# Language proficiency levels explained

> CEFR, JLPT, HSK and TOPIK: 23 levels across 4 frameworks.

## Frameworks

- [CEFR](https://nativepal.app/levels/cefr/) — Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, Council of Europe. 6 levels (A1–C2). Most languages, including Spanish, French, German, Italian and Portuguese.
- [JLPT](https://nativepal.app/levels/jlpt/) — Japanese-Language Proficiency Test, Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services (JEES). 5 levels (N5–N1). Japanese only.
- [HSK](https://nativepal.app/levels/hsk/) — Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (Chinese Proficiency Test), Chinese Ministry of Education / Chinese Testing International (CTI). 6 levels (HSK 1–HSK 6). Mandarin Chinese only.
- [TOPIK](https://nativepal.app/levels/topik/) — Test of Proficiency in Korean, National Institute for International Education (NIIED). 6 levels (TOPIK 1–TOPIK 6). Korean only.

## FAQ

### What is a language proficiency framework?

A proficiency framework is a shared scale that describes what a learner can actually do with a language at each stage, rather than how much material they have covered. It lets a school, an employer or an app agree on what "intermediate" means. CEFR is the most widely used; Japanese, Chinese and Korean each have their own established alternative.

### Which framework applies to the language I am learning?

CEFR covers most languages, including all the European ones. Japanese uses JLPT, Chinese uses HSK, and Korean uses TOPIK. NativePal levels your practice with whichever framework is standard for your target language.

### How do CEFR, JLPT, HSK and TOPIK compare?

They are not directly interchangeable, because each was designed around a different language and testing tradition, and mapping between them is approximate at best. As a rough orientation, the lowest levels of each (CEFR A1, JLPT N5, HSK 1, TOPIK 1) describe a beginner handling set phrases, and the highest (CEFR C2, JLPT N1, HSK 6, TOPIK 6) describe someone functioning comfortably in academic or professional settings.

### Do I need to take an official exam?

Only if you need the certificate for a university place, a visa or a job. For learning purposes the frameworks are useful purely as a way to pitch material at the right difficulty, which is how NativePal uses them.

## More

- [All supported languages](https://nativepal.app/languages.html)
- [All features](https://nativepal.app/features/)