A2 English Level (Elementary)
At this level you can understand:
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Basic language related to personal life, family, and work
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Sufficient for basic needs when spoken slowly and clearly
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Brief, simple texts on familiar topics
English Level A2
The Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), a list of various language proficiency levels created by the Council of Europe, classifies elementary English as level A2. 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.
What can you achieve with an A2 level English?
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
English for A2 Level
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. They can also function ‘out and about’. They can make simple transactions in shops, post offices or banks; get simple information about travel; use public transport, ask for basic information, ask and give directions, and buy tickets.
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. They can describe in simple terms aspects of their background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need.
A2 Listening
They can understand clear, slow, standard speech related to areas of most immediate personal relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography and employment) and can catch the main point in short, clear, simple messages and announcements.
A2 Reading
Students are able to understand short, simple texts containing high frequency vocabulary and shared international expressions. They can find specific, predictable information in simple everyday material such as advertisements, prospectuses and timetables.
A2 Speaking
At A2 level, 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 cannot usually keep the conversation going of their own accord. Spoken Production Students are able to 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.
A2 Writing
They can write short, simple notes and messages relating to matters in areas of immediate need, linking a series of simple phrases and sentences with simple connectors like ‘and’ , ‘but’ and ‘because’. They can write a very simple personal letter, for example thanking someone for something.
A2 Grammar
A2 grammar includes fundamental structures that allow learners to form simple sentences and express basic ideas. Key aspects of A2 grammar are:
- Be
- Possessive adjectives
- Have got
- There is, There are
- Possessive’s
- Present simple
- Adverbs of frequency
- Question words
- Can
- Imperative
- Object pronouns
- Let’s
- Countable and uncountable nouns
- Some, any
- Much, many
- A lot, lots of, a few, a little
- Present continuous
- Present continuous (to express future)
- Present simple and present continuous
- Must
- Past simple: Be
- Past simple: Regular verbs
- Past simple: Irregular verbs
- Past simple (regular and irregular verbs)
- Wh- questions in the past simple
- Comparatives
- Superlatives
- Comparatives and superlatives
- Be going to
- Future simple
A2 Vocabulary
A2 vocabulary consists of basic words and phrases used in everyday contexts. At this level, learners can understand and use common expressions related to personal information, daily activities, and routine tasks. Examples of A2 vocabulary include:
– Personal Information: name, age, address, family members, occupations
– Daily Activities: wake up, go to school, eat breakfast, go to work, watch TV
– Common Objects: book, pen, phone, computer, car
– Basic Adjectives: big, small, old, young, happy, sad
– Food and Drink: bread, milk, apple, coffee, water
– Time Expressions: morning, afternoon, evening, Monday, today, yesterday
– Places: home, school, office, park, restaurant
– Basic Verbs: be, have, go, do, make, eat, drink, like, want, need
This level also includes polite forms and simple sentences for making requests, asking questions, and describing routines and preferences.
What will I be able to do after completing the English Language Level A2?
Comprehension
Listening Comprehension
- Understand sentences and the most common vocabulary on topics of personal interest (very basic personal and family information, shopping, place of residence, employment)
- Capture the main idea of short, clear and simple messages and notices
Reading Comprehension
- Read very short and simple texts
- Finding specific and predictable information in simple, everyday written material, such as advertisements, prospectuses, menus, and schedules, and understanding short, simple personal letters
Speaking
Oral Interaction
- Communicate simple and routine tasks that require a simple and direct exchange of information about daily activities and issues
- Very brief social exchanges, but usually unable to understand enough to carry on the conversation on their own
Oral Expression
- Use a series of expressions and phrases to describe in simple terms your family and other people, your living conditions, your educational background, and your current or most recent job
Writing
Written Expression
- Write short, simple notes and messages related to their immediate needs
- Write very simple personal letters, e.g., thanking someone for something.
Details of A2 English proficiency
For educational purposes, the official can-do statements are divided into more manageable chunks. You can evaluate your own English proficiency using this more thorough skill breakdown, or a teacher can use it to evaluate a student’s proficiency.
A student at level A2 in English, for instance, will be able to do everything an A1 student can do as well as the following in addition:
- rate the performance of coworkers at work.
- Share past experiences, including fun tales about your weekend activities.
- Describe your past, including specifics about significant events.
- Visit a friend or coworker at their home or host a guest in your home.
- Talk about your vacation plans and then share your trip with friends and coworkers.
- Talk about your country’s natural places, wildlife, and journeys to visit them.
- Choose a movie to watch with friends and discuss movies you enjoy.
- Talk about your favorite types of clothing and apparel in general.
- Participate in routine office communications, such as attending meetings on themes you are familiar with.
- cite a mishap or injury, seek medical attention from a professional, and fill a prescription for medication.
- essential commercial interactions, including greeting visitors and going to networking events.
- Make simple company proposals that you comprehend and are knowledgeable about.
- discuss and clarify the rules of games.
What are your options if you have an A2 level in English?
While traveling to English-speaking nations and mingling with English speakers are both possible with an A2 level of English, deeper friendships cannot be formed at this level. Working in English at the A2 level is confined to highly common themes, although it does allow networking with English-speaking coworkers. For academic study or to watch the majority of English-language media, an A2 English level is insufficient (TV, movies, radio, magazines, etc.).
The official CEFR rules state that someone has an English language proficiency of A2:
can comprehend phrases and expressions relating to topics of urgent importance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment).
capable of communicating in simple and ordinary tasks requiring a straightforward exchange of information on everyday, common topics.
possesses the ability to clearly and simply communicate components of his or her background, immediate environment, and needs in those areas.
