English levels · Beginner
A2 English level: what it means
A2 is the second level on the A1 to C2 scale (CEFR), sometimes called elementary. At A2 you can handle simple, routine tasks in English: talk about your family, your job and your day, shop, ask for directions and understand short, clear messages. Conversations work as long as they stay simple and familiar.
20 questions, about 5 minutes, no sign-up.
What you can do at A2
- Talk about your family, job, home and daily routine
- Describe what you did last weekend or on holiday in simple sentences
- Shop, order in a restaurant and ask for directions
- Understand short, clear announcements and messages
- Read short texts like menus, timetables, ads and personal emails
- Write a short message to thank someone, invite them or apologise
What A2 English looks like
Sentences you can say and understand
- Last weekend I went to the beach with my friends.
- I usually get up at seven and have breakfast at home.
- Excuse me, how do I get to the train station?
- I'm going to visit my grandparents next month.
Words you know
- yesterday
- weekend
- journey
- busy
- borrow
- bill
- usually
- neighbour
- holiday
- quickly
Grammar you use
- Past simple, regular and irregular (I worked, I went)
- going to for plans (I'm going to study)
- Comparatives and superlatives (bigger, the best)
- Present continuous (I'm working now)
- some, any, much and many
A2 compared with English exams
Official exams report their scores on the same A1 to C2 scale. These are the score ranges the exam boards publish for A2.
| Exam | Score at A2 |
|---|---|
| IELTS | Not designed for this level |
| TOEFL iBT | Not designed for this level |
| Cambridge English | A2 Key (KET), 120 to 139 |
From A2 to B1
Cambridge English estimates around 350 to 400 hours of guided study in total to reach B1, so roughly 150 to 200 more from A2. The big change is moving from memorised phrases to building your own sentences, so you can talk about things that aren't routine.
- 1
Practise telling short stories about your day in the past tense
- 2
Read books and news written for learners at your level
- 3
Speak, even with mistakes: a short conversation every week beats a perfect grammar exercise
Questions about A2
A2 is a useful basic level. You can manage simple everyday situations and short conversations, but you'll need people to speak slowly and clearly, and unfamiliar topics are still hard.
Beginner, at its upper end. The CEFR groups A1 and A2 as basic, B1 and B2 as independent (intermediate), and C1 and C2 as proficient (advanced). A2 is often called elementary or pre-intermediate.
Cambridge English estimates around 180 to 200 hours of guided study from zero. It depends a lot on how often you practise and how much English you hear outside lessons.
At A2 you handle routine, predictable situations. At B1 you can deal with the unexpected, talk about topics you know without preparing, and give your opinion with a simple reason.
Take our free English level test: 20 questions in about 5 minutes, with your estimated level from A1 to C2 straight away. For an official certificate, you need a recognised exam such as Cambridge A2 Key.
Are you really A2?
Find out in 5 minutes with our free English level test.