B2: the level that actually opens doors

Of the six CEFR levels, B2 is the one that appears on job adverts and university entry pages. It is the point at which you stop translating in your head and start simply using the language, and it is a realistic target rather than an aspiration.

What B2 actually means

At B2 you can follow a normal conversation between two native speakers, read an article on a familiar subject without a dictionary, and argue a point rather than just state one. You still make mistakes; they simply stop getting in the way.

How long it takes

It usually takes somewhere between five and six hundred hours of study from zero, though anyone whose first language is Germanic or Romance tends to arrive sooner. Counting in hours rather than months is the honest way to plan it.

Why this is the level to aim for

B2 is the usual bar for an English-taught degree, for a skilled work visa in several countries, and for most international jobs that list "fluent English". C1 is rarely demanded outside translation, medicine and law, so B2 is where the effort pays best.

What it is worth in exam scores

On the exams, B2 is roughly IELTS 5.5 to 6.5, TOEFL iBT 72 to 94, or Cambridge B2 First. If an employer asks for "B2" without naming a test, any of those will normally satisfy them - check before you pay, because the fees are not small.