The transition from beginner to intermediate can be a little unclear, right? How can you know for sure that you’ve reached the intermediate Spanish level?
Here’s a clue: it’s not about memorizing enough grammar to pass a special test.
There are many things that define the intermediate level. But you don’t have to guess!
There are specific milestones. For example, reaching intermediate level with WorldsAcross means moving from memorizing phrases to thinking and expressing ideas naturally in Spanish. And here’s how.
This is your chance to find out what signs to look for, how to run a personal Spanish level check, and of course, what exactly Spanish B1 is.
Let’s take a look!
What does intermediate Spanish level mean?
The intermediate level is a very special part of every student’s language progress. At this exciting stage, when you start using this new language, there are countless possibilities!
For this reason, it’s extra important to have a clear vision of what it involves, the difference from the beginner level, and also the complexities of an average intermediate Spanish test.
Let’s see.
Defining the intermediate stage
Let’s start with the basic or “official” definition, from the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference).
According to this official framework, the intermediate Spanish level includes the A2 and B1 levels.
The main defining trait is being able to handle everyday interactions without relying heavily on translation.
Isn’t that the best?
Plus, intermediate students will start to connect and create sentences and express themselves better. Without depending on memorized phrases.
If you’ve followed a clear structure like we do at WorldsAcross, you’ll be able to describe events, share opinions, and make plans using tenses like the simple past and future.
That’s already a huge improvement!
But still, it’s necessary to take a look back to be able to differentiate from the previous stage.
Difference from beginner
These are some Spanish skills for the beginner level. Which, according to the CEFR, would be the A1 level.
- Depending on memorized phrases.
- Limited to the simple present tense.
- Reliance on “survival Spanish” (only the most useful everyday sentences)
- Limited vocabulary (greetings, numbers, colors, food)
Now, in contrast, take a look at more things that define the Spanish B1 level:
- Narrating past events
- Describing future plans
- Sharing personal opinions
- Expanding everyday vocabulary
- Discussing work, hobbies, and travel
Do you see the difference? This is a result of increased language progress. And, even then, there’s more to it.
Beyond exams
The truth is that an intermediate Spanish test is not the only way to prove you’ve reached this milestone.
You can expand your understanding of Spanish grammar. You can learn new words to increase your vocabulary.
But, at the end of the day, your practical Spanish skills are the most important part.
What exactly are those skills? You’ll want to aim for things like these:
- Speaking with confidence
- Acquiring cultural awareness
- Understanding basic humor
- Being polite and respectful
- Maintaining the conversational flow
See? You don’t always need an official Spanish level check.
It can be enough to notice that you’re starting to live your life in Spanish. Good job!
Signs you might already be intermediate
If the previous elements aren’t enough, don’t worry. You still have more specific signs to look for to know that you’re reaching the Spanish B1 level.
Let’s take a closer look at some of them in these useful categories.
Listening and reading comprehension
As a beginner, listening to people speak Spanish can be confusing and overwhelming. You might catch only a few scattered words.
When you reach the intermediate level, you’ll see improvements like these:
- You can follow slow and clear podcasts or YouTube videos.
- You can read short blogs or social media posts, even if you need to check some words.
- You start noticing grammar patterns and rules while listening, without needing to analyze them.
- You can understand fast-paced speeches on everyday and cultural topics.
- You can read longer texts about the environment, education, and economics.
How exactly do you get there?
Make sure you’re receiving a lot of comprehensible input in Spanish. This will really help your language progress!
Speaking ability
When you’re just getting started, speaking Spanish might feel like a faraway dream.
However, if you start speaking the language early on, you’ll be able to reach some of these fantastic milestones:
- Talking about your daily routine, experiences, and preferences.
- Maintaining conversations of 5–10 minutes.
- Being understood by native speakers, even if you make some mistakes.
- Correcting your mistakes mid-sentence, showing your increased awareness.
- Maintain clear conversations on abstract, scientific, or literary topics.
- Participate actively in conversations about Hispanic culture, dialects, and social issues.
This might be the most rewarding part. Being able to communicate in this new language is a great sign. Let this be your motivation to keep moving forward.
Grammar and vocabulary range
Sometimes, listening and speaking Spanish skills can feel harder to measure. If you want an even more precise Spanish level check, you could try focusing on grammar.
For example, these are some things you should be able to do as a Spanish B1 student:
- You can handle the present and past tense, the preterite and imperfect forms.
- You can speak about the near future.
- You’ve been introduced to simple subjunctive phrases like “Espero que sí” and “Ojalá que no”.
- You use connectors to sound more natural, like “porque, entonces, aunque.”
- You start using new structures like the imperfect tense, indirect objects, and verb periphrasis.
- You’ve learned regionalisms from different Spanish-speaking countries.
- You can adapt your tone between formal and informal conversations.
What do you think? Have you reached some or most of these milestones yet?
Maybe you need an extra hand to know how to check for these. This next part could help you.
How to check your Spanish level
If you want to know for sure that you’ve reached an intermediate Spanish level, you can start here.
First of all, remember that there’s more than one way to check your language progress. You can find what works best for you. For example, one of these options.
Take an official intermediate Spanish test
In general, the most accepted official intermediate Spanish tests are the DELE (Diplomas de Español como Lengua Extranjera) and the SIELE (Servicio Internacional de Evaluación de la Lengua Española).
They are a very reliable and respected source. These placement tests will confirm if you’ve moved from A1 to A2 or B1. And then, even further into B2, C1, and C2, the advanced levels.
These tests are especially useful if you need to prove your Spanish proficiency for work, studies, or legal reasons.
However, when it comes to real-life Spanish just for practical uses, you have other options as well.
Self-assessment strategies
This is your opportunity to actually use and put your Spanish skills to the test. Here, the emphasis is on the practical use of the language.
You have many options available, for example:
- Try to sustain a conversation with a native speaker for 10 minutes
- Take an online Spanish test or from apps like Duolingo
- Try journaling in Spanish for 10 minutes without getting “stuck”
- Notice if native speakers switch to English immediately or not when talking to you
- Listen to clips of 2–3 minutes of the news in Spanish. Can you identify the main points?
- Test yourself: Do you understand Spanish humor? Do you understand cultural references? Can you handle small talk in Spanish?
At the end of the day, always remember: there isn’t just one way to reach the intermediate Spanish level.
Every student’s journey is unique. That means that your obstacles, your achievements, and your goals might look different from other students. That’s perfectly normal!
The most important part is that you understand that moving up from beginner to intermediate Spanish level is about so much more than passing a test.
This is about understanding and using the language. It’s about starting to communicate in Spanish in your daily life, even if you still make mistakes. That’s absolutely part of the process.
Are you wondering what comes next? WorldsAcross classes can guide you toward the advanced level now!
It’s time to introduce more advanced tenses like the subjunctive and passive voice, and native tutors can guide you through real conversations about culture, travel, and everyday life.
This is just the start. You still have a whole world of possibilities waiting for you. So keep learning, enjoy the process, and have fun! ¡Buen trabajo!
