Build language tests your evaluators align to the CEFR
Paliero supports the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) as a level reference system that your evaluators apply, in French or English. Closed questions are scored automatically. Productive skills are assessed by your trained evaluators using CEFR descriptors and their professional judgment.
What is the Common European Framework of Reference?
The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages — CEFR — is an international standard for describing language proficiency, developed by the Council of Europe and published in its current form in the CEFR Companion Volume (2020). It defines six levels of proficiency from A1 (beginner) through C2 (mastery), across the four main communicative skills: listening comprehension, reading comprehension, spoken production, and written production.
The CEFR is used worldwide by language schools, universities, ministries of education, immigration agencies, and employers to describe and compare language ability. In Canada, the CEFR is widely used alongside the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) for English assessment and the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) for French assessment — and Paliero supports all three frameworks.
Important distinction: The CEFR is a descriptive framework, not a test. There is no single official "CEFR test." Certified examinations like DELF/DALF, Cambridge English exams, or TCF/TEF align candidate performance with CEFR levels through structured assessment protocols. Paliero is not a certification body and does not issue CEFR-certified results. It is a platform that allows trained evaluators to create their own assessments in French or English and assign CEFR levels based on their professional judgment.
The six CEFR levels
Paliero supports the full CEFR scale from A1 to C2, plus the commonly used sub-levels (A2.1, A2.2, B1.1, B1.2, B2.1, B2.2) for organizations that need finer-grained placement decisions.
How CEFR alignment works in Paliero
Paliero supports CEFR alignment as a deliberate workflow — not as an automated calculation. The trained evaluator remains in charge.
Test creation
When evaluators create a new test, they select CEFR as the reference framework. Paliero's grading interface and final report will then display the standard CEFR levels. The test can be in French or in English — the framework works equally for both.
Question authoring
Evaluators write the questions themselves, using their expertise to calibrate question difficulty against CEFR descriptors. Paliero provides the structure (11 question types, including audio playback and recording) but does not impose pre-calibrated content.
Test delivery
Candidates complete the test in their browser. Closed questions are scored automatically based on the correct answers defined at creation. Productive responses (audio recordings, written texts) are stored for human grading.
Manual grading and CEFR level assignment
Evaluators access the grading dashboard, listen to audio recordings, read written productions, and assign the CEFR level based on their professional judgment of the candidate's overall performance. Paliero provides the level options; the evaluator makes the call.
Reporting
The final report shows the CEFR level assigned per skill (listening, reading, speaking, writing) — not a single overall score. Each skill is independent because, in real language proficiency, a candidate may be B2 in reading but A2 in speaking.
CEFR, CLB, and NCLC
Canadian language assessment uses three main frameworks. Paliero supports all three because Canadian institutions often need to work across them.
CEFR
6 levels (A1–C2). International standard developed by the Council of Europe. Used worldwide for academic, professional, and certification contexts. The most widely recognized framework in international education.
CLB
12 levels (CLB 1–12). Canadian standard for English as a Second Language. Maintained by the CCLB. Used by IRCC, settlement organizations, and Canadian colleges for adult ESL programs.
NCLC
12 levels (NCLC 1–12). Canadian standard for French as a Second Language. The French counterpart of the CLB, also maintained by the CCLB. Used by IRCC for French-language pathways.
A Canadian institution might need CEFR for an academic program, CLB for an IRCC-funded ESL course, and NCLC for an IRCC-funded FSL course — all within the same organization. Paliero lets each test use its own framework.
CEFR assessment questions
Does Paliero issue official CEFR-certified results?
Can I use CEFR sub-levels (A2.1, A2.2, etc.)?
Does Paliero automatically calculate the CEFR level from the candidate's responses?
Can I create CEFR tests in both French and English?
Build CEFR assessments that respect your evaluators' expertise
Create your first CEFR-aligned test, or schedule a call to discuss CEFR assessment for your institution.