CEFR Guide

Level 1

A1
Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)

Contents

Part 1 The Level of Shape It! Level 1

Part 2 How the Goals of the CEFR Are Realized

in Shape It! Level 1

Part 3 How Each Unit of Shape It! Level 1

Relates to the CEFR

© C a m b r i d g e U n i ve r s i t y P r e s s 2 0 2 0 1
Part 1 The Level of Shape It! Level 1

Shape It! Level 1 covers level A1 of the CEFR. This chart describes
the general degree of skill achieved by learners at this level.

Skill Learners will be able to:

Listening recognize familiar words and very basic phrases concerning themselves, their families, and their
immediate concrete surroundings when people speak slowly and clearly.
Reading understand familiar names, words, and very simple sentences, for example, on notices and posters.
Speaking interact in a simple way, provided the other person is prepared to repeat or rephrase;
ask and answer simple questions in areas of immediate need or on very familiar topics;
use simple sentences to describe where they live and people they know.
Writing write short simple postcards or emails;
fill in forms with personal details;
write simple isolated phrases and sentences.
Communicative Language use a basic repertoire of words and phrases related to personal details and particular concrete
Competence situations;
show limited control of a few simple grammatical structures and sentence patterns in a learned
repertoire;
pronounce learned words and phrases in a way that can be understood by many expert speakers;
establish basic social contact by using simple, everyday, polite language.

Part 2 How the Goals of the CEFR Are Realized in Shape It! Level 1

LISTENING
At A1, learners are expected to be able to understand speech that is very simple.

OVERALL LISTENING COMPREHENSION

Can follow speech that is very slow and carefully articulated, with long pauses to assimilate meaning.
Starter Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3 Unit 4 Unit 5 Unit 6 Unit 7 Unit 8 Unit 9
4 10 (video) 22 (video) 34 (video) 46 (video) 58 (video) 70 (video) 82 (video) 94 (video) 106 (video)
7 13 (video) 23 37 (video) 49 (video) 61 (video) 73 (video) 85 (video) 97 (video) 109 (video)
14 25 (video) 38 50 62 74 86 98 110
15 (video) 26 39 (video) 51 (video) 63 (video) 75 (video) 87 (video) 99 (video) 111 (video)
16 (video) 27 (video) 40 52 64 76 88 100 112
18 (video) 28 40 (video) 52 (video) 64 (video) 76 (video) 88 (video) 100 (video) 112 (video)
28 (video) 42 (video) 66 (video) 90 (video) 102 114 (video)

2 © Cambridge Universit y Press 2020

READING
At A1, learners can understand very short, simple texts a single phrase at a time,
picking up familiar names, words, and basic phrases, and rereading as required.

READING CORRESPONDENCE
Can understand short, simple messages on postcards, emails, etc.
Starter Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3 Unit 4 Unit 5 Unit 6 Unit 7 Unit 8 Unit 9
9 17 81 101 113
117

READING FOR ORIENTATION

Can recognize familiar names, words, and very basic phrases on simple notices in the most common everyday situations.
Starter Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3 Unit 4 Unit 5 Unit 6 Unit 7 Unit 8 Unit 9
54 78 108
114

READING FOR INFORMATION AND ARGUMENT

Can get an idea of the content of simpler informational material and short simple descriptions, especially if there is
visual support.
Starter Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3 Unit 4 Unit 5 Unit 6 Unit 7 Unit 8 Unit 9
5 12 24 36 48 60 72 84 96 108
18 29 41 53 65 77 89 102 114
30 42 54 66 78 90 105
31 69
33

SPEAKING
Overall Spoken Interaction
At A1, learners can:
• interact in a simple way, but communication is totally dependent on repetition at a slower rate of
speech, rephrasing, and repair
• ask and answer simple questions, initiate and respond to simple statements in areas of immediate
need or on very familiar topics addressed carefully and slowly to them

GOAL-ORIENTED COOPERATION (e.g., repairing a car, discussing a document, organizing an event)

Can understand questions and instructions addressed carefully and slowly to them and follow short, simple directions.
Starter Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3 Unit 4 Unit 5 Unit 6 Unit 7 Unit 8 Unit 9
8 21 39 55 69 76 105 112
40 79 117

TRANSACTIONS TO OBTAIN GOODS AND SERVICES

Can ask people for things and give people things.
Can handle numbers, quantities, cost, and time.
Starter Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3 Unit 4 Unit 5 Unit 6 Unit 7 Unit 8 Unit 9
52 64

© C a m b r i d g e U n i ve r s i t y P r e s s 2 0 2 0 3
CONVERSATION
Can make an introduction and use basic greeting and leave-taking expressions.
Can ask how people are and react to news.
Can understand everyday expressions aimed at the satisfaction of simple needs of a concrete type, delivered directly to
them in clear, slow, and repeated speech by a sympathetic speaker.
Starter Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3 Unit 4 Unit 5 Unit 6 Unit 7 Unit 8 Unit 9
10 22 34 46 58 70 84 94 106
12 24 35 47 59 71 88 96 107
16 28 36 48 60 72 90 98 108
18 33 38 54 62 73 93 110
21 39 57 67 75 114
40 117
42
45

INFORMATION EXCHANGE
Can follow short, simple directions.
Can ask and answer questions about themselves and other people, where they live, people they know, things they have.
Can indicate time by such phrases as next week, last Friday, in November, three o’clock.
Starter Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3 Unit 4 Unit 5 Unit 6 Unit 7 Unit 8 Unit 9
4 11 23 35 50 61 74 83 95 107
6 13 24 36 51 62 86 97 111
7 14 26 37 63 87 98
8 15 27 38 67 99
127 16 28 100
33 135

INTERVIEWING AND BEING INTERVIEWED

Can reply in an interview to simple direct questions, spoken very slowly and clearly, in direct non-idiomatic speech about
personal details.
Starter Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3 Unit 4 Unit 5 Unit 6 Unit 7 Unit 8 Unit 9
28 103 109
31

Overall Spoken Production

At A1, learners can produce simple, mainly isolated, phrases about people and places.

SUSTAINED MONOLOGUE: Describing Experience

Can describe themselves, what they do, and where they live.
Starter Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3 Unit 4 Unit 5 Unit 6 Unit 7 Unit 8 Unit 9
14 62 86 98
128 88

4 © Cambridge Universit y Press 2020

WRITING
At A1, learners can:
• use isolated phrases and sentences
• ask for or pass on personal details in written form

OVERALL WRITTEN PRODUCTION

Can write simple isolated words and phrases.
Starter Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3 Unit 4 Unit 5 Unit 6 Unit 7 Unit 8 Unit 9
4 11 23 35 47 60 71 83 97 107
5 12 24 36 49 61 73 84 99 109
6 13 25 37 50 62 75 85 100 110
7 14 26 38 56 63 79 86 125 111
8 15 27 39 121 66 80 87 112
127 16 28 40 131 68 123 88 114
17 29 43 122 133 93 115
18 30 44 132 124 116
19 31 130 134 126
20 32 136
118 33
129

CORRESPONDENCE
Can write a short, simple postcard, email, etc.
Starter Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3 Unit 4 Unit 5 Unit 6 Unit 7 Unit 8 Unit 9
9 17 101 113

CREATIVE WRITING
Can write simple phrases and sentences about themselves and imaginary people, where they live, and what they do.
Starter Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3 Unit 4 Unit 5 Unit 6 Unit 7 Unit 8 Unit 9
6 12 25 35 47 61 73 85 97 109
8 15 26 37 49 63 75 86 99 110
127 16 27 39 50 65 77 87 104 111
20 28 41 51 66 80 89 105
118 29 42 53 68 81 125
128 32 44 121
131

COHERENCE
Can link words or groups of words with basic linear connectors like and or then.
Starter Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3 Unit 4 Unit 5 Unit 6 Unit 7 Unit 8 Unit 9
9 41 53 77 101

© C a m b r i d g e U n i ve r s i t y P r e s s 2 0 2 0 5
COMMUNICATIVE LANGUAGE COMPETENCE

VOCABULARY RANGE
Has a basic vocabulary repertoire of isolated words and phrases related to particular concrete situations.
Starter Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3 Unit 4 Unit 5 Unit 6 Unit 7 Unit 8 Unit 9
4 11 23 35 47 59 71 83 95 107
5 14 26 38 50 62 72 86 98 110
7 16 28 40 52 64 74 88 100 112
127 19 32 43 56 66 76 91 104 114
20 119 44 121 68 80 92 125 115
118 129 120 131 69 123 124 135 116
128 130 122 133 134 126
132 136

GRAMMATICAL ACCURACY
Shows limited control of a few simple grammatical structures and sentence patterns in a learned repertoire.
Starter Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3 Unit 4 Unit 5 Unit 6 Unit 7 Unit 8 Unit 9
6 13 25 37 49 61 73 85 97 109
8 15 27 39 51 63 75 87 99 111
20 32 44 56 68 80 92 104 116
118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126

PHONOLOGICAL CONTROL
Pronunciation of learned words and phrases can be understood by expert speakers used to dealing with speakers of
their language group.
Starter Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3 Unit 4 Unit 5 Unit 6 Unit 7 Unit 8 Unit 9
4 11 23 35 47 59 71 83 95 107
7 14 26 38 50 62 74 86 98 110
141 141 141 141 142 142 142 142 142

SOCIOLINGUISTIC APPROPRIATENESS
Can establish basic social contact by using the simplest, everyday, polite forms of greetings and farewells; introductions;
saying please, thank you, sorry, etc.
Starter Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3 Unit 4 Unit 5 Unit 6 Unit 7 Unit 8 Unit 9
16 28 40 52 64 76 88 100 112

6 © Cambridge Universit y Press 2020

Part 3 How Each Unit of Shape It! Level 1 Relates to the CEFR

Starter
Skill Area Goal Page
Listening OVERALL LISTENING COMPREHENSION 4, 7
Reading READING CORRESPONDENCE 9
READING FOR INFORMATION AND ARGUMENT 5
Speaking GOAL-ORIENTED COOPERATION (e.g., repairing a car, 8
discussing a document, organizing an event)
INFORMATION EXCHANGE 4, 6, 7, 8, 127
Writing OVERALL WRITTEN PRODUCTION 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 127
CORRESPONDENCE 9
CREATIVE WRITING 6, 8, 127
COHERENCE 9
Communicative Language VOCABULARY RANGE 4, 5, 7, 127
Competence GRAMMATICAL ACCURACY 6, 8
PHONOLOGICAL CONTROL 4, 7

Unit 1
Skill Area Goal Page
Listening OVERALL LISTENING COMPREHENSION 10, 13 (video), 14, 15
(video), 16 (video), 18
(video)
Reading READING CORRESPONDENCE 17
READING FOR INFORMATION AND ARGUMENT 12, 18
Speaking CONVERSATION 10, 12, 16, 18, 21
GOAL-ORIENTED COOPERATION (e.g., repairing a car, 21
discussing a document, organizing an event)
INFORMATION EXCHANGE 11, 13, 14, 15, 16
SUSTAINED MONOLOGUE: Describing Experience 14, 128
Writing OVERALL WRITTEN PRODUCTION 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17,
18, 19, 20, 118
CORRESPONDENCE 17
CREATIVE WRITING 12, 15, 16, 20, 118, 128
Communicative Language VOCABULARY RANGE 11, 14, 16, 19, 20, 118, 128
Competence GRAMMATICAL ACCURACY 13, 15, 20, 118
PHONOLOGICAL CONTROL 11, 14, 141
SOCIOLINGUISTIC APPROPRIATENESS 16

© C a m b r i d g e U n i ve r s i t y P r e s s 2 0 2 0 7
Unit 2
Skill Area Goal Page
Listening OVERALL LISTENING COMPREHENSION 22 (video), 23, 25 (video),
26, 27 (video) 28, 28 (video)
Reading READING FOR INFORMATION AND ARGUMENT 24, 29, 30, 31, 33
Speaking CONVERSATION 22, 24, 28, 33
INFORMATION EXCHANGE 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 33
INTERVIEWING AND BEING INTERVIEWED 28, 31
Writing OVERALL WRITTEN PRODUCTION 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29,
30, 31, 32, 33, 129
CREATIVE WRITING 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 32
Communicative Language VOCABULARY RANGE 23, 26, 28, 32, 119, 129
Competence GRAMMATICAL ACCURACY 25, 27, 32, 119
PHONOLOGICAL CONTROL 23, 26, 141
SOCIOLINGUISTIC APPROPRIATENESS 28

Unit 3
Skill Area Goal Page
Listening OVERALL LISTENING COMPREHENSION 34 (video), 37 (video), 38, 39
(video), 40, 40 (video),
42 (video)
Reading READING FOR INFORMATION AND ARGUMENT 36, 41, 42
Speaking CONVERSATION 34, 35, 36, 38, 39, 40, 42, 45
GOAL-ORIENTED COOPERATION (e.g., repairing a car, 39, 40
discussing a document, organizing an event)
INFORMATION EXCHANGE 35, 36, 37, 38
Writing OVERALL WRITTEN PRODUCTION 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 43,
44, 130
CREATIVE WRITING 35, 37, 39, 41, 42, 44
COHERENCE 41
Communicative Language VOCABULARY RANGE 35, 38, 40, 43, 44, 120, 130
Competence GRAMMATICAL ACCURACY 37, 39, 44, 120
PHONOLOGICAL CONTROL 35, 38, 141
SOCIOLINGUISTIC APPROPRIATENESS 40

8 © Cambridge Universit y Press 2020

Unit 4
Skill Area Goal Page
Listening OVERALL LISTENING COMPREHENSION 46 (video), 49 (video), 50,
51 (video), 52, 52 (video)
Reading READING FOR ORIENTATION 54
READING FOR INFORMATION AND ARGUMENT 48, 53, 54
Speaking CONVERSATION 46, 47, 48, 54, 57
GOAL-ORIENTED COOPERATION (e.g., repairing a car, 55
discussing a document, organizing an event)
TRANSACTIONS TO OBTAIN GOODS AND SERVICES 52
INFORMATION EXCHANGE 50, 51
Writing OVERALL WRITTEN PRODUCTION 47, 49, 50, 56, 121, 131
CREATIVE WRITING 47, 49, 50, 51, 53, 121, 131
COHERENCE 53
Communicative Language VOCABULARY RANGE 47, 50, 52, 56, 121, 131
Competence GRAMMATICAL ACCURACY 49, 51, 56, 121
PHONOLOGICAL CONTROL 47, 50, 141
SOCIOLINGUISTIC APPROPRIATENESS 52

Unit 5
Skill Area Goal Page
Listening OVERALL LISTENING COMPREHENSION 58 (video), 61 (video), 62, 63
(video), 64, 64 (video),
66 (video)
Reading READING FOR INFORMATION AND ARGUMENT 60, 65, 66, 69
Speaking CONVERSATION 58, 59, 60, 62, 67
GOAL-ORIENTED COOPERATION (e.g., repairing a car, 69
discussing a document, organizing an event)
TRANSACTIONS TO OBTAIN GOODS AND SERVICES 64
INFORMATION EXCHANGE 61, 62, 63, 67
SUSTAINED MONOLOGUE: Describing Experience 62
Writing OVERALL WRITTEN PRODUCTION 60, 61, 62, 63, 66, 68, 122,
132
CREATIVE WRITING 61, 63, 65, 66, 68
Communicative Language VOCABULARY RANGE 59, 62, 64, 66, 68, 69, 122,
Competence 132
GRAMMATICAL ACCURACY 61, 63, 68, 122
PHONOLOGICAL CONTROL 59, 62, 142
SOCIOLINGUISTIC APPROPRIATENESS 64

© C a m b r i d g e U n i ve r s i t y P r e s s 2 0 2 0 9
 Unit 6
Skill Area Goal Page
Listening OVERALL LISTENING COMPREHENSION 70 (video), 73 (video), 74, 75
(video), 76, 76 (video)
Reading READING CORRESPONDENCE 81
READING FOR ORIENTATION 78
READING FOR INFORMATION AND ARGUMENT 72, 77, 78
Speaking CONVERSATION 70, 71, 72, 73, 75
GOAL-ORIENTED COOPERATION (e.g., repairing a car, 76, 79
discussing a document, organizing an event)
INFORMATION EXCHANGE 74
Writing OVERALL WRITTEN PRODUCTION 71, 73, 75, 79, 80, 123, 133
CREATIVE WRITING 73, 75, 77, 80, 81
COHERENCE 77
Communicative Language VOCABULARY RANGE 71, 72, 74, 76, 80, 123, 133
Competence GRAMMATICAL ACCURACY 73, 75, 80, 123
PHONOLOGICAL CONTROL 71, 74, 142
SOCIOLINGUISTIC APPROPRIATENESS 76

Unit 7
Skill Area Goal Page
Listening OVERALL LISTENING COMPREHENSION 82 (video), 85 (video), 86, 87
(video), 88, 88 (video),
90 (video)
Reading READING FOR INFORMATION AND ARGUMENT 84, 89, 90
Speaking CONVERSATION 84, 88, 90, 93
INFORMATION EXCHANGE 83, 86, 87
SUSTAINED MONOLOGUE: Describing Experience 86, 88
Writing OVERALL WRITTEN PRODUCTION 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 93,
124, 134
CREATIVE WRITING 85, 86, 87, 89
Communicative Language VOCABULARY RANGE 83, 86, 88, 91, 92, 124, 134
Competence GRAMMATICAL ACCURACY 85, 87, 92, 124
PHONOLOGICAL CONTROL 83, 86, 142
SOCIOLINGUISTIC APPROPRIATENESS 88

10 © C a m b r i d g e U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s 2 0 2 0
Unit 8
Skill Area Goal Page
Listening OVERALL LISTENING COMPREHENSION 94 (video), 97 (video), 98,
99 (video), 100, 100 (video),
102
Reading READING CORRESPONDENCE 101
READING FOR INFORMATION AND ARGUMENT 96, 102, 105
Speaking CONVERSATION 94, 96, 98
GOAL-ORIENTED COOPERATION (e.g., repairing a car, 105
discussing a document, organizing an event)
INFORMATION EXCHANGE 95, 97, 98, 99, 100, 135
INTERVIEWING AND BEING INTERVIEWED 103
SUSTAINED MONOLOGUE: Describing Experience 98
Writing OVERALL WRITTEN PRODUCTION 97, 99, 100, 125
CORRESPONDENCE 101
CREATIVE WRITING 97, 99, 104, 105, 125
COHERENCE 101
Communicative Language VOCABULARY RANGE 95, 98, 100, 104, 125, 135
Competence GRAMMATICAL ACCURACY 97, 99, 104, 125
PHONOLOGICAL CONTROL 95, 98, 142
SOCIOLINGUISTIC APPROPRIATENESS 100

Unit 9
Skill Area Goal Page
Listening OVERALL LISTENING COMPREHENSION 106 (video), 109 (video),
110, 111 (video), 112, 112
(video), 114 (video)
Reading READING CORRESPONDENCE 113, 117
READING FOR ORIENTATION 108, 114
READING FOR INFORMATION AND ARGUMENT 108, 114
Speaking CONVERSATION 106, 107, 108, 110, 114, 117
GOAL-ORIENTED COOPERATION (e.g., repairing a car, 112, 117
discussing a document, organizing an event)
INFORMATION EXCHANGE 107, 111
INTERVIEWING AND BEING INTERVIEWED 109
Writing OVERALL WRITTEN PRODUCTION 107, 109, 110, 111, 112,
114, 115, 116, 126, 136
CORRESPONDENCE 113
CREATIVE WRITING 109, 110, 111
Communicative Language VOCABULARY RANGE 107, 110, 112, 114, 115,
Competence 116, 126, 136
GRAMMATICAL ACCURACY 109, 111, 116, 126
PHONOLOGICAL CONTROL 107, 110, 142
SOCIOLINGUISTIC APPROPRIATENESS 112

© C a m b r i d g e U n i ve r s i t y P r e s s 2 0 2 0 11