Am I A1 or A2 in English?
Short answer: if you can introduce yourself and understand a few memorised phrases but can't yet handle a simple back-and-forth, you're A1. A2 is the next step — you can manage short, routine exchanges (shopping, ordering, asking simple questions) and describe your background and surroundings in basic terms. Both are beginner levels; the difference is whether you can only produce single phrases (A1) or actually exchange simple information (A2).
Don't be discouraged if you're A1 or A2 — this is where the large majority of learners start, and progress here is fast and visible. The honest way to know which one you're at is to take a short CEFR-aligned test rather than guess.
A1 vs A2 in English: the real difference
A1 (Beginner) — You can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases: your name, where you live, people you know. You can introduce yourself, ask and answer simple personal questions, and interact simply — but only if the other person talks slowly and clearly and is ready to help.
A2 (Elementary) — You can understand sentences and common expressions about the most immediate areas of life (basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, work). You can handle simple, routine tasks that need a direct exchange of information, and describe your background, immediate environment, and basic needs in simple terms.
The clean test: at A1 you can say things about yourself in short phrases; at A2 you can have a simple exchange — a short conversation where you both give and get information.
Signs you're still A1 (not A2 yet)
You rely on a few memorised phrases and single words, not full sentences.
You can say your name, nationality, and job, but a follow-up question stops you.
You only understand speech that's very slow and clear, with lots of repetition.
You recognise common words in writing but can't read a short simple message end to end.
You answer with one or two words rather than a simple sentence.
Signs you've reached A2
You can complete a simple exchange — buying something, ordering food, asking for directions — and understand the reply.
You can describe your family, your job, and your daily routine in simple sentences.
You understand short, clear, simple messages and announcements.
You can read a short, simple text (a note, a basic email, a simple ad) and get the point.
You can ask and answer questions about familiar topics, not just about yourself.
What can you do at A1 and A2?
A1 is 'survival phrases': greetings, introductions, numbers, prices, filling in a form with your details, and very simple questions. It's the foundation — enough to be polite and get by in the most predictable moments.
A2 is 'basic independence in familiar situations': short social exchanges, simple transactions in a shop or restaurant, describing your past and present in basic terms, and understanding the main point of slow, clear speech. It's where English starts to be genuinely useful day to day. The next step up is B1 — see am I A2 or B1.
How to know for sure
At the beginner levels it's easy to under- or overestimate, because a handful of confident phrases can feel like more than it is. The reliable way is to measure. Take a free 5-minute English test: it adapts to your answers and places you in a range (like "A1–A2") immediately, no signup required to start. If you're right on the line, the 30-minute test pinpoints a single level and shows exactly what to work on next.