Let's say you have already crossed the Elementary level and are one step closer to your goal - to communicate fluently in English. What level are you at? Right! This is level A2 Pre-Intermediate or preparatory intermediate level. It ranks a respectable third in the CEFR table and takes you closer to perfection. Well, let's get started, ladies and gentlemen!

CEFR English Level Chart

LEVEL	Description	CEFR level
Beginner	You don't speak English	;)
Elementary	You can say and understand some words and phrases in English	A1
Pre-Intermediate	You can communicate in “plain” English and understand the other person in a familiar situation, but have difficulty	A2
Intermediate	You can speak quite well and understand speech by ear. Express yourself using simple sentences, but have difficulty with more complex grammatical structures and vocabulary	B1
Upper-Intermediate	You speak and understand English well by ear, but you can still make mistakes	B2
Advanced	You speak English fluently and have full listening comprehension	C1
Proficiency	You speak English at the level of a native speaker	C2

PreIntermediate language level - what does it mean?

Pre-Intermediate level (A2) is the level at which you are no longer so afraid of communicating with a foreigner who addresses you in English. Ask him to repeat the question and you will not only understand, but also be able to explain how to find the nearest hotel. It is at this level that you gradually learn to communicate in English and practice your speech, and the time of silence comes to an end.

At this level, you repeat and consolidate the knowledge that you received at “Elementary”. You could say you start all over again, with “Present Simple”, but at the same time you delve into the nuances of the language that you were not familiar with before.

At this level, you can already try to pass some kind of language test, although there will be no practical benefit from this. This level approximately corresponds to the result of 3-4 when passing the IELTS exam, 39-56 points when passing the TOEFL iBT, you can try to pass the Cambridge PET exam (Preliminary English Test) and get a good score. By the way, if you want to work abroad, then non-specialized employers are looking for people with exactly this level of language.

• understand the general meaning of the interlocutor’s statements, you can maintain a simple dialogue and ask questions, but speak in short, fragmentary sentences;
• passed our level determination test and he told you so :) ;
• you know basic grammar well, but it is difficult for you to use it in spontaneous conversation, you get confused in constructions or construct phrases using only simple tenses;
• studied English at school or university and have good basic knowledge;
• Recently completed a course of studying English at the “Elementary” level.

The Pre-Intermediate level program includes the study of the following topics.

Topics to be studied in the Pre-Intermediate level program

Grammar topics

Lexical topics

Group tenses Present (Simple, Continuous, Perfect) Times of the group Past (Simple, Continuous, Perfect) Constructions Used to do and be used to do something Future Simple tense + be going to construction Word order in questions Types of questions Comparative and superlative degrees of adjectives Too, enough, a little, a few Gerund and infinitive Modal verbs (have to, must, can, may, might, should) Prepositions of time and place Conditional sentences (0, 1, 2 type) Passive voice Indirect (Indirect) speech Phrasal verbs

Family and friends Technologies Holidays Events Communication Vacation and day off Trips Ecological problems Lifestyle Relationship Circle of Life Cinema and films Media Best work Our future Health Love and trust Music Modern society Shopping and shopping Fame and success Perfect world

How long to study for Pre-Intermediate

The duration of studying English at the Pre-Intermediate level may vary depending on the starting knowledge and individual characteristics of the student. Our Pre-Intermediate course lasts on average 4-8 months.

Set a goal. Your desire to learn English is the driver of your learning. If you don't have the motivation to study, it will drag on for a long time. Therefore, the first thing you need to do when learning English is to set yourself a goal for which you need the language. You travel a lot and want to make new friends and learn more about the culture of countries. For such purposes, you need a “Pre-Intermediate” level and higher.

Exercise every day. If you want to compress the time it takes to learn English as much as possible, then you need to study every day. At the same time, to immerse yourself in the language environment, study for at least 2 hours a day.

Use English in your life. Don't wait until you master the language perfectly. Start using it in your life right now! Try to replace Russian with English as much as possible. This way you can use it and improve it at the same time. Right now, think about where you can use it. There are so many ways!

Conclusion

After reading the article, you may think that Pre-Intermediate and Elementary are similar in grammar or conversation topics. We can assure you, this level is more difficult. At Pre-Intermediate, old grammar acquires new nuances, and a similar topic like “Food” or “Daily Routines” becomes richer in new words and stable constructions. Go ahead and don't stop there!

Big and friendly EnglishDom family

Surely many have heard about the international system of English language levels, but not everyone knows what it means and how to classify it. The need to find out your level of English proficiency may arise in some life situations. For example, if you need to pass an interview at work or at the embassy, ​​if you need to pass some kind of international exam (IELTS, TOEFL, FCE, CPE, BEC, etc.), when entering a foreign educational institution, when getting a job in another country, and also for personal purposes.

The international system for determining knowledge of the English language can be divided into 7 levels:

1. Beginner – Initial (zero). At this level, the student knows practically nothing in English and begins to study the subject from scratch, including the alphabet, basic reading rules, standard greeting phrases and other tasks of this stage. At the Beginner level, students can usually answer questions easily when meeting new people. For example: What is your name? How old are you? Do you have brothers and sisters? Where are you from and where do you live? etc. They can also count to one hundred and spell out their name and personal information. The latter in English is called spelling (pronouncing words by letter).

2. Elementary. This level immediately follows zero and implies knowledge of some basics of the English language. The Elementary level gives students the opportunity to use previously learned phrases in a more free form, and also instills a whole range of new knowledge. At this stage, students learn to briefly talk about themselves, their favorite colors, dishes and seasons, weather and time, daily routine, countries and customs, etc. In terms of grammar, at this level there is an initial introduction to the following tenses: Present Simple, Present Continuous, Past Simple, Future Simple (will, to be going to) and Present Perfect. Some modal verbs (can, must), different types of pronouns, adjectives and their degrees of comparison, categories of nouns, and forms of simple questions are also considered. Having firmly mastered the Elementary level, you can already take part in the KET (Key English test).

3. Pre-Intermediate – Below average. The level following Elementary is called Pre-Intermediate, literally translated as Pre-Intermediate. Having reached this level, students already have an idea of ​​how many sentences and phrases are constructed and can speak briefly on many topics. The Pre-Intermediate level adds confidence and expands learning potential. There are longer texts, more practical exercises, new grammar topics and more complex sentence structures. Topics encountered at this level may include complex questions, the Past Continuous, different forms of the future tense, conditionals, modals, infinitives and gerunds, repetition and consolidation of the Past Simple (regular and irregular verbs) and the Present Perfect, and some others. In terms of oral skills, having completed the Pre-Intermediate level, you can safely go on a journey and look for every opportunity to use your knowledge in practice. Also, a solid command of English at the Pre-Intermediate level makes it possible to participate in the PET (Preliminary English Test) test and the BEC (Business English Certificate) Preliminary exam.

4. Intermediate - Average. At the Intermediate level, the knowledge acquired at the previous stage is consolidated, and a lot of new vocabulary, including complex ones, is added. For example, personal characteristics of people, scientific terms, professional vocabulary and even slang. The object of study is the active and passive voices, direct and indirect speech, participial and participial phrases, phrasal verbs and prepositions, word order in complex sentences, types of articles, etc. From grammatical tenses, the difference between Present Simple and Present Continuous, Past Simple and Present Perfect, Past Simple and Past Continuous, as well as between various forms of expressing the future tense is examined in more detail. Texts at the Intermediate level become longer and more meaningful, and communication becomes easier and freer. The advantage of this stage is that in many modern companies employees with knowledge of the Intermediate level are highly valued. This level is also ideal for avid travelers, as it makes it possible to freely understand the interlocutor and express himself in response. Among the international exams, after successfully passing the intermediate level, you can take the following exams and tests: FCE (First Certificate in English) grade B/C, PET Level 3, BULATS (Business Language Testing Service), BEC Vantage, TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication), IELTS (International English Language Testing System) for 4.5-5.5 points and TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) for 80-85 points.

5. Upper Intermediate - Above average. If students reach this level, it means that they can understand fluent English and communicate easily using the vocabulary they have already acquired. At the Upper-Intermediate level, it becomes possible to use English much more in practice, since there is a little less theory, and if there is, it basically repeats and consolidates the Intermediate level. Among the innovations, we can note Narrative Tenses, which includes such difficult tenses as Past Continuous, Past Perfect and Past Perfect Continuous. Also covered are the Future Continuous and Future Perfect, the use of articles, modal verbs of assumption, verbs of indirect speech, hypothetical sentences, abstract nouns, causative voice and much more. The Upper-Intermediate level is one of the most in demand both in business and in the educational sphere. People who are fluent in English at this level can easily pass any interviews and even enter foreign universities. At the end of the Upper-Intermediate course, you can take exams such as FCE A/B, BEC (Business English Certificate) Vantage or Higher, TOEFL 100 points and IELTS 5.5-6.5 points.

6. Advanced 1 – Advanced. Advanced 1 level is required for professionals and students who want to achieve high fluency in English. Unlike the Upper-Intermediate level, many interesting phrases appear here, including idioms. Knowledge of tenses and other grammatical aspects previously studied only deepens and is viewed from other unexpected angles. Topics of discussion become more specific and professional, for example: the environment and natural disasters, legal processes, genres of literature, computer terms, etc. After the Advanced level, you can take the special academic exam CAE (Cambridge Advanced English), as well as IELTS with 7 and TOEFL with 110 points, and you can apply for a prestigious job in foreign companies or a place in Western universities.

7. Advanced 2 – Super advanced (native speaker level). The name speaks for itself. We can say that there is nothing higher than Advanced 2, because this is the level of a native speaker, i.e. a person born and raised in an English-speaking environment. With this level you can pass any interviews, including highly specialized ones, and pass any exams. In particular, the highest test of English proficiency is the academic exam CPE (Cambridge Proficiency Exam), and as for the IELTS test, with this level you can pass it with the highest score of 8.5-9.
This gradation is called the ESL (English as a Second Language) or EFL (English as a Foreign Language) level classification and is used by the ALTE (Association of Language Testers in Europe) association. The level system may vary depending on the country, school or organization. For example, some organizations reduce the 7 levels presented to 5 and call them a little differently: Beginner (Elementary), Lower Intermediate, Upper Intermediate, Lower Advanced, Upper Advanced. However, this does not change the meaning and content of the levels.

Another similar system of international examinations under the acronym CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) divides the levels into 6 and has other names:

1. A1 (Breakthrough)=Beginner
2. A2 (Waystage)=Pre-Intermediate – Below average
3. B1 (Threshold)=Intermediate – Average
4. B2 (Vantage)=Upper-Intermediate – Above average
5. C1 (Proficiency)=Advanced 1 – Advanced
6. C2 (Mastery)=Advanced 2 – Super advanced

The list of grammar topics has been compiled to help those who learn English on their own. To begin, determine your current level of English by completing. Then read the recommendations in the article . After that, start studying grammar.
This program is compiled in accordance with pan-European standards. It may differ slightly from other similar programs in other sources, but this does not make it any less effective.

1. Word order in questions

Where does your sister work? – Where does your sister work?

What did they talk about? - What were they talking about?

What was that noise? -What was that noise?

2. Present Simpleb adverbs of frequency

She's never late - She is never late

Do you often go to the gym? – Do you often go to the gym?

She doesn't like her job – She doesn’t like her job

3. Present continuous or Present simple

What are you doing?- What are you doing now?

What do you do?– What do you do in life? (What do you do for a living?)

We aren't working at the moment. We're eating– We are not working at the moment, we are eating

4. Past simple: regular and irregular verbs

I stayed with a friend – I was staying with a friend

We went to Costa Rica – We went to Costa Rica

5. Past Continuous

Last Saturday I was working in my office – Last Saturday I was working in my office.

She was wearing black dress – She wore a black dress

6. Past Simple & Past Continuous

While I was reading the book, she phoned me – While I was reading a book, she called me

When we left home, it was raining — It was raining when we left the house

7. To be going to + infinitive

I'm not going to talk to him again - I'm not going to communicate with him anymore

It’s winter so the weather is going to be cold – It’s winter now, so the weather will be cold

8. Present continuous (for future)

She's meeting her friend tonight – She is meeting a friend tonight

We're watching the movie tomorrow – We are watching a film tomorrow

9. Defining relative clauses: who, which, where, that

Cat is an animal which lives with people – A cat is an animal that lives with people

Friend is a person who is always ready to help – A friend is a person who is always ready to help

10. Present perfect: yet, just, already

I've already finished my homework – I have already finished my homework

She's just phoned - She just called

11. Something/anything/nothing (for people, places, things)

Somebody has taken my pen – Someone took my pen

I can't see anybody - I don’t see anyone

Nobody is here - Nobody's here

12. Comparatives

It’s more interesting to watch a film than to read a book – It’s more interesting to watch a movie than to read a book

My brother's taller than me - My brother is taller than me

13. Superlatives

It's the biggest city in the world – This is the largest city in the world

It’s the most beautiful flower I’ve ever seen - This is the most beautiful flower I have ever seen

14. Quantifiers (too much, too many, enough)

I have too much stress at work – I have too much stress at work

Do you eat enough vegetables? – Do you eat enough vegetables?

This chair is not comfortable enough – This chair is not comfortable enough

15. Future simple: will/won’t (predictions)

The film is in French so I won’t understand anything – The film is in French, so I won’t understand anything

I think I'll fail the exam - I think I will fail the exam

16. Future simple: will/won’t (decisions, offers, promises)

I'm tired so I'll go home - I'm tired so I'll go home

Shall I open the window - Let me open the window

I won't tell anybody - I will not tell anyone

17. Infinitive with to & gerund (verb + -ing)

I need to buy some new clothes – I need to buy new clothes

He left without saying goodbye - He left without saying goodbye

18. Have to, don’t have to, must, mustn’t

I have to get up at 7 o’clock every day – I have to get up at 7 am every day

We don't have to wear a uniform at work – We don’t have to wear a uniform at work

You must do your homework tonight – You must do your homework tonight.

You mustn’t be late for work – You are not allowed to be late at work.

19. Should/shouldn't

You should take your coat. It's cold outside – You should take a coat, it’s cold outside

You shouldn't work so hard, you'll get ill -You shouldn't work so hard, you'll get sick.

20. First conditional: if + present, will/won’t

If I miss the last bus, I’ll get a taxi – If I miss the last bus, I’ll take a taxi

If you don't go, she won't be pleased – If you don’t go, she won’t be happy.

21. Possessive pronouns: my, mine etc.

Whose book is this? - Whose book is this?

It's my book - It is my book

No, it's mine! - No, it's mine!

22. Second conditional: if + past, would / wouldn’t + inf

If I had one million dollars, I would by an island – If I had one million dollars, I would buy an island

If I were you, I would ask her for date - If I were you, I would ask her out on a date.

23. Present perfect: for, since

How long have you known your best friend? – How long have you known your best friend?

Pre-Intermediate English level - what does it mean and what knowledge do you need to have to reach this level in mastering a foreign language?

Often people who have already learned the language once, understood it well from a school course or university, or once studied it at special seminars, think that their level of knowledge is insufficient for the Pre-Intermediate stage. But they are often mistaken - as soon as they improve their knowledge a little, remember the basic rules, and their language proficiency will correspond to this level.

It is worth understanding that this is not the Elementary level, where a beginner learning a language does not have any special knowledge. Must have some experience, proficiency in English, and the ability to understand simple sentences by ear. But these are not extraordinary skills that can be mastered in a fairly short period of time.

You have a Pre-Intermediate level of English if you:

• You basically understand what is being said to you in English; the speech of a foreigner does not seem at all incomprehensible to you. You can also answer, even in fragmentary phrases. You can also ask a counter question and maintain a dialogue;
• Your knowledge of tenses is limited: you feel more or less confident using only simple grammatical structures, but get confused when it comes to more complex sentences;
• You have certain basic knowledge that you acquired once at school or university, and you “remember something”;
• If you passed the Elementary language test without any problems.

The English Pre-Intermediate level is a kind of foundation. When a beginner learning a foreign language reaches this stage, he has a certain knowledge base with which he can delve into a new area of ​​knowledge.

So, for example, you can go beyond this level of knowledge and achieve even greater results if you sign up for English language courses using the Dragunkin method. In three or four months (depending on the intensity of the classes), you will be able to obtain an Intermediate level of knowledge, which allows you to communicate freely in English.

Pre-Intermediate level program: how your English language skills will develop

Passing this stage involves studying a number of topics, without which you will not be able to feel free in speaking a foreign language. The list of topics is quite large: food, friends, entertainment, family, hobbies, travel, news, animals, etc. But it is only at first glance that the amount of work seems immeasurably large. No, many of the topics overlap and complement each other, and your ability to memorize foreign words will also develop as you master each new section.

Thus, if you start learning English at the Pre-Intermediate level, your vocabulary will increase significantly. This knowledge will become a kind of lexical platform in your mind: memorizing more complex words, specialized topics for work, business will be built on already known materials.

In addition, you will have ability to read more difficult materials: news notes, magazines, more complex literary texts, travel reports and more. Also, after reading, you will be able to form and express your opinion in English without any outside help.

Your understanding of English will also improve. Often, beginners cannot understand a word of the text spoken by a native speaker. The words merge with each other and are almost impossible to distinguish. But, passing the Pre-Intermediate stage, students begin to distinguish individual words and understand the meaning of a statement, even at a fairly high rate of pronunciation. Moreover, the vocabulary used in the texts is not so simple: awareness of this will add motivation to any student.

When you start going through the Pre-Intermediate stage, you will have to devote quite a lot of time development of writing skills. Moreover, at this stage you will need to write your own essay. And this is a great way to test your learned grammar skills. If it is not always possible to determine by ear where a mistake was made, then in a written text it is easy to find and correct shortcomings.

So, after passing this level of knowledge of a foreign language, you will be able to independently tell about yourself, your preferences, hobbies, and travel plans. You will also be able to read advertisements, notices, news items. You will have the opportunity to express your thoughts in writing and express your opinions on various issues. For those learning English: the Pre-Intermediate level will give you the opportunity to travel independently in foreign countries. Of course, not everything will always be easy, but you can have fun with it.

Learning English from Pre-Intermediate level: what's the end result?

If you understand that your level of language proficiency corresponds to the Pre-Intermediate level, we would advise you to take English language courses. A good option for structuring all knowledge and improving skills is the English course on Dragunkin in Minsk.

Even if you have passed the test, it would be a good idea to repeat everything that was covered in the first classes - for many students, the information that is given there turns out to be some kind of revelation.

Now you know what you need to know to achieve this level of knowledge. But remember that there is always room for improvement and improvement. In order to speak English fluently, the Pre-Intermediate level is clearly not enough.

When you have already mastered the initial level, it is time to move on - Pre-intermediate will allow you to master new syntactic and lexical schemes and will pay attention to communication skills.

At this stage, it is meant to study new, complex topics of grammar and expand the base of words through new variants of lexical forms. For example, our teachers will analyze in detail the types of questions in English and talk about universal answers, as well as consider the nuances of correct pronunciation. The topic of English tenses is one of the difficult ones; more than one lesson is devoted to it, but knowing the rules will make it possible to understand the text even in cases where you do not know some of the words.

Thanks to experienced teachers and a methodology that has proven itself to be very effective, the English Club TV channel's series of programs will allow you to learn English without boredom. Expressions and vocabulary from the lessons can be immediately put into practice, and interesting topics will help you get to know London and Britain in general better.

Are you building a successful career in an international company and need to take IELTS or TOEFL? The exams necessarily contain not only a speaking section, but also an English grammar test, so it is worth planning your preparation taking this fact into account. Our programs are aimed at uniform learning of all levels of the language, which will help you successfully cope with any test.

Pre-intermediate videos

• Everything is great until students are faced with one unpleasant aspect of learning English - the need to know grammar. Many people hate grammar lessons if the material is not presented well. And doing exercises or reading books seems like a boring activity to them. To solve this problem, you need not just cram grammatical rules, but try to speak English as often as possible, applying these rules. Cheryl Lowe, host of City Grammar, can help. In this program, she walks around a bustling city, showing viewers local […]

• For those people who are learning business English and have already passed the initial level, it is important to quickly expand their vocabulary and memorize official expressions and phrases. Where can you hear these phrases more often than in the news? Having mastered standard language structures, you will be able to freely express your thoughts and maintain a conversation on given topics. This is exactly what an average level of knowledge of English assumes. ECTV Simple NEWS video lessons are not just educational material that will help you learn English quickly and efficiently. This […]

• English Club TV offers a new approach to learning English. In the program “English Up” viewers are told about the way of life of the British. The host of the program is a native speaker. His lessons cover topics ranging from public transport in the UK to eating habits. At the end of each program, viewers can take a test to check how well they have understood the material. “English Up” is a great show for English language learners!

• Isn't learning English your only goal? Do you want to expand your knowledge in different areas and become a real scholar? Then our program is just for you. This is not just boring encyclopedic knowledge. This is the most incredible thing that nature can surprise us with. All the information in Flash Facts is presented in a superb visual format, making it much easier to understand and remember. This will help improve comprehension and make English video lessons even more interesting. Going to the middle level [...]

• Do you know how to learn English grammar without boring textbooks? Grammar Wise makes studying fun. The programs were created specifically for students with a Pre-Intermediate (below intermediate) language level. Tom Hedley, the show's host, shows videos about interesting life situations. Then he explains in detail which grammatical rules were used by native speakers in conversation. Conversations are divided into several parts. After each part, the host asks a few questions regarding the grammatical rules used in the video.

• If you often make grammatical mistakes, “Grammar Wise” is a great choice for you. This program consists of a series of video lessons that will help you easily improve your English level. In each episode, program host Tom Hedley shows interesting videos that will help you improve your grammar level. At the end of each lesson, you will be able to test yourself by answering several questions on the topic covered. “Grammar Wise” will help you speak English confidently.

• English is a universal language used all over the world. There are many benefits to studying it. The ability to communicate with people from different countries opens the door to a world of opportunity. The hosts of “Here and There” tell interesting facts about different countries. Stories are accompanied by photographs or videos. At the end of each program, viewers are asked to complete several tasks related to the lesson. For example, connecting images with words or completing sentences. “Here and There” is a great program that will help you learn grammar, become fluent in English and […]

• In the modern world, for many people, grueling gymnastic exercises seem like a waste of time and a boring activity. They have no motivation to exercise and lead a healthy lifestyle. “Keep fit” is a program that makes sports interesting even for the laziest, and also helps to learn English. Trainers show and explain different exercises in English. The lessons are simple and understandable to everyone. They help adults and children lead a healthy lifestyle. Play sports and learn a language with [...]

• Do you want to speak English like native speakers? “Perfect English” is a series of video lessons designed for those who want to improve their pronunciation. Transmission takes place outdoors. The presenter walks through different parts of Great Britain and tells viewers about them. She explains in great detail how to correctly pronounce sounds in certain words. “Perfect English” is a program for students with a language level from elementary to intermediate.

• “Say it right” is a program for those who want to learn or improve their pronunciation. The words are spoken slowly and clearly to make it clear to the viewer. First of all, the teacher explains the theory of certain sounds. Then he uses them in words, after which he combines these words into sentences. The viewer is given time to repeat sounds and words after the presenter. Moreover, the program tells interesting facts about the origin of words and their use in our time.

• “Speak up” is a fun program that helps viewers learn various idioms. The presenter of the program analyzes and explains their meaning, origin and use in speech. It shows how to pronounce these idioms correctly and in what position the facial muscles should be. The lessons help viewers learn new common expressions and improve their pronunciation.

• This program will help you learn English words related to everyday topics. Chris, the show's host, names items we all use every day, as well as activities we do every day. For example, in one of the lessons he appears in the bathroom with a toothbrush and toothpaste, explaining his actions step by step in English. All words used by the presenter are displayed on the screen. Learn everyday English with the “Step by step” program!

• Step-by-Step is a program that helps you improve your English, whether it's for everyday communication or business English. These exciting programs are beneficial for students of all ages. Each of them covers different aspects of learning English, such as improving listening, speaking and writing skills. The best thing about these lessons is that you can watch them over and over again until you master the lesson.

  Regularity is the basis of any learning, and even more so when it comes to learning a language. If you can afford to set aside an hour at the end of the week to study, then The week in Review is perfect for you. With it you will really save time, you will not only learn English, but also get acquainted with the most important world events over the past week. It was not by chance that our English video lessons acquired news form. The vocabulary in these programs is ideal for [...]