What's My Spanish Level
The following is a basic guide to determining your Spanish language level. We also recommend that you take our online Spanish placement exam in order to further evaluate your level.
Complete Beginner
You may know how to say a few phrases but not much else.
Low Beginner
You have learned the very basics but you are not able to formulate conversation yet. You know fundamentals such as:
- Introductions
- Describing family
- Giving simple instructions
- Identifying objects
- Describing places
- Asking and telling time
- Making future plans
High Beginner
You still speak slowly but you feel that you can “get by” in certain situations. You have learned the past tenses and know how to:
- Describe people
- Speak in detail about habitual actions
- Show interest in the actions of others
- Criticize and make compliments
- Retell specific facts in the past
Low Intermediate
At this point you can answer simple questions and understand basic conversation. You still speak slowly and mostly in the present tense. You have learned:
- The use of the impersonal se
- Uses of estar + gerund
- Possessives
- The simple past, irregular forms
- Indirect Speech
- Imperative Mood
High Intermediate
You now have confidence to speak and interact with others in Spanish. You wouldn’t consider yourself fluent but you could watch a TV show in Spanish and understand most of it. You have errors in grammar but are for the most part able to communicate your thoughts. You are able to:
- Express wishes, emotions, likes and preferences
- State agreement and disagreement
- Express doubt and wishes
- Use the subjunctive form
Advanced
At this level you should have an extensive vocabulary and feel comfortable with talking to people on the phone in Spanish. You still make some errors when speaking but you are able to self-correct your written work. You know all of the verb tenses and irregularities and are comfortable using them in writing and in speech. You could watch a movie in Spanish without subtitles.