A2Everyday
A2 English level: what it means and what you can do
The short answer
A2 is the second of the six CEFR levels, and the last of the two “basic user” levels. At A2 you can manage simple, everyday tasks in English: shopping, travelling, making plans, and talking about your family, your work and your weekend in short sentences. You can understand the main point of short, clear messages and announcements. Most learners reach A2 after about 180–200 hours of lessons.
A2 at a glance
- Place on the scale
- Level 2 of 6The second of two “basic user” levels
- Time to reach it
- 180–200 hoursof lessons, starting from zero
- Vocabulary
- About 1,600 wordsand phrases on Cambridge’s A2 Key word list
- Exams at this level
- Cambridge A2 Keywith a score of 120–139 (grade B or C)
What you can do at A2
A2 is where English starts to work in real life. You still need simple language and a patient listener, but you can get everyday things done, not just introduce yourself.
Listening
- Understand common words and phrases about shopping, work, family and where you live.
- Catch the main point of short, clear messages and announcements, like a change of platform.
- Follow simple directions, like Go past the bank and turn right.
Reading
- Read short, simple texts like emails, adverts, menus and timetables.
- Find the information you need in everyday material, like opening hours or prices.
- Understand short personal messages and letters from friends.
Speaking
- Handle short social exchanges: invitations, offers, apologies and thanks.
- Describe your family, your job, where you live and your daily routine.
- Say what you did last weekend or on holiday, in simple sentences.
Writing
- Write short notes and messages about everyday needs.
- Write a simple personal email, for example to thank someone or make plans.
- Join simple sentences with and, but, because and then.
What’s still hard at A2
- Keeping a conversation going without help from the other person.
- Following conversations between other people, especially at normal speed.
- Films, TV series and the news, unless the topic is very familiar.
- Giving opinions and explaining your reasons in any detail.
- Dealing with something unexpected, like a problem with a booking.
What A2 English looks like
Simple sentences, the past tense and everyday phrases: this is A2 English in action.
YouHi. A return ticket to Oxford, please.
Ticket officeComing back today?
YouYes, I’m visiting a friend. When’s the next train?
Ticket officeAt 10:15, from platform 4. That’s £24.50.
YouHere you are. Is it a direct train?
Ticket officeNo, you change at Reading. It’s on your ticket.
At A2 you can buy a ticket and ask simple questions like these. If something goes wrong, like a cancelled train, the announcements and the conversation about what to do next would still be hard.
Hi Sam,
Thanks for the photos! I had a great time at your party. The music was fantastic and I met some really nice people.
Are you free next weekend? There’s a street festival in my town on Saturday. We could go together and have lunch afterwards. Let me know!
Best wishes,
Laura
This is good A2 writing: the past simple (I had, I met), a suggestion with We could…, and short, clear paragraphs. At B1, Laura would say more about why she enjoyed the party and link her ideas in longer sentences.
Grammar you know at A2
- Past simple, regular and irregularWe stayed at home. I saw Ana yesterday.
- Past continuous for backgroundI was reading when you called.
- Present continuous for plansWe’re meeting at six on Friday.
- going to for plans and predictionsI’m going to look for a new job.
- will for offers and quick decisionsI’ll carry that for you.
- Present perfect for experiencesHave you ever been to Rome?
- Comparatives and superlativescheaper, more expensive, the best
- some, any, much and manyAre there any tickets left?
- have to, must and shouldYou have to show your ticket. You should rest.
- Adverbs of mannerslowly, carefully, well
- because, so and thenIt was late, so we took a taxi.
- Verb + to and verb + -ingI want to go. I enjoy cooking.
Words you know at A2
Common words for everyday topics like these:
- Travel and transport
- Shopping and money
- Health and the body
- Work and jobs
- School and studying
- Holidays and the weather
- Places in a town
- Cooking and restaurants
- Sport and free time
- Feelings: great, boring, worried
- Phones, the internet and messages
Try three A2 questions
These questions are like the ones in our test, in three of its six formats. They aren’t in the test itself.
Fill the gap
I went to the station meet my cousin.
To say why you do something, use to + verb: I went to the station to meet my cousin. Use for with a noun instead: I went out for a walk.
Pick the right word
Excuse me, can I by card?
You pay for something, and you pay by card or in cash. You buy a thing (I bought a ticket), and you spend money (I spent £20).
Reading
Hi Jo! Sorry I didn’t answer yesterday. I was at my grandparents’ house, and there’s no phone signal in their village. Are we still meeting on Saturday? I can bring some games. Kim
Why didn’t Kim answer yesterday?
Kim was at her grandparents’ house, and there’s no phone signal in their village, so she couldn’t answer. The games are for Saturday.
What an A2 result means on English.me
Our test calls A2 Everyday. You get an A2 result when your answers show you can handle A2 questions, like the past simple, comparisons, short notices and natural everyday replies, but you would get fewer than half of typical B1 questions right.
Many people stay at A2 for a while, because everyday situations start to feel manageable. If your result says you’re close to B1, longer conversations and a little reading every day will help you move up.
How to get from A2 to B1
Cambridge English estimates that reaching B1 takes about 350–400 guided learning hours from zero. That’s roughly another 150–200 hours after A2. With three or four hours of lessons a week, it takes about a year. Reading, listening and speaking on your own make it faster.
What’s new at B1
- The present perfect: I’ve just finished
- Conditionals: If it rains, we’ll stay in
- Explaining opinions and reasons
- Describing experiences, hopes and plans
- Following TV and talks on familiar topics
Five ways to move up
- Talk for longerPractise telling short stories: what happened, what happened next, and how you felt. Two minutes about your weekend is great B1 practice.
- Read something every dayGraded readers at level 2 or 3, news written for learners, or posts about your hobbies. Choose texts where you know most of the words.
- Watch with English subtitlesPick shows with lots of everyday conversation. Subtitles help you link the sounds you hear to the words you know.
- Learn words in groupsNote new words with the words they go with: make a plan, miss the bus, take a photo. They’re much easier to use that way.
- Give your opinionWhen you read or watch something, say or write two sentences about it: what you thought and why. I liked it because… is the start of B1.
A2 on other English exams
| Exam | What counts as A2 |
|---|---|
| Cambridge English | A2 Key: a score of 120–139 (grade B or C). In B1 Preliminary, a score of 120–139 also gets a certificate at A2. |
| TOEFL iBT | A band of 2 or 2.5 on the 1–6 scale used since January 2026. |
| Trinity College London | GESE Grades 3–4, short spoken exams with an examiner, or ISE at A2. |
| LanguageCert | International ESOL Access (A2). |
| IELTS | Not designed for this level. Most people take it at B1 or above. |
Each exam measures English in its own way, so treat these as rough matches, not exact equivalents. English.me isn’t connected to any of these organisations.
Questions people ask
Is A2 elementary or pre-intermediate?
Course books usually call A2 “elementary”, and some call the step between A2 and B1 “pre-intermediate”. The names vary between publishers, but A2 means the same thing everywhere on the CEFR scale: you can manage simple, everyday situations.
What’s the difference between A2 and B1?
At A2 you can handle short, predictable exchanges and simple messages. At B1 you can keep a conversation going, deal with most travel situations on your own, and explain your opinions and plans, even if you make mistakes.
Is A2 English enough for a job or a visa?
For jobs where you use English all day, usually not: most employers ask for B1 or B2. A2 can be enough for jobs with simple, routine English. Some visas ask for A2, though. For example, the UK family visa asks for A2 speaking and listening when you extend it after two and a half years. Rules change, so always check the government’s official website.
How long does it take to go from A2 to B2?
Cambridge English estimates about 500–600 guided learning hours to reach B2 from zero. After A2, that means roughly another 300–400 hours, or about two years of regular lessons, and less if you use English a lot outside class.
How do I know if I’m A2?
Take a level test. The English.me test takes about 8 minutes, adapts to your answers and places you on the scale from A1 to C2. It’s free, with no signup.
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