Spanish level test: find your level from A1 to C1

CEFR levels describe what you can do in Spanish, not how many words you know. Read what each level looks like, then try the ten self-check sentences below to see roughly where you are.

Quick answer. Spanish levels follow the CEFR scale: A1 and A2 are beginner (introductions, routines, simple past), B1 and B2 are intermediate (stories, opinions, the subjunctive, hypotheticals), and C1 is advanced (fluent, precise and natural in almost any situation). A quick way to estimate your level is to fix the ten sentences below: the last level you can correct reliably is roughly where you are.

The CEFR levels in plain English

The Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) is used by schools, employers and official exams such as the DELE and SIELE. Each level is a description of what you can do. The Spanish in the first column is a typical thing a learner at that level can say comfortably.

You can say	Level	What you can do
Me llamo Sam, soy de Canadá y vivo en Puebla.	A1 (beginner)	Introduce yourself, ask simple questions, order food, understand slow, clear speech about familiar things.
El fin de semana fui a la playa con mis amigos.	A2 (elementary)	Talk about your routine, your past weekend and your plans; handle shops, transport and simple messages.
Cuando era niño, vivíamos en un pueblo muy tranquilo.	B1 (intermediate)	Tell a story, describe experiences, give simple opinions, cope with most travel situations, follow the main points of clear conversation.
Si tuviera más tiempo, aprendería a tocar la guitarra.	B2 (upper intermediate)	Argue a point, discuss hypotheticals, talk with native speakers without much strain on either side, follow films and podcasts with effort.
No es que no me guste, sino que no me convence del todo.	C1 (advanced)	Express yourself fluently and precisely, adjust your register for work or friends, understand implied meaning and humor.

What grammar each level usually includes

A1

Present tense of regular and key irregular verbs (ser, estar, tener, ir), gender and agreement, gustar with me, te, le, hay, numbers, time and questions. The essentials course covers this ground.

A2

The preterite and the imperfect, ir a + infinitive, reflexive verbs (me levanto), object pronouns (lo, la, le), comparisons and the basics of por and para.

B1

Choosing between preterite and imperfect in a story, the present perfect, the present subjunctive after wishes and doubts (quiero que, no creo que), the simple future and the conditional for polite requests.

B2

The imperfect subjunctive, if-sentences (si tuviera...), the subjunctive in adjective and time clauses (busco a alguien que hable...), reported speech and a wider vocabulary for opinions.

C1

Compound subjunctive tenses (si hubiera sabido...), connectors like sin embargo, no obstante, de hecho, idioms, and the judgement to sound formal, casual or diplomatic on purpose.

Self-check: fix these 10 sentences

Each sentence below has one mistake that learners typically make at that level. Cover the answer, fix the sentence in your head (or on paper), then check. Go in order and notice where you start guessing.

A1: Soy treinta años. Correct: Tengo treinta años. Ages use tener (why).
A1: Me gusta los tacos. Correct: Me gustan los tacos. Gustar agrees with the thing you like (more).
A1: Mi hermana es en Guadalajara. Correct: Mi hermana está en Guadalajara. Location takes estar.
A2: Ayer voy al mercado. Correct: Ayer fui al mercado. A finished past event needs the preterite.
A2: Gracias para la comida. Correct: Gracias por la comida. Thanks for something always takes por.
B1: Cuando era niño, jugué en la calle todos los días. Correct: Cuando era niño, jugaba en la calle todos los días. Past habits take the imperfect.
B1: Quiero que tú vienes a la fiesta. Correct: Quiero que vengas a la fiesta. Wanting someone else to do something triggers the subjunctive.
B1: No creo que es verdad. Correct: No creo que sea verdad. Doubt takes the subjunctive.
B2: Si tendría más tiempo, viajaría más. Correct: Si tuviera más tiempo, viajaría más. The if-clause takes the imperfect subjunctive.
C1: Si me habrías avisado, habría ido. Correct: Si me hubieras avisado, habría ido. (or hubiera ido). An unreal past condition takes the pluperfect subjunctive.

Reading your result

Stuck on 1 to 3: you're at A1. Focus on ser, estar, tener and gustar; the ser and estar course and gustar course are good next steps.
Fixed 1 to 3, unsure on 4 and 5: A1 heading into A2. The past tense course is your next big win.
Fixed 1 to 5, unsure on 6 to 8: A2 heading into B1. Work on preterite vs imperfect and the subjunctive.
Fixed 1 to 8, unsure on 9: solid B1. Practise conditional sentences.
Fixed all ten without hesitating: B2 or above, at least in writing.

Be honest about one thing: this checks grammar recognition, which is only part of a level. Plenty of learners can fix every sentence on paper but freeze in a conversation, and some heritage speakers are the opposite. Speaking and listening count just as much. For more of this kind of practice, Spot the slip is a free game built on the same idea.

How Juntos places you

Juntos starts with a short placement rather than a long exam. Your answers put you on the track that matches your level, from first words at A1 through to nuance at C1, so you don't spend a week on things you already know or jump into the subjunctive before you're ready. Each track runs for ten days, and every day combines a short grammar brief, a reading, exercises and a speaking task. Tracks at or below your level stay open, so you can go back and fill a gap whenever a mistake shows one.

Along the way your own sentences are graded with corrections, and the slips you keep making are saved so they come back for review. If you'd like to test a sentence right now without signing up, try the free Spanish grammar checker.

How long does each level take?

It depends heavily on how much you speak, not just study. As a rough guide, English speakers often need a few months of regular practice per level at A1 and A2, and longer for each level from B1 upward, because the gaps between levels get wider. Daily short sessions beat occasional long ones, and conversation practice is what moves you from knowing a rule to using it.

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Questions people ask

What level of Spanish am I?

Read the level descriptions and try the ten self-check sentences on this page: the last level you can correct reliably is a reasonable estimate. A formal exam like the DELE or SIELE is the only official way to certify it.

Is B1 Spanish considered fluent?

B1 means you can handle most everyday situations and tell a story, but you'll still search for words and make errors. Most people describe B2 as conversationally fluent and C1 as fluent in a professional sense.

What is the difference between A2 and B1 Spanish?

At A2 you can describe your routine and what you did; at B1 you can tell a connected story, give opinions and start using the subjunctive. The jump is mainly from single sentences to linked ones.

Do Spanish levels differ between Spain and Latin America?

No. The CEFR levels are the same, and exams like the DELE accept both varieties. Only some vocabulary and the vosotros form differ.

Is there an official Spanish level test?

Yes. The DELE (from the Instituto Cervantes) and the SIELE are the two widely recognized official exams. Free online tests, including this self-check, only give an estimate.