Teaching levels

Levels, methods and coursebooks for the 2025/2026 school year. We establish the level of the group on the basis of a placement test and a short conversation — you do not have to work out which group to join on your own.

The tables scroll sideways on smaller screens.

English — children and teenagers

Children (years 0–6)

Year / ageLevelDirect Method (DM)Traditional method (TM)
0-1 yr/6-7 yrsEarly StartersDirect Kids First Touch of EnglishFootprints 1
2 yr/8-9 yrsStartersDirect Kids 1Footprints 2
3yr/9-10 yrsEarly MoversDirect Kids 2Footprints 3
4 yr/ 10-11 yrsMovers (A1)Direct Kids 3Footprints 4/ English Time 2
5 yr/11-12 yrsEarly FlyersDirect Kids 4Smash 1
6 yr/12-13 yrsFlyers (A2 –KET)Direct Kids 5Smash 2

Teenagers (years 7–8 and secondary school)

Year / ageLevelDirect Method (DM)Traditional method (TM)
7-8 yr/13-14 yrsBreakthrough (A1)Direct Method for Teens 1 (Stages 1 & 2)Laser A1/Smash 3
Waystage User (A2) -KETDirect Method for Teens 2 (Stages 3 & 4)Laser A2/ Smash 4
Early Treshold User (B11)Direct Method for Teens 3 (Stages 5 & 6)Laser B1
1 – 4 LO (15-19 yrs)Treshold User (B12) – PETDirect Method for Teens 4/ Direct Method for English 4 (Stages 7& 8)*Laser B1+
Early Independent User (B21)Direct Method for Teens 5/
Direct Method for English 5 (Stages 9 & 10)*
Laser B2
Independent User (B2) – FCEDirect Method for Teens 6/
Direct Method for English 6
(Stages 11 & 12)*
Ready for FCE

The coursebook is chosen by the teacher leading the group.

Adult courses — levels of language proficiency (English)

Level (Common European Framework)LevelDirect Method (DM)Traditional method (TM)Points system (points needed to pass the year)*Qualifying points from the test
A1Beginner (A0)
Beginner
Direct Method for English 1 (Stage 1)Total English Starter/ Total English Elementary0-300 (180)1-10
Elementary (A1)
Elementary
Direct Method for English 1 (Stage 2)11-22
A2Lower Pre-intermediate (A21)
Lower pre-intermediate
Direct Method for English 2 (Stage 3)Total English
Pre-Intermediate
0-300 (180)23-34
Pre-intermediate (A22) – KET Pre-intermediateDirect Method for English 2 (Stage 4)35-46
B1 Lower Intermediate (B11)
Lower intermediate
Direct Method for English 3 (Stages 5&6)Total English Intermediate0-300 (180)Stage 5 (47-58) Stage 6 (59-70)
Intermediate (B12) – PET
Intermediate
Direct Method for English 4 (Stages 7&8)Stage 7 (71-82) Stage 8 (83-94)
B2Upper- Intermediate (B21)
Pre-FCE
Direct Method for English 5 (Stages 9&10)New English File Upper-Intermediate
Ready for FCE
0-300 (180)Stage 9 (95-100)
FCE (B22)Direct Method for English 6 (Stages 11&12)powyżej 100
C1Early Advanced (C11)
Lower advanced
Direct Advanced 1Ready for Advanced0-300 (180) 
Advanced (C12)
Advanced
Direct Advanced 2 
C2Proficiency (C2) Focus on proficiency0-300 (180) 

Points system: the figure in brackets is the number of points needed to pass the year.

Exam and specialist groups

ExamLevelHours per yearTraditional method (TM)Points system (points needed to pass the year)
Matura, standard level
Matura, extended level
Intermediate (B1)
Upper-Intermediate (B2)
100
100
Exam coursebook0-300 (180)
FCEUpper-Intermediate (B2)120Exam coursebook (Ready for FCE)0-300 (180)
CAEAdvanced (C1)120Exam coursebook (Ready for Advanced)0-300 (180)
CPEProficiency (C2)120Exam coursebook0-300 (180)
BECVantage (B2)120/112
120/112
Market Leader Upper-Intermediate0-300 (180)
Higher (C1)Market Leader Advanced
LawB1
B2
120/112
120/112
International Legal English0-300 (180)
Business EnglishUpper-Intermediate (B2) – Advanced (C1) Market Leader Upper-Intermediate/Advanced
Direct Business
0-300 (180)

Not sure what your level is?

Take the placement test online — the result comes to us and we will call you back with a suggested group and class times.

Take the placement test See our courses

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