If that's you, you're around B1.

Push a bit further. Are you able to:

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• Handle longer conversations on topics that aren't personal
• Book appointments or deal with customer service
• Write emails and reports without much effort
• Follow most films and podcasts without relying on subtitles

That's B2 territory.

And if none of that fazes you, you can probably:

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• Explain your ideas clearly in a meeting
• Discuss abstract topics like politics or culture
• Handle fast, informal conversations without much difficulty
• Write detailed essays and arguments on various topics

Welcome to C1.

Your level today is the last list you can honestly say yes to. Guess too high and you skip the foundations you still need. Guess too low and you waste time relearning what you've already mastered.

I've also created a detailed B1-C1 Checklist that breaks down exactly what grammar and vocabulary you need to master at each level. You can download it below and it should help you understand what you need to focus on next.