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Table 2 Vocabulary descriptors in the CECR

From: Calibrating the CEFR against the China Standards of English for College English vocabulary education in China

Levels of requirements

Range & control

Basic

Has a command of a lexical repertoire of 4,795 words and 700 phrases (including the vocabulary learned at senior secondary education), among which 2,000 words are active vocabulary, which a learner should be able to make skillful use in spoken and written English on the basis of recognition.

Intermediate

Has a command of a lexical repertoire of 6,395 words and 1,200 phrases (including the vocabulary learned at senior secondary education and vocabulary learned at Basic Requirement level), among which 2,200 words are active vocabulary (including the vocabulary learned at Basic Requirement level).

Advanced

Has a command of a lexical repertoire of 7,675 words and 1,870 phrases (including the vocabulary learned at senior secondary education, vocabulary learned at Basic and Intermediate Requirement levels), among which 2,360 words are active vocabulary (including the vocabulary learned at Basic and Intermediate Requirement levels).