The National Curriculum and teaching of English in the Swedish school system is adapted to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment (CEFR). In Swedish it is referred to as Gemensam Europeisk referensram för språk (GERS). It can be discerned in the curriculum for English in Swedish grundskola and in Curriculum for the upper secondary school.
Swedish version / version suédoise : Gemensam europeisk referensram för språk : lärande, undervisningoch bedömning, Skolverket, 2007, ISBN : 978-91-85545-50-6, www.skolverket.se.
In Common European Framework of Reference for Languages ger Europarådet en översikt över språkfärdigheter i de sex nivåerna A1 – C2. Denna globala skala kan användas framför allt för att informera t.ex. föräldrar, beslutsfattare eller representanter för näringslivet (Den globala skalan).
The CEFR organises language proficiency in six levels, A1 to C2, which can be regrouped into three broad levels: Basic User, Independent User and Proficient User, and that can be further subdivided according to the needs of the local context. The levels are defined through ‘can-do’ descriptors. The levels did not suddenly appear from nowhere in 2001, but were a development over a period of time, as described below (from CEFR levels described).
These levels are described and delimited, as in Qualitative aspects of spoken language use. The Swedish National Agency for Education clarifies how the European framework and national curricula are aligned in the dokument ”Om ämnet Engelska”, where there is very clear figure (see above) illustrating the levels and alignment. Wikipedia has a clear description of the levels as well.
The education systems in the European Union are autonomous, but for languages there is the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, which comes into effect as well. in Swedish this becomes evident in the curricula but also in the construction of National Tests; see Relating Language Examinations to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment (CEFR). A Manual.