How long does it take to reach C2 English?
If you're a dedicated English language learner, it's possible to reach the C2 level within two to three years. However, this timeframe largely depends on your starting point and how often you practice English.
If you're a dedicated English language learner, it's possible to reach the C2 level within two to three years. However, this timeframe largely depends on your starting point and how often you practice English.
Finally, to reach the highest level of proficiency, C2, you should expect to dedicate around 600-650 hours of study. This stage focuses on mastering the language to near-native levels, with advanced comprehension and communication skills in various contexts.
Preparing for the exam
For C2 Proficiency, this means you should: practise your English in all four skills: reading, writing, listening and speaking • improve your grammar and vocabulary for communication at C2 level • understand how the exam is organised and assessed • understand what will happen on exam day.
Language Level | Number of Base Words Needed |
---|---|
B1 | 2000 |
B2 | 4000 |
C1 | 8000 |
C2 | 16000 |
Proficiency Is A Tough Exam But Far From Impossible For Diligent Students. To sum up, if you can study the book on your own and do lots of practice exams you are in a good position to pass the exam. It goes without saying that it will be easier if you have already passed the First Certificate and Advanced exams.
A C2 Proficiency qualification shows the world that you have mastered English to an exceptional level. It proves you can communicate with the fluency and sophistication of a highly competent English speaker.
C1 Advanced is targeted at the C1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), while C2 is targeted at the C2 CEFR level. C2 Proficiency is therefore the more difficult of the two exams.
Employers, universities and government departments around the world accept C2 Proficiency as proof that a successful candidate can study or work at the very highest level of professional and academic life and as an indication of English language ability.
C2 Proficiency – Level C2
If you achieve a scale score of 200–230 (grade A, B or C) in your exam, you will receive the Certificate of Proficiency in English at Level C2.
Are native speakers C2?
In everyday speech, this level might be called “bilingual”, as in “I am bilingual in English and French.” A well-educated native English speaker is technically at a C2 level. Relatively few English learners reach this level because their professional or academic goals do not require it.
CEFR-level C1 (advanced)
You can express yourself fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions.
Start level | End level | Min. # hours |
---|---|---|
A2 | B1 | 210-350 |
B1 | B2 | 260-500 |
B2 | C1 | 700 |
C1 | C2 | 1000 |
As a matter of fact, English “fluency” actually begins a couple of levels lower than C2! We know this thanks to The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The CEFR is an international guideline to measure language ability, using a scale from A1 (beginners) to C2 (language masters).
Thornbury (2002) mentions that students need approximately: Between 1,000 to 2,000 high-frequency words for basic conversation and everyday texts. More or less 8,000 words for advanced conversation. In the region of 10,000 to 20,000-word families (excluding fixed phrases and expressions) to read at a university level.
The researchers found that native adult speakers of English understand an average of 20,000 to 30,000 vocabulary words, and native speakers learn about one word a day from ages 16 to 50.
- TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) ...
- TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication) ...
- Cambridge English Exams. ...
- IELTS (International English Language Testing System)
Proficient English User (C1, C2)
Can express themself fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions. Can use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes.
Someone with a C2 level speaks the language on a near-native level. Even though the language is not their mother-tongue, they understand, speak and write it really well and have no trouble with the great majority of the slang and idioms.
Difficulty | Level | Time |
---|---|---|
Intermediate | CEFR B1 | 350-400 hours |
CEFR B2 | 500-600 hours | |
Advanced | CEFR C1 | 700–800 hours |
CEFR C2 | 1000–1200 hours |
Is C2 equivalent to mother tongue?
In summary, C2 level is considered the highest level of proficiency in the CEFR framework, and it's considered as a near-native speaker level of proficiency, but not equivalent to the proficiency of a native speaker.
At Level C3 Achievement Standard students: listen, question and respond successfully in a wide range of social and academic contexts. demonstrate sufficient control of stress, rhythm and intonation to be understood in most contexts.
Can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party. Can produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.
By C1 Advanced level, users will have most of the grammar, failing only occasionally in areas such as mixed conditionals, inversions and slightly inappropriate tense choice. C2 Proficiency denotes 'near-native like fluency', which is very hard to achieve.
- A0/A1 English (Beginner/Elementary) ...
- A2 English (Pre Intermediate) ...
- B1 English (Intermediate) ...
- B2 English (Upper Intermediate) ...
- C1 English (Advanced) ...
- C2 English (Proficient)
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