Mixed Deck — All CEFR Topics Flashcards
100 cards from real CEFR practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 20 Mixed Deck — All CEFR Topics flashcards as text
At B1, which cohesive devices can a learner use in writing?
Answer: Basic connectors like "and", "but", "because", and simple temporal markers
B1 writers use basic connectors and simple temporal markers to link ideas.
Which CEFR level is described as "Basic User" range?
Answer: A1 and A2
A1 (Breakthrough) and A2 (Waystage) together form the Basic User range.
Which of the following scenarios demonstrates an 'uneven' plurilingual profile, which the CEFR considers normal?
Answer: A learner with C1 in Spanish, A2 in Mandarin, and B1 in Arabic
The CEFR explicitly acknowledges that plurilingual individuals typically have uneven profiles across languages, and this asymmetry is normal and valuable.
Which level descriptor states a learner 'can deal with most situations likely to arise while travelling in an area where the language is spoken'?
Answer: B1
B1 (Threshold) includes the descriptor about handling travel situations in a target-language region.
What is the key difference between a 'formative' and a 'summative' CEFR-aligned assessment?
Answer: Formative assessment provides ongoing feedback to support learning, while summative assessment evaluates achievement at the end of a course or program
Formative assessment is diagnostic and feeds back into instruction, while summative assessment provides a final judgment of learner achievement against CEFR level criteria.
Which CEFR descriptor applies to writing at the B2 level?
Answer: Can write an essay or report passing on information or giving reasons for or against a viewpoint
B2 writing includes essays and reports that give information or argue for/against a viewpoint.
What is the difference between "cohesion" and "coherence" in CEFR writing assessment?
Answer: Cohesion is about linguistic linking devices; coherence is about logical meaning and organization
Cohesion = linguistic surface links; coherence = logical meaning and organizational flow.
Which CEFR level is labeled 'Mastery' and represents the highest degree of language proficiency?
Answer: C2
C2 is the 'Mastery' level, representing near-native or fully proficient command of the language.
Which aspect of phonological competence does the CEFR describe as 'segmental'?
Answer: Individual vowel and consonant sounds (phonemes)
Segmental phonology deals with individual phonemes—the discrete vowel and consonant sounds that distinguish words—as opposed to suprasegmental features like stress and intonation.
Read the passage: 'The Mediterranean diet, rich in olive oil, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains, has been associated with lower rates of heart disease and longer life expectancy. Researchers believe the diet's anti-inflammatory properties and heart-healthy fats play a key role. However, food scientists caution that cultural and lifestyle factors may also contribute to these health outcomes.' What do the food scientists suggest in this passage?
Answer: Diet alone may not fully explain the health benefits — lifestyle also matters
Food scientists caution that 'cultural and lifestyle factors may also contribute,' suggesting the diet is not the only explanation for health benefits.
Which aspect of language does CEFR's 'sociolinguistic competence' NOT primarily address?
Answer: Accuracy of grammatical morphology
Grammatical morphology falls under linguistic competence; sociolinguistic competence focuses on context-appropriate, culturally sensitive language use.
Which sentence demonstrates correct use of the third conditional at B2?
Answer: If I had studied, I would have passed.
The third conditional uses past perfect + would have + past participle for unreal past situations.
A student uses emojis and informal abbreviations in a group study chat but switches to formal language in an email to a professor. Which CEFR competence does this demonstrate?
Answer: Pragmatic register awareness in online contexts
Adapting language style to different digital contexts reflects pragmatic competence, a key component of CEFR online interaction.
Read the passage: 'Mindfulness meditation, once rooted in Buddhist tradition, has entered mainstream Western culture. Research indicates it can reduce anxiety and improve focus. Critics, though, caution against commercializing spiritual practices and warn of McMindfulness — a watered-down version that strips the practice of its deeper meaning.' What does 'watered-down' most likely mean?
Answer: Diluted or simplified, losing important qualities
'Watered-down' is an idiom meaning something has been diluted or weakened, losing important elements of the original.
In CEFR self-assessment grids, which three skill strands are evaluated?
Answer: Listening, Reading, and Spoken/Written Production-Interaction
The CEFR self-assessment grid evaluates Listening, Reading, Spoken Interaction, Spoken Production, and Writing.
Which of the following is an example of lexical cohesion through synonymy?
Answer: The vehicle broke down. The car needed repairs.
'Vehicle' and 'car' are synonyms that create lexical cohesion by referring to the same entity with different words.
Which descriptor best reflects linguistic control at the C2 level?
Answer: Consistently maintains high precision even in complex situations
C2 speakers consistently maintain high precision and control even in the most complex and demanding situations.
Which aspect of pragmatics involves knowing how to make an indirect request politely?
Answer: Functional competence
Functional competence covers the ability to use language for communicative purposes including polite requests.
A person is quickly looking through several news websites to get a general sense of the day's main headlines without reading any articles in detail. This reading strategy is best described by the CEFR as:
Answer: Reading for orientation.
'Reading for orientation' is the CEFR skill that involves scanning a text or multiple texts to get a general idea of the content and determine its relevance. This is precisely what someone does when they skim headlines to understand the main news of the day. Reading for information and argument, by contrast, involves deeper processing to understand details and viewpoints.
Read the passage: 'Climate scientists warn that urban areas are experiencing rising temperatures due to the heat island effect — a phenomenon where buildings and pavement absorb and re-emit solar heat. Unlike rural areas, cities have little vegetation to provide cooling shade.' What is the MAIN idea of this passage?
Answer: Cities are hotter than rural areas because of the heat island effect
The passage explains that cities are hotter than rural areas because buildings and pavement absorb heat and there is little vegetation, which is the heat island effect.