Cambridge Assessment English (CAE) is a suite of exams which takes students from a very basic level to an advanced level in English language proficiency. The most basic level is Starters (Young Learners English – YLE) and is targeted at pre-A1 level, while the highest level for schools is the First for Schools which is benchmarked at Level B2 of the CEFR.
The CEFR (Common European Framework of References for Languages) is a European benchmark for language proficiency ranging from A1 (Beginner) to C2 (Proficient).
The definitions are:
A1 – A2: Basic user
B1 – B2: Independent user
C1 – C2: Proficient user