How many words does a B2 speaker know?

There is no official number of English words you must know to be B2. One research reference places B2 at 3,250 to 3,750 on the XLex vocabulary scale, which measures knowledge within a list of 5,000 frequent items. That is a score within a limited vocabulary range, not a count of every word a B2 speaker knows. The source and its limits are explained below.

If you want a starting point for study, try our free vocabulary size test or browse the B2 vocabulary practice list. The test gives an informal estimate; it cannot certify your CEFR level.

Where the B2 vocabulary number comes from

James Milton and Thomaï Alexiou reproduce the following English reference ranges in Table 2 of their 2010 paper, Developing a vocabulary size test in Greek as a foreign language, citing their 2009 work. The table labels the measure XLex, maximum 5,000.

CEFR level	English XLex reference range, out of 5,000
A1	Below 1,500
A2	1,500 to 2,500
B1	2,750 to 3,250
B2	3,250 to 3,750
C1	3,750 to 4,500
C2	4,500 to 5,000

The authors describe these as indicative ranges, not absolute requirements. They also explain that tests limited to frequent vocabulary leave out words learners know beyond the tested range. The C2 row therefore does not mean that a proficient speaker knows only 5,000 words.

These research ranges are not the thresholds used by our web test. Its approximate study bands and sampling method are described in how the estimate works.

What B2 means in practice

The Council of Europe’s B2 description focuses on understanding complex material, sustaining conversation and explaining a position with reasons. It covers language use, including skills that a word-recognition checklist cannot test.

For example, recognising the vocabulary in an article about working from home is one task. Summarising the writer’s argument, explaining where you disagree and answering a follow-up question are further tasks. A vocabulary score does not show how well you can do those things.

If you need B2 for a course or job, check which assessment that institution accepts. Do not use a vocabulary estimate as an admission or exam result.

Why two vocabulary tests can give different numbers

Check the counting unit before comparing scores:

• Word forms count different forms separately, such as learn, learns and learned.
• Lemmas group a base word with its inflected forms.
• Word families can also group related derivations, such as learner; the exact grouping rules matter.

Tests also differ in the vocabulary they sample and what counts as knowing an item. Recognising a written word, explaining its meaning and producing it in conversation are different tasks. There is no fixed multiplier that converts a recognition score into the number of words you can use fluently.

A small example shows what a total misses. You may understand run in “run to the station” but still need to learn “run a business” or “run out of time”. Those uses matter even when they do not increase the number of entries you count as known.

Is there an official B2 English word list?

The CEFR itself does not prescribe an English vocabulary checklist. Resources such as the English Vocabulary Profile provide research-based guidance about what learners typically know. Annette Capel’s English Profile study explains why levels are assigned to individual meanings, rather than only to whole words.

Our A1 to C2 lists use our own study bands. They are practice selections, not copies of the English Vocabulary Profile or complete exam syllabuses. Knowing every entry on a list does not establish a CEFR level.

How to use a B2 list for practice

Start with a short section of the B2 list. Cover the definition and try to explain each word from its example. For a word you cannot explain, read the definition and write a sentence about something you actually do. Then check whether the same word has another common use.

For accomplish, for instance, you could write “I accomplished my main task before lunch.” Later, try to recall the word from “complete a task successfully” without looking at the answer. Treat this as a practice exercise, not evidence that the word belongs exclusively to B2.

Combine that work with reading, listening and conversation on topics you need. If an article is difficult, use the missing words and phrases to guide your next practice session instead of chasing a total alone.

Check your vocabulary, then keep practising

Our free browser test samples words from six study bands and includes invented words to flag overclaiming. It takes about two minutes and gives an informal estimate from a small sample. Answers and scores stay in your browser; no account is required.

For regular practice, the English Vocabulary Size Test Android app offers a review deck and illustrated exercises, including picture quizzes, listening and spelling. The core test is free; an optional upgrade adds full history and other features. Web answers are not transferred into the app.

For more on comparing estimates, read vocabulary size by age and counting method.