CEFR level test

What's your Swahili level?

Find your level on the CEFR scale, from A1 (beginner) to C2 (proficient). Answer 30 Swahili questions that get harder as you go. We score grammar and vocabulary, pinpoint where your Swahili starts to thin out, and show the fastest way to climb: reading real books.

Quick answer

The CEFR rates Swahili ability on six levels, from A1 (beginner) through B1 and B2 (independent user) up to C2 (mastery). This free test estimates your Swahili level from 30 grammar and vocabulary questions in about five minutes, then recommends what to read next.

1. Asha ___ Kiswahili shuleni kila siku.
2. Kila asubuhi ninakunywa ___.
3. Kiti hiki ni ___ sana.
4. Mama na baba ni ___ wangu.
5. Gari ___ ni jeupe.
6. Jana mimi ___ sokoni kununua matunda.
7. Nina njaa sana, kwa hiyo nataka ___.
8. Nyumba ___ ni kubwa na nzuri.
9. Kinyume cha neno 'kubwa' ni '___'.
10. Ninavaa ___ miguuni ninapotembea nje.
11. Mtoto alilia sana, kisha mama ___ haraka.
12. Sikufika kazini kwa wakati ___ gari langu liliharibika njiani.
13. Mtu ___ alikuja jana ni mwalimu wangu wa zamani.
14. Tafadhali ___ mlango, kuna upepo baridi unaingia.
15. Nilipoteza funguo zangu jana, lakini leo ___ tena.
16. Mwanasayansi alifanya ___ kadhaa maabarani ili kuthibitisha nadharia yake.
17. Serikali imechukua ___ kali za kupambana na rushwa.
18. Kama ningekuwa na pesa za kutosha, ___ gari jipya.
19. Kila mzazi anapaswa ___ watoto wake kwa upendo na subira.
20. Nyumba ile kubwa ___ na fundi maarufu mwaka jana.
21. Joto kali la jua ___ barafu yote iliyokuwa mezani ndani ya dakika chache.
22. Baada ya kufiwa na mama yake mpendwa, alibaki katika hali ya ___ kwa miezi mingi.
23. Tafadhali ___ mlango, mikono yangu imeshika mizigo mizito.
24. Licha ya kushinda tuzo nyingi, bado ni mtu ___; hajivuni hata kidogo.
25. Nimemngoja rafiki yangu kwa saa mbili, lakini bado ___ kufika.
26. Methali isemayo 'Haba na haba ___ kibaba' hutufundisha kuhusu uvumilivu.
27. Kama ungalisoma kwa bidii mwaka jana, ___ mtihani ule mgumu.
28. Katika hotuba rasmi, ni vyema kutumia neno '___' badala ya 'kufa' kwa heshima.
29. Mgeni ___ chakula kitamu na mwenyeji wake mkarimu.
30. Waziri huyo alishutumiwa kwa ___ baada ya kuchukua fedha za umma kwa manufaa yake binafsi.
30 questions ยท about 5 minutes ยท free, no sign-up

The fastest way up the CEFR scale in Swahili is reading

Whatever your level, you climb quicker by meeting Swahili in real sentences, again and again. Lingo7 lets you read real books in Swahili at your level, with tap-to-translate and native-narrated audio. Free to start.

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How this test estimates your level

The 30 questions are split evenly across the six CEFR levels (five at each of A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2) and ordered from easiest to hardest. Roughly half check grammar (verb forms, agreement, structure) and half check vocabulary (the right word in context), so the result reflects both.

Your level is the highest band where you stay above 60% correct. We climb from A1 upward and stop at the first level you can no longer hold. That ceiling is your estimate, because it reflects what you can do reliably, not a single lucky answer. The breakdown then shows your score at every level and your grammar-versus-vocabulary balance.

It's an estimate, not a certificate. What it's genuinely good at is showing where your Swahili thins out, and that the surest way to push that ceiling higher is to keep reading at, and just above, your level.

About learning Swahili

Swahili is Africa's most widely spoken language, serving as a lingua franca across East Africa with over 100 million speakers, and provides access to a rich literary tradition including Nobel Prize-worthy works from Ngugi wa Thiong'o's circle.

A1-C2CEFR levels this test covers
100Mspeakers worldwide
Niger-Congolanguage family

More free Swahili tools

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Now find the best Swahili books for your level →

How many Swahili words do you know? Take the vocabulary test →

How long does it take to learn Swahili? See the timeline →

Wondering which language to learn next? Rank 50 languages by difficulty →

Frequently asked questions

What is my Swahili level?

This free test estimates it on the CEFR scale (A1 to C2) in about five minutes. You answer 30 Swahili questions that get harder as you go, covering grammar and vocabulary. Your level is the highest band where you keep answering correctly, so it reflects what you can reliably do, not your single best guess.

What do the CEFR levels A1-C2 mean?

CEFR is the standard European scale. A1 and A2 are beginner and elementary: simple phrases and everyday basics. B1 and B2 are intermediate and upper-intermediate: holding conversations, then working and reading novels in the language. C1 and C2 are advanced and proficient: near-native command with full nuance. Most learners aiming to "use" a language are heading for B2.

How accurate is this Swahili level test?

It is a quick placement estimate, not an exam. Because it samples a handful of items per level it can land a half-step off, especially if your skills are uneven. Read it as a level and a profile: the grammar and vocabulary subscores and the per-level breakdown show exactly where your Swahili starts to thin out, which is more useful than a single number.

Is this an official Swahili certificate?

No. Official CEFR certification comes from accredited exams, which test all four skills under controlled conditions. This tool is a free self-assessment to point you at the right level and the fastest way to climb it.

How do I improve my Swahili level fastest?

Meet the language in real context, again and again. Once you are past the basics, extensive reading is one of the most efficient ways to climb, because it grows vocabulary and grammatical intuition at the same time. Lingo7 lets you read real books in Swahili at your level with tap-to-translate and native-narrated audio.