B2 at a glance
B2 reading level in numbers
| Also called | Upper intermediate |
|---|---|
| Known words* | 3,250–3,750 of the most common words |
| Cambridge exam | B2 First (FCE) |
| IELTS | 5.5–6.5 |
| TOEFL | 72–94 (iBT) |
* Milton (2010), measured on the 5,000 most common English words. CEFR itself does not define word counts. IELTS from Cambridge English, TOEFL from ETS.
What you can read at B2
- Most modern novels and young adult fiction, without a dictionary for the plot.
- Newspaper and magazine articles, including opinion pieces.
- Many original classics, such as Dracula and Little Women, with a dictionary for detail.
- Most TV dramas and sitcoms with English subtitles, and easier ones without.
What is still hard
- Nineteenth-century style: long sentences, formal words, and implied meaning (Austen, Brontë).
- Rare descriptive words for nature, the sea, clothing, and old jobs.
- Fast talk shows and comedies built on wordplay, like Gilmore Girls.
Classic books for B2 readers
We measured the full original text of 24 classics. The percentage is how many of the book’s words a B2 reader knows. About 98% feels comfortable; at 95% you look something up in every paragraph (why 98% matters).
Good fit at B2
- Alice in Wonderland97.6% known at B2 · Strong B1 to B2
- Peter Pan97.0% known at B2 · Strong B1 to B2
- The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes97.9% known at B2 · Strong B1 to B2
- The Time Machine97.5% known at B2 · B2 (strong B1 with support)
- Dracula97.6% known at B2 · B2
- Little Women97.2% known at B2 · B2
A stretch, with a dictionary
- Treasure Island97.2% known at B2 · Upper B2
- The Secret Garden96.8% known at B2 · Upper B2
- Tom Sawyer96.5% known at B2 · Upper B2
- Anne of Green Gables95.7% known at B2 · Upper B2
- A Christmas Carol95.9% known at B2 · Upper B2
- The Call of the Wild95.9% known at B2 · Upper B2
- The Great Gatsby96.5% known at B2 · Upper B2 to C1
- Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde96.8% known at B2 · Upper B2 to C1
Names and rare word forms count as unknown here, so real comfort is a little higher. Style matters too: Emma has the most known words of all 24 books but is still hard because of its irony.
TV shows for B2 learners
Measured from English subtitles. Speed matters as much as vocabulary when you watch.
- Stranger Things97.7% known at B2 · 159 words per minute
- Breaking Bad97.5% known at B2 · 131 words per minute
- Game of Thrones97.8% known at B2 · 138 words per minute
- How I Met Your Mother96.9% known at B2 · 157 words per minute
- Modern Family96.9% known at B2 · 173 words per minute
- Sherlock98.0% known at B2 · 151 words per minute
- The Big Bang Theory96.9% known at B2 · 154 words per minute
- Brooklyn Nine-Nine96.7% known at B2 · 179 words per minute
B2 words you will meet in books
A few examples from our B2 vocabulary list:
- astute clever at understanding situations and people
- insolent rude and disrespectful
- considerate thinking about other people’s feelings
- hesitant slow to act or speak because you are unsure
- meticulous very careful about every small detail
- submissive always obeying others
