Updated: February 2026
Reading time: 5 minutes
Reading time: 5 minutes
SmallTalk2Me Speaking Level Test
The SmallTalk2Me Speaking Level Test is an online assessment of an English learner's speaking abilities, evaluated by artificial intelligence (AI) in accordance with international standards. After years of testing and research, the SmallTalk2Me team has developed an English speaking test capable of evaluating a candidate's full range of language abilities.
With over 1.5 million assessments completed across 125+ countries, our AI has been trained and validated on a wide diversity of accents, native languages, and proficiency levels — from absolute beginners to advanced speakers. This extensive dataset ensures accurate and fair evaluation regardless of a candidate's linguistic background.
To align our test with international standards, we have designed the test structure and its assignments to unlock the potential of candidates from level A1 to level C2 – without adding unnecessary complexity for the participant. This means the test is suitable for all English levels, nationalities, and backgrounds.
Aligning the SmallTalk2Me Speaking Level Test to International Standards
The SmallTalk2Me Speaking Level Test assessment is aligned with Cambridge English exams, which are themselves aligned to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) – the international standard for measuring language ability.
The Cambridge English Scale covers a wide range of language proficiency levels and is aligned to the CEFR.
The Cambridge English Scale provides clearer and more detailed information than was previously available, showing where a candidate's performance falls within each CEFR level and grade. This gives candidates better insight into their performance and helps them identify areas for improvement.
The same scale is used across our assessments, making it easier to understand the relationship between them.
SmallTalk2Me Speaking Level Test Criteria
The SmallTalk2Me Speaking Level Test criteria are aligned with the University of Cambridge Oral Assessment Criteria Grid: Cambridge Speaking Performance Examples
A candidate's test result is calculated based on individual performance across each criterion:
1. Vocabulary
A1 — Has a very basic repertoire of words and simple phrases related to personal details and particular concrete situations.
A2 — Uses basic sentence patterns with memorized phrases, groups of a few words, and formulae to communicate limited information in simple everyday situations.
B1 — Has enough language to get by, with sufficient vocabulary to express themselves with some hesitation on topics such as family, hobbies, interests, travel, and current events.
B2 — Has a sufficient range of language to give clear descriptions and express viewpoints on most general topics, without much conspicuous searching for words, using some complex sentence forms to do so.
C1 — Has a good command of a broad range of language, allowing them to select a formulation to express themselves clearly in an appropriate style on a wide range of general, academic, professional, or leisure topics without having to restrict what they want to say.
C2 — Shows great flexibility in reformulating ideas in different linguistic forms to convey finer shades of meaning precisely, give emphasis, differentiate, and eliminate ambiguity. Also has a good command of idiomatic expressions and colloquialisms.
A2 — Uses basic sentence patterns with memorized phrases, groups of a few words, and formulae to communicate limited information in simple everyday situations.
B1 — Has enough language to get by, with sufficient vocabulary to express themselves with some hesitation on topics such as family, hobbies, interests, travel, and current events.
B2 — Has a sufficient range of language to give clear descriptions and express viewpoints on most general topics, without much conspicuous searching for words, using some complex sentence forms to do so.
C1 — Has a good command of a broad range of language, allowing them to select a formulation to express themselves clearly in an appropriate style on a wide range of general, academic, professional, or leisure topics without having to restrict what they want to say.
C2 — Shows great flexibility in reformulating ideas in different linguistic forms to convey finer shades of meaning precisely, give emphasis, differentiate, and eliminate ambiguity. Also has a good command of idiomatic expressions and colloquialisms.
2. Grammar
A1 — Shows only limited control of a few simple grammatical structures and sentence patterns in a memorized repertoire.
A2 — Uses some simple structures correctly but still systematically makes basic mistakes.
B1 — Uses reasonably accurately a repertoire of frequently used routines and patterns associated with more predictable situations.
B2 — Shows a relatively high degree of grammatical control. Does not make errors that cause misunderstanding and can correct most mistakes.
C1 — Consistently maintains a high degree of grammatical accuracy; errors are rare, difficult to spot, and generally corrected when they do occur.
C2 — Maintains consistent grammatical control of complex language.
A2 — Uses some simple structures correctly but still systematically makes basic mistakes.
B1 — Uses reasonably accurately a repertoire of frequently used routines and patterns associated with more predictable situations.
B2 — Shows a relatively high degree of grammatical control. Does not make errors that cause misunderstanding and can correct most mistakes.
C1 — Consistently maintains a high degree of grammatical accuracy; errors are rare, difficult to spot, and generally corrected when they do occur.
C2 — Maintains consistent grammatical control of complex language.
3. Fluency
A1 — Can manage very short, isolated, mainly pre-packaged utterances, with much pausing to search for expressions.
A2 — Can make themselves understood in very short utterances, even though pauses, false starts, and reformulation are very evident.
B1 — Can keep going comprehensibly, even though pausing for grammatical and lexical planning and repair is very evident, especially in longer stretches of free production.
B2 — Can produce stretches of language with a fairly even tempo; although they may be hesitant while searching for patterns and expressions, there are few noticeably long pauses.
C1 — Can express themselves fluently and spontaneously, almost effortlessly. Only a conceptually difficult subject can hinder a natural, smooth flow of language.
C2 — Can express themselves spontaneously at length with a natural conversational flow, smoothly avoiding or backtracking around any difficulty.
A2 — Can make themselves understood in very short utterances, even though pauses, false starts, and reformulation are very evident.
B1 — Can keep going comprehensibly, even though pausing for grammatical and lexical planning and repair is very evident, especially in longer stretches of free production.
B2 — Can produce stretches of language with a fairly even tempo; although they may be hesitant while searching for patterns and expressions, there are few noticeably long pauses.
C1 — Can express themselves fluently and spontaneously, almost effortlessly. Only a conceptually difficult subject can hinder a natural, smooth flow of language.
C2 — Can express themselves spontaneously at length with a natural conversational flow, smoothly avoiding or backtracking around any difficulty.
4. Pronunciation
The pronunciation criterion is not aligned to the University of Cambridge Oral Assessment Criteria Grid: Cambridge Speaking Performance Examples
The SmallTalk2Me team found it essential to include pronunciation in the final assessment grid. To assess pronunciation using AI, we have incorporated several reading assignments into our tests, spanning levels A1 through C2. With these specific tasks, we can identify where a candidate struggles with the pronunciation of particular words and align those difficulties with their CEFR level. This allows us to determine which level of vocabulary the candidate can pronounce correctly.
5. Interaction Logic
We have found the interaction criterion to be the most challenging to assess in online testing through an AI system. We addressed this challenge through a specific test structure that allows participants to interact in a variety of ways. This structure enables us to evaluate how candidates answer questions, formulate questions of their own, and sustain a conversation.
A1 — Can ask and answer questions about personal details. Can interact in a simple way, but communication is totally dependent on repetition, rephrasing, and repair.
A2 — Can ask and answer questions and respond to simple statements.
B1 — Can initiate, maintain, and close simple conversations on topics that are familiar or of personal interest.
B2 — Can help the discussion along on familiar ground by confirming comprehension, inviting others in, etc.
C1 — Can select a suitable phrase from a readily available range of discourse functions.
C2 — Can interact with ease and skill, picking up and using non-verbal and intonational cues apparently effortlessly.
A2 — Can ask and answer questions and respond to simple statements.
B1 — Can initiate, maintain, and close simple conversations on topics that are familiar or of personal interest.
B2 — Can help the discussion along on familiar ground by confirming comprehension, inviting others in, etc.
C1 — Can select a suitable phrase from a readily available range of discourse functions.
C2 — Can interact with ease and skill, picking up and using non-verbal and intonational cues apparently effortlessly.
6. Coherence
A1 — Can link words or groups of words with very basic linear connectors.
A2 — Can link groups of words with simple connectors.
B1 — Can link a series of shorter, discrete simple elements into a connected, linear sequence of points.
B2 — Can use a limited number of cohesive devices to link utterances into clear, coherent discourse, though there may be some "jumpiness" in a long contribution.
C1 — Can produce clear, smoothly flowing, well-structured speech, showing controlled use of organizational patterns, connectors, and cohesive devices.
C2 — Can create coherent and cohesive discourse, making full and appropriate use of a variety of organizational patterns and a wide range of connectors and other cohesive devices.
A2 — Can link groups of words with simple connectors.
B1 — Can link a series of shorter, discrete simple elements into a connected, linear sequence of points.
B2 — Can use a limited number of cohesive devices to link utterances into clear, coherent discourse, though there may be some "jumpiness" in a long contribution.
C1 — Can produce clear, smoothly flowing, well-structured speech, showing controlled use of organizational patterns, connectors, and cohesive devices.
C2 — Can create coherent and cohesive discourse, making full and appropriate use of a variety of organizational patterns and a wide range of connectors and other cohesive devices.
Criteria Grouping
We have divided these six criteria into two groups: essential and subsidiary.
Essential criteria: Vocabulary, Grammar, Fluency, and Pronunciation
Subsidiary criteria: Interaction and Coherence
The main difference between these two groups is that AI assessment of interaction and coherence is not yet accurate enough to serve as an independent criterion. However, these criteria remain very important in the final level determination — especially when a candidate achieves different levels across the essential criteria.
Ready to find out your English speaking level? Try the SmallTalk2Me Speaking Level Test now →
