C1 (Effective Operational Proficiency / Advanced)

Effective operational proficiency is the Council of Europe's phrase for C1, and it describes a user who gets things done in English rather than one who is studying it: long demanding texts, implicit meaning, fluent expression without visibly searching for words, and language used flexibly for social, academic and professional ends. The work at this level is unglamorous, because what is left to fix is small and specific. Lessons use unedited material and your own writing, and the corrections concern register, rhythm and the almost right word. Most learners here have a concrete reason, a degree, a role or a certificate.