How quickly can I reach my required level (RL)?
How fast you can reach your Required Level (RL) depends on several things, e.g., your current English level. To reach your RL, you will work on the courses assigned. Other factors that can influence how fast you improve are: how many hours you study, how you spread work in the course, if you do extracurricular activities, etc.
How many CEFR levels do I need to improve by?
You can count how many CEFR levels you need to improve by if you know your current and your required English levels. See table below for additional help:
| Your current level | your required level | number of levels to improve by |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | A2 | 1 |
| A1 | B1 | 2 |
| A1 | B2 | 3 |
| A1 | C1 | 4 |
| A2 | B1 | 1 |
| A2 | B2 | 2 |
| A2 | C1 | 3 |
| B1 | B2 | 1 |
| B1 | C1 | 2 |
| B2 | C1 | 1 |
- If your current level is equal to or higher than your RL, you may need to complete special English courses, e.g., Maritime English. However, then you may not need to improve your general English proficiency.
- Important: if your job position/rank changes, e.g., if you are promoted, your RL can change too. To see the most up-to-date information, consult your scorecard.
How fast can I improve by 1 CEFR level?
On average, our participants improve by 1 CEFR level in 3 goes. Each go lasts around 2 months. Hence, we can reasonably say that you can improve by 1 CEFR level in 6 months of studying.
However, these 6 months do not include breaks. Thus, if you stop studying at any point, e.g., to join a vessel or to go on a work trip, this break time is not included in the estimated 6 months of uninterrupted studying.
Another important factor is how much/well you actually study. If you work on your English more, you are also likely to improve more than average. There are many ways how you can work on your English in addition to the courses we assign, including things you can do on EnglishCentral. If you are curious to know more, explore our General English and EnglishCentral guides.
What if I have a really big gap to cover?
If the number of levels between your current level and your RL is higher than 1, you may be eligible for GoLive!. This is an access on EnglishCentral that allows you to schedule various lessons with live tutors.
Based on our experience, if those who have a big CEFR gap to cover do GoLive!, they reach their RLs much faster than people who do not have this access. If you want to know if you are eligible for GoLive!, you can either ask your coordinator or email us at support@spotonlearning.nl.
Related info...
What do CEFR levels of English language proficiency (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2) mean? How are EC (EnglishCentral) levels 1 - 7 related to CEFR levels?
After you have taken your Level (up) Test, you will receive your test result. In most cases the result will be expressed as a CEFR level (A1, A1/A2, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2). CEFR is an international standard to measure a person's second language proficiency. The level required by your employer will also be a CEFR level. Continue reading to find more detailed information about the CEFR level and the relationship with other language levels.
Where can I find my Required Level (RL)?
When your coordinator adds you to our English language program, they indicate the CEFR level you need to reach in your Level (Up) Test. In this article, you can find out where to see it.
What is GoLive!?
GoLive! is a way to learn English faster by having weekly 20-25 minute online sessions with a tutor. Whether you can have GoLive! access depends on arrangements between Spot On Learning and your (future) employer. If you want to know more about GoLive! you can contact Spot On Learning or your training coordinator.
Need support?
- Mail us at support@spotonlearning.nl
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- Check the FAQ's
About us
Spot On Learning helps international organisations with international crews and teams learn faster.