From A1 to A2 – Building a Foundation
Hey English learner 👋
You’ve built the basics at A1—now it’s time to grow!
This guide is your complete roadmap from CEFR A1 to A2, helping you become more confident and independent in everyday English.
This post includes:
✅ What A2 learners can actually do
✅ Complete grammar and vocabulary checklist
✅ Study tips to help you learn faster
✅ How long it takes to reach A2
✅ A printable checklist to track your progress - Download now!
🎯 What Can You Do at A2?
At the A2 level, you can handle many everyday situations using simple, clear language. You can:
Describe routines, habits, and past experiences
Talk about daily life, plans, and familiar topics
Ask for and give directions, advice, and opinions
Handle common social situations (restaurants, shopping, travel)
Describe people, places, feelings, and simple events
Express preferences, abilities, and basic opinions
Read and understand short, clear texts
Write basic emails, notes, and personal messages
Understand slow, clear speech in familiar contexts
Participate in short conversations with support
🗣️ Example:
“I went to the beach last weekend. It was sunny, and I swam in the sea.”
→ You can give more details than A1!
⏱️ How Long Does It Take to Reach A2?
📈 Estimated study time: 180–200 hours
📚 Vocabulary size: About 1,000–1,500 words
This will be easier and faster if you:
Study consistently (15–30 minutes a day)
Practice all four skills: reading, listening, writing, and speaking
Get support from a tutor, group class, or conversation partner
✨ Want help creating your study routine?
Book a free consultation with me and I’ll help you plan your A1 → A2 journey.
🔤 How Many Words Should You Know at A2?
At this stage, you should aim to know 1,000 to 1,500 common words.
These words help you:
Talk about your hobbies, family, and work
Describe your experiences and plans
Handle simple conversations at the store, doctor, or school
Ask for help, give opinions, and express preferences
🎯 It’s not about big words. It’s about the right words used well!
🧠 What A2 Means for Your English Skills
🎧 Listening: You understand slow, clear speech about everyday topics. You can catch the main idea, even if you miss some details.
📖 Reading: You can read short, simple texts like blog posts, emails, ads, or descriptions. You understand the general meaning and some details.
🗣️ Speaking: You can describe experiences, give opinions, and ask for help. You’re still learning grammar, but you can express yourself in familiar situations.
✍️ Writing: You can write short paragraphs, describe experiences, and send personal messages. You might still make mistakes, but your meaning is clear.
📚 A2 Grammar Topics
📅 Verb Tenses:
Present Simple vs Present Continuous
Past Simple (regular and irregular verbs)
Past Continuous
Present Perfect (unfinished time, experiences)
Future forms: going to, will, Present Continuous
🧠 Modal Verbs:
Can / Could / Should / Might / Must / Have to / Need to
Express advice, ability, permission, possibility, obligation
🔀 Sentence Patterns:
Comparatives and Superlatives
Infinitives and Gerunds (like swimming, want to go)
Verb + object + infinitive (She told me to call her)
Phrasal verbs (e.g., wake up, turn off, look for)
❓ Question Forms:
Open and closed questions (Do you like…? / Did you go…?)
Subject vs object questions
Questions with prepositions (e.g., What are you talking about?)
🧱 Other Grammar:
Passive voice (present and past)
Defining relative clauses (who, which, where)
Reported speech (intro level)
Conjunctions: because, although, so, however
Quantifiers: some, any, a lot, too much, enough
Indefinite pronouns: something, anything
Adverbs of frequency and manner
Prepositions of place, time, and movement
Used to (past habits and states)
Zero & First Conditionals
🔤 A2 Vocabulary Topics
👤 Personal & Social Life:
Talking about yourself, family, and friends
Emotions and personality traits
Hobbies and weekend activities
🏙️ Daily Life & Local Area:
Describing your home or neighborhood
Asking for and giving directions
Talking about routines and habits
🛍️ Shopping & Food:
Shopping preferences, prices, and returns
Ordering in restaurants
Ingredients, cooking, and healthy eating
📚 School & Work:
School subjects and classroom rules
Jobs, offices, and workplaces
Goals, comparisons, and future plans
🌍 Travel & Descriptions:
Describing past vacations
Planning future travel
Talking about places and weather
📱 Tech & Health:
Using the internet, apps, and social media
Talking about illness, symptoms, and staying healthy
👕 Clothing & Appearance:
Describing clothing and personal style
Shopping for clothes, colors, sizes, and preferences
🧠 Study Tips to Reach A2 Faster
As a fluency coach, here’s what I always tell my A2 learners:
✅ Keep speaking—even if you make mistakes.
At A2, confidence is key. Don’t be afraid to try, even if it’s not perfect.
✅ Start building your sentences.
Don’t just say “I like pizza”—try adding why, when, or how often. Add more detail:
👉 “I like pizza because it’s delicious, and I eat it every Friday with my friends.”
✅ Practice describing stories and events.
Talk about past experiences, weekend plans, or daily routines using the correct tenses.
✅ Review and compare verb tenses.
Get comfortable switching between past, present, and future. Focus especially on Present Perfect and Past Simple.
✅ Watch beginner-to-intermediate videos with subtitles.
Choose short, real English videos or podcasts. Try repeating sentences out loud (shadowing).
✅ Use flashcards or apps to expand vocabulary.
Tools like Anki, Quizlet, or Memrise help you review new words and collocations.
✅ Start writing short paragraphs.
Write about your life, opinions, or recent experiences. Keep a simple English journal.
✅ Find a study partner or language exchange buddy.
Apps like Tandem or HelloTalk let you chat or voice message with learners and native speakers.
✅ Join guided lessons or a conversation group.
Structured speaking time, coaching, and feedback can help you stay motivated and focused.
🌟 Want help building your A2 study plan?
Join my private classes or conversation club. I’ll guide you through each CEFR level with personalized lessons, weekly routines, and support.
➡️ Book a Free Consultation with Me
🎁 Get the Free A2 Checklist
📋 Download my printable CEFR A2 Checklist and track your progress as you move toward the B1 level!
👉 Download the A2 Checklist PDF
🎧 Want to Learn More about the CEFR Levels in English?
🎥 Watch my YouTube video as I break down all 6 CEFR levels for you
🎓 What’s Next?
You’re not a beginner anymore—amazing! 🌟
Now it’s time to start having real conversations and becoming more fluent.
Check out the next guide in this series:
From A2 to B1 – Becoming Conversational in English
