Placement – A2 / A2+ / B1‑ Quick Check

Placement – A2 / A2+ / B1‑ Quick Check

Use this single integrated task to quickly decide if a new student fits best in A2, A2+ bridge, or B1‑ weeks.

Student task (15–20 minutes)

Write about your life: past, present and future and then talk about it.

1. Write about your past (3–4 sentences):
   • Where you lived / studied / worked before
   • What you did when you were younger
2. Write about your life now (3–4 sentences):
   • Where you live and what you do
   • Your daily routine or free time
3. Write about your future (3–4 sentences):
   • Your plans / hopes / dreams

Try to write at least 10–12 sentences in total.

Don’t worry about mistakes – just try to show your English.

Then ask the student to speak for 1–2 minutes about the same content. You can let them look at their notes if needed.

Quick bands for placement

Band 1 – Mostly A2

Writing:

• Length: about 8–10 short sentences, simple structure.
• Grammar:
  • Mainly Present Simple (I live, I work, I like…).
  • Some Past Simple (I lived, I went…) – mixed accuracy.
  • Future: very basic (I will…, I want…) or missing.
• Almost no use of Present Perfect, used to, or continuous tenses.
• Vocabulary basic but understandable (family, work, free time).
• Limited linkers (maybe "and", "then").

Speaking:

• Can read or paraphrase what they wrote.
• Frequent pauses but generally understandable about familiar topics.

➡️ Place in A2 phase – around Weeks 14–22 / Level – A2.

Build through Q2 content before moving fully into A2+.

Band 2 – A2+ (bridge)

Writing:

• Length: 10–15 sentences, some detail.
• Grammar:
  • Past Simple used reasonably, maybe 1 Past Continuous attempt.
  • Clear Present Simple for now; some Present Continuous for plans/"now".
  • Attempts Present Perfect (I have been…, I have lived…) or used to, even if not always correct.
• Future: uses going to / will in a basic way (next year I’m going to…, I think I’ll…).
• Vocabulary: everyday + some variety (busy, stressed, healthy, interesting).
• Organisation: clear past → present → future, a few linkers (then, after that, now, in the future).

Speaking:

• Can talk without reading every word.
• Can answer simple follow‑up questions (Why? When? Where?) with short answers.

➡️ Place in A2+ bridge – around Weeks 27–34, then into 35–39 if they cope well.

Use Q3 material as the main path.

Band 3 – B1‑ ready

Writing:

• Length: 15–20 sentences; feels like a short text with some paragraphs or grouped ideas.
• Grammar:
  • Mix of Past Simple + some Past Continuous (1–2 “was/were …ing when…”).
  • Some Present Perfect for experiences/duration (I’ve lived…, I’ve been…, I’ve started…).

* Uses several future forms (going to / will / maybe a conditional).

• • May use used to, modals (should, must, have to), and an occasional relative clause.
• Vocabulary:
  • Covers work/study, travel, technology, feelings, opinions with some variety.
• Organisation:
  • Has clear beginning, middle, end.
  • Uses discourse markers: first, then, after that, however, in the end, to sum up or similar.

Speaking:

• Can talk for 1–2 minutes with some fluency.
• Can handle simple follow‑up questions and add a sentence or two.

➡️ Place in B1‑ phase – around Weeks 40–48.

Dip back into A2+ weeks selectively if you see gaps (e.g., Present Perfect, conditionals).