> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.equip.co/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Understanding CEFR Adaptive Test Scores

> How the adaptive English Communication test arrives at a CEFR grade, and how to read the overall and skill-wise scores.

<Tip>
  The **overall score** is a weighted average of the candidate's last two question sets (60% final set, 40% second-to-last). The six **skill scores** use every set the candidate attempted, weighted toward recent performance. The two can legitimately differ.
</Tip>

## The CEFR Scale

Equip's **English Communication test** grades candidates on the **CEFR scale**, the international standard for describing language ability. It runs across six levels from A1 (beginner) to C2 (near-native), plus a \<A1 band for candidates below the scale.

The candidate's overall score maps to a grade as follows:

| Overall Score | Grade | Label              | What it means for hiring                                                                                                                  |
| ------------- | ----- | ------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| 85 or higher  | C2    | Near-Native        | Understands virtually everything heard or read; handles any professional situation with the sophistication of an educated native speaker. |
| 76 to 84      | C1    | Advanced           | Expresses ideas fluently and spontaneously; produces clear, well-structured texts on complex subjects.                                    |
| 59 to 75      | B2    | Upper-Intermediate | Interacts fluently with native speakers; handles most business communication independently.                                               |
| 43 to 58      | B1    | Intermediate       | Manages standard workplace communication and routine meetings; produces simple connected texts.                                           |
| 30 to 42      | A2    | Elementary         | Handles simple, routine exchanges of information; needs support for complex tasks.                                                        |
| 21 to 29      | A1    | Beginner           | Understands simple phrases; can interact if the other person speaks slowly and clearly.                                                   |
| Below 21      | \<A1  | Below Beginner     | Little or no functional English; not yet ready for roles requiring English communication.                                                 |

<Note>
  Grades describe practical workplace ability, not exam knowledge. A B2 candidate can typically work independently in an English-speaking environment, while an A2 candidate can handle only basic exchanges.
</Note>

## How Adaptive Scoring Works

The **CEFR Adaptive Test** does not show every candidate the same questions. It adjusts difficulty in real time to find each candidate's true level.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Candidate self-assesses">
    The test opens with a self-assessment question about the candidate's English proficiency. Based on the answer, the candidate starts at A1, B1, or C1.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Candidate answers a set of questions">
    Each **set** contains questions on Grammar, Vocabulary, Reading, and Writing. Listening and Speaking questions appear in alternate sets.
  </Step>

  <Step title="The level adjusts after each set">
    Strong performance moves the candidate up a level, weak performance moves them down, and reasonable performance keeps them at the same level.
  </Step>

  <Step title="The test ends when the level stabilizes">
    The test ends once the candidate stays on the same level for more than 2 sets, or after a maximum of 6 sets. Most candidates finish in 4 to 6 sets.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  CEFR questions are standardized and randomized. You cannot pick or preview individual questions, and time limits apply per question and cannot be changed.
</Note>

### Overall score

The overall score uses only the **last two sets**: 60% weight on the final set and 40% on the second-to-last set. Earlier sets are excluded because the test was still searching for the candidate's level.

For example, a candidate who progresses A2, B1, B2, C1, C1 is scored only on the two C1 sets.

### Individual skill scores

Each of the six skills (Grammar, Vocabulary, Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking) gets its own score. Unlike the overall score, skill scores use **every set** where that skill was tested, weighted toward recent sets.

For a five-set attempt, the weights are: set 1 (5%), set 2 (15%), set 3 (25%), set 4 (25%), set 5 (30%). Recent performance counts most, but earlier sets are not ignored.

## Reading the Report

The candidate's report shows the overall score with its CEFR grade, plus a score and grade for each of the six skills.

Here is a sample report:

| Measure     | Score | Grade |
| ----------- | ----- | ----- |
| **Overall** | 72    | B2    |
| Grammar     | 66    | B2    |
| Vocabulary  | 66    | B2    |
| Reading     | 66    | B2    |
| Listening   | 66    | B2    |
| Writing     | 51    | B1    |
| Speaking    | 48    | B1    |

This candidate has solid B2 English overall. Their receptive skills (Reading, Listening) match the overall level, while their productive skills (Writing, Speaking) lag slightly at B1, a common pattern.

<Note>
  Overall and skill scores can differ because they measure different things. The overall score shows **where the candidate ended up** (last two sets only). Skill scores show **their complete journey** (all sets, weighted toward recent ones).

  A candidate who reached C2 in their final sets may still show B2 skill scores that include earlier, lower-level sets. Both numbers are accurate.
</Note>

<Tip>
  Use the overall grade for shortlisting decisions, and the skill breakdown to probe specific gaps. A candidate strong in Reading but weak in Speaking may suit a written-communication role better than a client-facing one.
</Tip>

## Related Resources

* [English Communication Test](/communication-test) - How to add the CEFR test to an assessment
* [Test Scores and Overall Score](/test-scores-and-overall-score) - How assessment-level scores are calculated
* [What Is a Good Assessment Score?](/good-assessment-score) - How to interpret and act on scores
* [Same or Random Questions](/same-or-random-questions) - How question randomization works per test type