German Language Levels
CEFR: Common European Framework of Reference
Do you want to start learning German but have no idea where to start, or what each of the German Language Levels mean? Here, we have them explained. At DAS Akademie, all our German language courses are structured in line with the CEFR – Common European Framework of Reference, which means that you can present your language skills across Europe with a highly recognised learning scheme. According to CEFR, there are 6 levels to the German language.
A1.1
☑️ Speak and understand basic and everyday expressions.
☑️ Introduce yourself and talk about other basic details such as nationality.
A1.2
☑️ Express more basic details such as where you live.
☑️ Understand most language provided that the other person speaks slowly and clearly
and is prepared to help.
A2.1
☑️ Understand common and familiar sentences which refer to simple details such as grocery shopping, the local geography and what you do for a living.
A2.2
☑️ Communicate simple matters in a direct exchange and deal appropriately with common situations such as being in the supermarket or at the bakery.
B1.1
☑️ Easily manage to communicate with others in situations which are most likely to occur.
B1.2
☑️ Express simple themes such as where you live in a more complex and structured way.
☑️ Explain more complex themes such as ambitions and dreams. Therefore, a good level of use of the conditional, past tense and other tenses is to be expected.
B2.1
☑️ Understand both simple and abstract texts in your field of specialisation.
☑️ Give advantages and disadvantages of a topical issue.
B2.2
☑️ Communicate with locals and native-speakers with a certain degree of fluency and little restriction.
C1.1
☑️ Understand a range of longer and more complex texts.
☑️ Express ideas fluently without having to search for expressions.
C1.2
☑️ Use language flexibly for academic and social purposes.
☑️ Produce clear and grammatically correct texts with the use of connectors and complex structures.
C2.1
☑️ Listen to and understand almost all spoken language.
☑️ Summarise information from spoken or written sources and relay information accurately.
C2.2
☑️ Express yourself fluently and precisely and be able to understand fine details in complex structures.
How do I find out which German Language Level I am?
If you already have existing knowledge of a language and would like to further develop your skills, we invite you to complete a free placement test which is made up of a multiple-choice section and a short, informal verbal section, in which you will be asked a few general questions in your target language. After this, we will determine which level of German language you are at, and which of our upcoming courses will suit you best. Even if you cannot see your desired level on our upcoming courses list, we will always be able to accommodate you, even if that means starting a course just for you.
If you’d like to start learning German from a beginner (A1.1) level, you can start at the beginning of each month! Please note that any level above C1.2 requires more than just language lessons. To achieve the C2 German language level, you will need to spend time in Germany and experience the language in real-life situations, rather than just in the classroom. Therefore, at first, we can only accept bookings from A1.1 to C1.2. If, however, you have spent some time in Berlin or elsewhere and would still like to boost your German level, we would be more than happy to welcome you back!
*If you are interested in learning a language from scratch, or if you already have existing knowledge, simply look at all the necessary details of our German language courses in Berlin.