Which skills are assessed in a LILATE and how do they relate to the CECRL?
The LILATE® (Live Language Test) is more than just a language test: it is a comprehensive evaluation of your ability to work in a foreign language, interacting with native speakers. This unique test focuses on a 60-minute immersive experience, where a native-speaking evaluator assesses your linguistic skills, both oral and written.
Our goal is to certify not only your language level according to CEFR standards but also, and most importantly, your operational ability to communicate and work effectively in a multilingual professional environment. The LILATE® is the ideal tool for recruiters and HR departments wishing to precisely understand a candidate's or employee's ability to thrive in an international context.
Language skills assessed during the LILATE
The LILATE comprehensively and immersively evaluates essential language skills in an international professional context. The language skills assessed are:
- Conversation (Live Interaction)
- Reading and Listening comprehension
- Speaking and Writing expression
The LILATE stands out for its focus on live conversation, which is crucial in a professional setting. Beyond this authentic interaction with native speakers, the LILATE also evaluates reading and listening comprehension, as well as speaking and writing expression. This comprehensive approach ensures an accurate assessment of the linguistic skills necessary in the workplace.
CECRL Levels
Obtaining the certification of operational competence in a foreign language is possible starting from level B1. Candidates below B1 will receive a level certificate.
Not fit to work in the assessed language | Fit to work in the assessed language |
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A0 - Beginner | B1 - Intermediate |
A1 - Elementary | B2 - Advanced |
A2 - Pre-intermediate | C1 - Proficient |
| C2 - Mastery |
At the end of the LILATE, you will receive a global CEFR level as well as a detailed report of your professional skills.
Grid of professional skills assessed
1. Welcoming and Identifying
A0 | A1 | A2 | B1 | B2 | C1 | C2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No skills assessed | No skills assessed | No skills assessed | Understand and follow explanations about the identity and request of your interlocutor | Adapt your register to your interlocutor | Ask and provide additional clarifications on abstract and complex questions | Present, from different perspectives, information, instructions, or guidelines, clearly distinguishing your own ideas and opinions from those of professional sources |
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| Communicate in the context of a routine task, through simple and direct information exchange | Identify direct or indirect references to events, people, and institutions | Shift effortlessly between formal and informal registers | Identify and express nuances in exchanges |
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| Receive information and messages to appreciate the request of your interlocutor | Recognize and understand cultural references in exchanges | Adopt the necessary narrative to consider and maintain distance regarding a reported issue |
2. Collecting and Reformulating
A0 | A1 | A2 | B1 | B2 | C1 | C2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No skills assessed | No skills assessed | No skills assessed | Ask questions to ensure your interlocutor understands what you mean | Raise/ask questions that elicit responses with differing viewpoints | Collect specific instructions, guidelines, wishes, recommendations, etc. | Understand abstract concepts, e.g., in scientific, medical, social, cultural fields, referring to the appropriate context |
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| Paraphrase to clarify or conform a request | Understand a structured presentation and use the points that seem important to react, reformulate, and make a proposal to your interlocutor | Reformulate, evaluate, or even contest the statements of an interlocutor on topics concerning your professional field | Understand complex information on various subjects, ask questions to clarify its meaning, and reformulate to explain what it's about |
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| Identify misunderstandings or disagreements and adjust your communication accordingly | Address a problem encountered by your interlocutor by proposing one or more solutions | Understand technical information in a familiar field and use the information, ideas, or opinions it contains | Present a complex, unfamiliar action or information to your interlocutor in a simple and understandable manner |
3. Transmitting
A0 | A1 | A2 | B1 | B2 | C1 | C2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No skills assessed | No skills assessed | No skills assessed | Summarize a set of factual information on topics in your professional field | Transcribe information, an argumentation, methodically, highlighting important points and relevant details supporting them | Clearly and well-structuredly present complex subjects, emphasizing relevant key points | Present, from different perspectives, information, instructions, or guidelines, clearly distinguishing your own ideas and opinions from those of professional sources |
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| Transmit a series of information or instructions, stated clearly and slowly | Develop an argumentation by explaining the advantages and disadvantages of different options | Make a relevant comparison with examples, circumstances known to the recipient, to facilitate common understanding of a situation | Anticipate and effectively manage potential misunderstandings (including cultural), communication problems, and emotional reactions during an exchange |
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| Give and follow simple directives and instructions, and assist if necessary in formulations with a colleague/collaborator or a collective work group | Clarify misunderstandings by asking questions or requesting additional information | Recognize misunderstandings and disagreements and help resolve them. |
4. Consulting and Assisting
A0 | A1 | A2 | B1 | B2 | C1 | C2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No skills assessed | No skills assessed | No skills assessed | Capture the main information in an English description, if necessary by listening to it several times | Identify the content and relevance of new information, a written text, on a range of professional subjects | Understand a wide range of oral presentations/texts, and identify subtle details | Grasp an intervention in English on complex subjects requiring extensive expertise |
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| Understand information, instructions, or guidelines presented in a clear and organized manner | Explain information, events, or experiences and contextualize them within their professional field of interest | Easily grasp specific information, whether or not it relates to their area of expertise | Follow a specialized lecture or presentation using unfamiliar terminology |
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| Read documents in English or listen to audio messages and understand the general meaning without focusing on details | Understand specific terms and idiomatic expressions in registers familiar to them | Identify opinions, emotions, and attitudes | Comprehend complex texts, appreciating subtle distinctions of style and both implicit and explicit meaning |
You can consult the competencies assessed during a LILATE LSF at the following link:👉 LILATE LSF
Updated on: 16/09/2025
Thank you!