The CEFR was developed by the Council of Europe to describe what a learner can do in a language, from understanding familiar words to understanding almost everything. It is used for English, Spanish, French and many other languages. Browse free books by level on our CEFR reading levels page.
The six CEFR levels at a glance
| Level | Name | A child at this level can… | Books to read |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | Beginner | understand familiar words and very simple sentences about themselves and everyday things | A1 books: picture books with one line per page |
| A2 | Elementary | understand short, simple texts and sentences about everyday topics | A2 books: short stories with repeated patterns |
| B1 | Intermediate | understand the main points of clear texts on familiar topics | B1 books: early chapter books |
| B2 | Upper intermediate | understand longer texts and follow most stories and articles | B2 books: middle-grade novels |
| C1 | Advanced | understand demanding, longer texts and implicit meaning | C1 books: classics and young-adult fiction |
| C2 | Proficient | understand virtually everything they read | C2 books: any text, including literary classics |
CEFR and the Cambridge Young Learners tests
Many children meet the CEFR through Cambridge English Young Learners exams: Pre A1 Starters, A1 Movers and A2 Flyers. These are designed for primary-school children and focus on everyday topics, pictures and simple instructions. After Flyers, learners usually move to A2 Key and B1 Preliminary (for Schools).
Grab the free reading log đź“š
A clean, print-ready log to track books, minutes, and little wins — plus the occasional reading tip. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
How to choose a book at the right level
- The five-finger test: on one page, put up a finger for each word your child does not know. 0–1 is easy, 2–3 is just right, 4–5 is too hard for reading alone (fine for reading together).
- Pictures help at A1–A2: choose books where the picture shows what the words say.
- Listen first: an audiobook lets a child enjoy a book a level above their reading.
- Re-read favourites: fluency grows when a child reads the same story several times.
See also our guide to choosing books by reading level.
Learning another language?
The same levels apply to every language. Pagine has free first words, bilingual stories and practice in 70+ languages at Learn a Language, including Spanish and Indonesian, plus children’s books in 200+ languages.
Find free books at your child’s CEFR level.