Levels
General description of the levels accredited by the CELU examination
INTERMEDIATE LEVEL
Language users at the Intermediate level can speak and write in Spanish quite fluently and naturally, in simple family, working and social environments. They may lack accuracy when facing unknown situations or when having to express subtleties of meaning. They manage to communicate in working as well as academic contexts.
The Intermediate level is considered to be the university threshold level. Language users at the intermediate level can understand the general information in a variety of text types and write letters, instructions, narrations, essays, reports and opinion articles which are simple and contain little detail. They can understand written and oral news reports originated in communities speaking different varieties of Spanish and they can distinguish between formal and informal styles. They understand language that expresses wishes, gives advice and orders, and makes reference to different view points in an argument. They can talk with native speakers about everyday activities and specific work-related or academic topics in a fairly fluent and natural way. During a conversation, they make use of formal and informal styles appropriately. They can keep a conversation, narrate events, make and understand wishes, ask questions, give orders, support an argument, confront other people’s opinions, make assumptions, express contingency, and describe or define objects, places and people (real or imaginary) in a fairly precise way.
ADVANCED LEVEL
Language users at the Advanced level can speak and write in Spanish with ease and spontaneity in a wide range of social situations. They can use the language appropriately in working as well as academic contexts.
Language users at the Advanced level can understand not only general information and details but also opinions and implicit information in a variety of genres. They can usually understand jokes and ironic comments, except when specific reference to culture is made. They can write a variety of texts in a clear, precise and appropriate manner: formal and informal letters, instructions, narrations, essays, summaries, opinion articles, and academic or work-related reports.
They can talk fluently with native speakers who speak different varieties of Spanish but may miss some details. They distinguish between formal and informal styles. They understand different points of view in a discussion as well as arguments and explanations. They can use the language appropriately in working as well as academic contexts. They can explain misunderstandings that may arise from the inadequate use of certain expressions. They can make oral presentations about a given topic and engage actively in formal and informal conversations and discussions with native speakers.