A2 English Level:
Elementary

Students can understand phrases and vocabulary relating to areas of most immediate personal relevance and can catch the main point in short, clear, simple messages and announcements.

• ·Understand phrases and the highest frequency vocabulary related to areas of most immediate personal relevance
• ·Catch the main point in short, clear, simple messages and announcements

Students can read very short, simple texts and find specific predictable information in simple everyday material such as advertisements, prospectuses, menus and timetables.

A2 learners can read simple texts on familiar topics with reasonable confidence:

Short personal letters and simple emails. Everyday written material — menus, timetables, advertisements, and prospectuses. Simple newspaper headlines and basic factual articles on familiar subjects. Short descriptions of places, people, and events. Basic instructions and simple forms.

The IET A2 English certificate verifies this reading ability alongside grammar and vocabulary, giving you a portable CEFR credential for your CV, LinkedIn, or visa application.

• ·Read very short, simple texts
• ·Find specific, predictable information in simple everyday material

Students can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar topics and activities. They can handle very short social exchanges, even though they usually cannot understand enough to keep the conversation going independently.

A2 speakers can communicate in routine situations with reasonable clarity:

Handle short social exchanges — how are you, making plans, responding to invitations. Describe their background, family, work, and daily routine in simple terms. Make and respond to simple requests and offers. Participate in basic conversations on familiar topics — shopping, travel, food, work. Give simple directions and instructions. Express opinions using basic phrases.

The IET English Speaking Certificate™ assesses A2-level speaking across pronunciation, intonation, fluency, grammar, and vocabulary — with AI-powered evaluation and an instant CEFR-aligned result.

• ·Communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar topics
• ·Handle very short social exchanges even though not usually able to understand enough to keep the conversation going independently
• ·Use a series of phrases and sentences to describe in simple terms family and other people, living conditions, educational background and present or most recent job

Students can write short, simple notes and messages. They can write a very simple personal letter, for example thanking someone for something.

• ·Write short, simple notes and messages relating to matters in areas of immediate need
• ·Write a very simple personal letter

A2 vocabulary covers everyday topics such as shopping, family, work, and travel. Learners can use common phrases in familiar contexts and begin to express opinions on simple topics.

• ·Present Simple and Continuous
• ·Past Simple
• ·Future (going to)
• ·Articles
• ·Plurals (regular and irregular)
• ·Comparatives and superlatives
• ·Possessives
• ·Prepositions of time and place
• ·Modal verbs (can, could, would)
• ·Questions forms
• ·Frequency adverbs
• ·Object pronouns
• ·Conjunctions (and, but, because)

At the A2 English level (Elementary), learners can go beyond very basic communication and handle a wider range of everyday situations:

Engage in simple social interactions — greetings, introductions, short conversations about familiar topics. Handle basic transactions in shops, post offices, and banks. Ask for and give directions. Discuss past events and future plans in simple terms. Talk about work, family, hobbies, and interests using common vocabulary. Understand simple announcements and short messages.

The IET A2 English Certificate provides verified evidence of your CEFR level and can be used for CVs, entry-level job applications and basic academic requirements. Acceptance depends on the receiving organisation. It documents elementary English proficiency — useful for entry-level roles and basic academic requirements.

The Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), a list of various language proficiency levels created by the Council of Europe, lists English at level A2, which is the second level of English. This level could be referred to as "basic" in common conversation, as in "I speak basic English." It is the foundation. The term "elementary" is used as the official level description in the CEFR. At this level, students are proficient in the fundamentals of English and are able to express straightforward requirements.

A2 level learners can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance. They can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters. They can describe in simple terms aspects of their background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need.

An English learner at the A2 level will be able to:

An A2 level of English is enough for basic social interactions, simple workplace conversations on familiar topics, and elementary travel needs. It is not yet sufficient for academic study, professional work in English, or fluent media consumption.

The official CEFR rules state that someone with an English language proficiency of A2:

• ·Understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of immediate relevance
• ·Communicate in simple, routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar matters
• ·Describe in simple terms aspects of your background, immediate environment, and matters of immediate need
• ·Introduce themselves and talk about their family and background.
• ·Handle simple transactions in shops and restaurants.
• ·Ask for and give directions.
• ·Talk about past events and future plans.
• ·Understand simple written instructions.
• ·Write simple messages and emails.
• ·Students can anticipate reaching the A2 level in English with 100 to 120 hours of teaching, though progress will vary depending on the type of course and the particular student.
• ·Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance, such as basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, and employment.
• ·Can communicate in simple, routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar topics.
• ·Can describe in simple terms aspects of background, immediate environment, and matters in areas of immediate need.

Progressing from A2 to B1 typically requires 100–120 hours of focused study. Key strategies:

Expand vocabulary to cover work, travel, health, and social topics (aim for 800–1,000 words). Read graded readers at A2–B1 level and simple news articles. Watch TV shows and films with English subtitles — start with short, slow-paced content. Practice writing short texts — emails, messages, and simple descriptions. Speak with language partners or in structured conversation classes. Use the IET English Level Test to benchmark your progress with a verified CEFR-aligned score.

With an A2 level of English, you can comfortably engage in tourism activities in English-speaking countries and have basic social interactions with English speakers. However, this level is not enough to form deeper friendships. You can network with English-speaking colleagues, but your ability to work in English is limited to very familiar topics. An A2 level is also insufficient for academic studies or for understanding most English-language media, such as TV shows, movies, radio, and magazines.

According to the official CEFR guidelines, someone at the A2 level in English:

Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of experience that are particularly relevant to him/her (basic information about him/herself and his/her family, shopping, places of interest, occupations, etc.)

Can communicate in simple, everyday tasks that require only simple and direct exchanges of information on familiar or routine matters

Can describe in simple terms aspects of his/her background and environment, as well as issues related to his/her immediate needs

At the A2 level students are beginning to be able to function in social situations. They are able to use simple everyday polite forms of greeting and address; greet people, ask how they are and react to news; handle very short social exchanges; ask and answer questions about what they do at work and in their free time; make and respond to invitations; discuss what to do, where to go and make arrangements to meet; make and accept offers.

Global Students at this level can understand sentences and frequently-used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment). They can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters.

At A2, learners begin encountering more idiomatic expressions in natural English. Common A2-level idioms:

"Take it easy" — relax or slow down. "No problem" — you are welcome / it is fine. "Just a moment" — wait briefly. "What's up?" — informal greeting. "I have no idea" — I don't know. "Of course" — certainly / definitely. "By the way" — used to introduce a new topic.

Exposure to idioms at A2 level builds the foundation for understanding natural spoken English. As proficiency increases to B1 and B2, idiomatic language becomes more central to fluency.

A2 learners typically know around 800–1,000 words, covering a wider range of everyday topics than A1:

Daily activities and routines. Work and school vocabulary. Travel and transport. Food, health, and body. Basic emotions and opinions. Shopping, services, and transactions. Weather and environment.

The IET English Level Test assesses your vocabulary range as part of a full CEFR evaluation. Knowing where you stand helps you plan your study path — from A2 to B1, B2, and beyond.