You may have heard of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, or CEFR for short. It is quite a mouthful, but it is the standard way of measuring language levels across Europe and well beyond. Employers, universities, embassies and exam boards all use it, and so do I when I plan lessons. So which level is your German, and what does each level mean in practice?

Three bands, six levels

The framework has three bands, each split into two levels: basic users (A1 and A2), independent users (B1 and B2) and proficient users (C1 and C2). The official descriptions are published by the Council of Europe. In plain terms:

Beginner user: A1 and A2

At A1 you understand and use familiar everyday expressions and essential phrases. You can introduce yourself and others and ask and answer questions about personal details, such as where you live and work, people you know and things you have. You can hold a simple conversation, provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help.

At A2 you understand sentences and frequently used expressions about everyday matters, such as personal and family information, shopping, your local area and work. You can handle simple, routine exchanges of information and describe your background and immediate surroundings in simple terms. Not bad for starters!

Independent user: B1 and B2

At B1 you understand the main points when people speak clearly about familiar matters at work, at home or in your free time. You can deal with most situations that arise when travelling in a German-speaking country, write simple connected text on familiar topics, describe experiences, hopes and plans, and briefly explain your opinions.

At B2 you understand the main ideas of complex texts on concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in your own field. You can talk with native speakers with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular conversation possible without strain on either side. You can write clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and set out the advantages and disadvantages of different options.

Proficient user: C1 and C2

These levels take several years of study. At C1 you understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts and pick up implicit meaning. You express yourself fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for words, and you use the language flexibly for social, academic and professional purposes. You write clear, well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects.

At C2 you understand virtually everything you hear or read with ease. You can summarise information from different spoken and written sources and present arguments coherently. You express yourself spontaneously, fluently and precisely, drawing out finer shades of meaning even in complex situations.

What each level means at work

The official descriptions are deliberately general. Most of my students learn German for work, so this is how the levels tend to translate into working life:

A1 and A2: you can greet German-speaking colleagues and clients, introduce yourself, make small talk at the start of a meeting and get by on a business trip. Even at this level, the effort is noticed and appreciated.
B1: you can follow a meeting on a familiar topic when people speak clearly, take part in straightforward exchanges, handle routine phone calls and write simple emails. B1 is also the level often required for German citizenship and some visas.
B2: German becomes a working language rather than a courtesy. You can contribute to meetings in your field, put forward and defend a view, and write detailed emails and short reports. This is where getting the tone right matters, as my post on Konjunktiv II in German business emails shows.
C1: you can present, negotiate and handle difficult questions, read complex documents and pick up what is meant as well as what is said.
C2: near-native precision. Few professionals need it, but it suits roles where German is the main working language or where written German must be flawless.

How long each level takes

There is no single answer, because it depends on the time you invest, your commitment and your aptitude. In How long does it take to learn German? I set out realistic timelines: roughly three months to A1, five months to A2 and around a year to B1, with regular lessons and study in between. For a longer view of learning German as an adult, see Sprint or marathon?

How to find out your level

The quickest way is an assessment with a tutor. I start every course by finding out where you stand and what you need German for, then plan lessons around it, so you always know which level you are working towards.

For a first indication, take the free German placement test. It covers every level from A1 to C2, and your result arrives by email.

If you need formal proof, for a visa, citizenship or an employer, the Goethe-Institut exams cover every level from Goethe-Zertifikat A1: Start Deutsch 1 to Goethe-Zertifikat C2: Großes deutsches Sprachdiplom, and are recognised worldwide. My post on the B1 German course and exam explains what the B1 exam involves and how to prepare.

The framework today

The Council of Europe updated the framework in 2020 with a Companion Volume. It adds descriptions for a Pre-A1 stage, strengthens the in-between “plus” levels such as B1+ and B2+, and covers skills the original did not describe in detail, such as online interaction and mediation: passing on what was said in one language to someone who speaks another. For anyone who relays what was agreed in a German meeting to English-speaking colleagues, that is a very familiar task.

Whichever level you are at today, private German lessons in London or online German lessons help you reach the next one. Get in touch to discuss where you stand and where you want to be.