About us
Our goal is not to overload students with heavy grammar, turning them into philologists, but to teach a real, living language. The one you hear in a store, the one that allows you to communicate, meet people and clearly articulate your thoughts in a foreign language.
sales team
Levels of German Proficiency
13.08.2025
3 minutes to read
Are you learning German and confused about what A1, B2, C1 mean? It's simple: these are the CEFR levels. A1 is beginner — you learn basic phrases. A2 — you can already hold a simple conversation. B1 — enough for communication and daily life in Germany. B2 — required for work and study. C1 and C2 — almost native-level. Want to know your level? Take an online test. The key is not to chase letters, but to truly understand and speak. Levels are not the goal — they’re the journey. Learn with enjoyment!
Table of contents
- What CEFR Levels Are and Why They Matter
- Level A1 — Beginner
- Level A2 — Elementary
- Level B1 — Intermediate
- Level B2 — Upper-Intermediate
- Level C1 — Advanced
- Level C2 — Proficient
- How to Determine Your German Level
- Required Levels for Study, Work, and Permanent Residence
- Tips for Achieving Each Level & Resource Matching
CEFR is a system that helps you understand how good you are in a foreign language. Whether you're learning German, English, or French, the scale is the same. There are six levels: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, and C2.
A1 is when you're just starting — you know a few words and can say hello. C2 is when you understand the language like a native, read scientific texts, watch films without subtitles, and even crack jokes contextually.
Why does it matter? CEFR helps avoid confusion and shows what stage you're at. For example, if you're job-hunting in Germany, you might be told: “Minimum level B2 required”. Or if you want to enter a German university — they'll likely require C1.
This system is user-friendly for you, teachers, and employers. It’s like a map — showing where you are and where to go next. When preparing for exams, CEFR levels help too — textbooks, courses, and videos can match your level. Very convenient: no wasting time on too easy or too hard materials.
The best part? You can take a test and instantly know your level. That way, you'll understand what you can already do and what’s needed for the next step.
Plus, CEFR is motivational. It’s rewarding to see yourself grow: from A1 to B2, then to C1. The main thing: don’t chase letters — learn the language for yourself, and results will follow.
A1 is when you're just starting — you know a few words and can say hello. C2 is when you understand the language like a native, read scientific texts, watch films without subtitles, and even crack jokes contextually.
Why does it matter? CEFR helps avoid confusion and shows what stage you're at. For example, if you're job-hunting in Germany, you might be told: “Minimum level B2 required”. Or if you want to enter a German university — they'll likely require C1.
This system is user-friendly for you, teachers, and employers. It’s like a map — showing where you are and where to go next. When preparing for exams, CEFR levels help too — textbooks, courses, and videos can match your level. Very convenient: no wasting time on too easy or too hard materials.
The best part? You can take a test and instantly know your level. That way, you'll understand what you can already do and what’s needed for the next step.
Plus, CEFR is motivational. It’s rewarding to see yourself grow: from A1 to B2, then to C1. The main thing: don’t chase letters — learn the language for yourself, and results will follow.
What CEFR Levels Are and Why They Matter
Level A1 — Beginner
A1 is the very first step into German. At this level, you're getting to know the language: memorizing the alphabet, basic words, and simple phrases like “What’s your name?”, “I’m from Ukraine”, “I love pizza”. Everything is slow, simple, and repetitive — and that’s totally fine. The main thing is not to be afraid of sounding silly. A1 is like language infancy. You learn to listen, repeat, read short texts, and understand interactions in cafés or on the street. You can form short, simple sentences like “Ich bin Student” or “Ich wohne in Berlin”. You're not fluent yet, but you can manage basic needs in shops or hotels. This level builds the foundation for everything that follows. Like a game tutorial — you're given tools and taught how to use them. Without it, you can't level up.
Level A2 — Elementary
Moving from A1 to A2, things start to come alive. You can talk about where you live, your interests, or what you ate for breakfast. Vocabulary grows, phrases get longer — but still manageable. You begin to understand simple speech, announcements, slow dialogues, short videos. You start feeling the language. You can not only respond but ask questions in return. Reading gets more interesting — recipes, short articles, social media posts. You gain confidence. You can explain things in a pharmacy, buy a ticket, send a message to a friend. Mistakes happen, but you're in the game — that’s what matters. It’s like learning to ride a bike: shaky at first, but enjoyable once you get it. Don’t stop.
Level B1 — Intermediate
At B1, German moves from being just a subject to being a part of life. You don’t panic when spoken to in German. You speak roughly, sometimes slowly, but you can really communicate. You tell people about yourself, express opinions, describe scenarios. Freedom emerges. You understand subtitled films, read simple articles, understand instructions and menus.
At work or school, B1 is a plus. You can do internships, work in basic jobs, study language courses. You’re not a “beginner” anymore. Vocabulary and grammar are there — you build sentences, not repeat templates. Mistakes still occur, but they don’t hinder understanding. With B1, you can live in a German-speaking environment and feel confident — even if not local yet.
At work or school, B1 is a plus. You can do internships, work in basic jobs, study language courses. You’re not a “beginner” anymore. Vocabulary and grammar are there — you build sentences, not repeat templates. Mistakes still occur, but they don’t hinder understanding. With B1, you can live in a German-speaking environment and feel confident — even if not local yet.
Level B2 — Upper-Intermediate
B2 is when language becomes a tool. You don’t just understand — you confidently use German in daily life, work, and study. Your vocabulary is wide, your phrases are natural. You express thoughts, argue, explain complex ideas. You can read news and watch series without subtitles without feeling lost.
You catch jokes, perceive nuances, don’t freeze after questions. At this level, you can study at university, attend interviews, work with clients. You stop translating in your head — thinking in German is a thrill. Mistakes still happen, but minor and mostly nuanced. B2 is the shift from “struggling to speak” to “speaking freely”. The key is to use the language fully — you’re practically unstoppable now, just get used to the freedom.
You catch jokes, perceive nuances, don’t freeze after questions. At this level, you can study at university, attend interviews, work with clients. You stop translating in your head — thinking in German is a thrill. Mistakes still happen, but minor and mostly nuanced. B2 is the shift from “struggling to speak” to “speaking freely”. The key is to use the language fully — you’re practically unstoppable now, just get used to the freedom.
Level C1 — Advanced
At C1, you're like a fish in German water. You speak confidently, almost without hesitation, on any topic — politics or kitchen jokes. You understand TV, catch irony, read books and articles without a dictionary. It’s not just knowledge — it’s skill.
You can write letters, resumes, essays using complex structures. In study — no problems in German. In work — you're on par with locals, not a support actor. Of course, you still learn — language never finishes — but at C1, you sound solid. You can explain to others, email, negotiate. You not only understand — you influence. If words sometimes slip your mind, you adjust without panic.
You don’t translate in your head anymore. You live the language. It’s really another level.
You can write letters, resumes, essays using complex structures. In study — no problems in German. In work — you're on par with locals, not a support actor. Of course, you still learn — language never finishes — but at C1, you sound solid. You can explain to others, email, negotiate. You not only understand — you influence. If words sometimes slip your mind, you adjust without panic.
You don’t translate in your head anymore. You live the language. It’s really another level.
Level C2 — Proficient
C2 is when German becomes your second native. You don’t just speak — you sound native. No accents in your thoughts, nuance, wordplay. You can read classics, write articles, argue — effortlessly. It’s not about memorizing — it’s about feeling the language in your being.
At C2, you understand dialects, catch cultural references, don't freeze with fast or humorous speech. You adapt to your conversation partner, switching style from formal letters to memes as mood dictates.
Often required for those working with texts, teaching, or applying to serious university programs. But C2, in essence, is the freedom to be yourself in another language. You don’t try to speak correctly — you just speak. And it doesn’t matter where you learned it. What matters is that now it lives in you.
At C2, you understand dialects, catch cultural references, don't freeze with fast or humorous speech. You adapt to your conversation partner, switching style from formal letters to memes as mood dictates.
Often required for those working with texts, teaching, or applying to serious university programs. But C2, in essence, is the freedom to be yourself in another language. You don’t try to speak correctly — you just speak. And it doesn’t matter where you learned it. What matters is that now it lives in you.
How to Determine Your German Level
Sometimes you think you speak German well — then suddenly you can’t explain to a cashier that you need a bag. Or the opposite: you know just a few phrases, yet casually chat with a tourist.
To assess your level, evaluate how you use the language, not just how many words you know:
To assess your level, evaluate how you use the language, not just how many words you know:
- Able to talk about yourself, order food, understand simple speech — that’s A2.
- Reading articles and maintaining dialogue — closer to B1–B2.
- Confidently writing letters, watching films — that’s C1.
- Reading newspapers, joking, debating, adapting to situations — likely C2.
Required Levels for Study, Work, and Permanent Residence
Planning to study or move abroad? Language level is more than a checkbox — it’s your tool.
- For university: typically requires at least C1 — understand lectures, write assignments, participate in seminars — without a dictionary or panic.
- For jobs: varies by profession. In service or logistics roles, B1–B2 may suffice. For doctors, engineers, lawyers — C1 is essential. This level gives you freedom — you don’t just follow instructions, you grasp their essence.
- For permanent residence (PR), especially in Germany, you need to pass a B1 exam. Not as scary as it sounds. You just need to explain yourself, understand basic texts, talk about your life.
- Language is not a barrier — it’s a bridge. The higher your level, the easier settling into a new environment. You become confident, capable of addressing issues, feeling part of society. And that’s a real move, not just a change of address.
Tips for Achieving Each Level & Resource Matching
Each level is a new rung:
- A1: Use simple apps and videos with subtitles. Don’t chase grammar: listen, repeat, adapt.
- A2: You want to speak — join conversation clubs and listen to audio lessons.
- B1: Add grammar, read adapted books, start writing about yourself.
- B2: You can argue — so learn from life: read articles, watch interviews, chat.
- C1: Requires discipline — serious texts, academic vocabulary, essays. But the thrill: you understand almost everything.
- C2: It's about style. Read journalism, discuss deep topics, work on nuance.
- Level is not a goal — it's the journey.
This website uses cookies to give you the best possible experience.
