Levels A1–C2
German Language Courses and Exams
Basic User
A1
- Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type.
- Can introduce him/herself and others and can ask and answer questions about everyday matters, such as people and places, and formulate standard requests and invitations.
- Can interact in a simple way and understand familiar terms provided the other person addresses him/her directly and talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to repeat things.
A2
- Can communicate in routine situations requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters, such as descriptions of people, background or work conditions, daily routines, likes or dislikes.
- Can describe in simple terms the immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need.
- Can understand expressions and words related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. personal and family information, shopping, work, local environment).
Independent User
B1
- Has the language skills required to deal with everyday situations likely to arise at work, school or in leisure settings.
- Can exchange, verify and confirm information, deal with less routine situations and explain why something is problematic.
- Can easily provide descriptions or reports on a range of familiar topics that are of personal interest, e.g. describe their own experiences, feelings and reactions or dreams, hopes and ambitions.
- Can express opinions about subjects relating to everyday life using simple expressions and briefly give reasons and short explanations for opinions.
B2
- Can provide clear, detailed descriptions and statements about a wide range of subjects that are of personal interest, elaborate on ideas and support a viewpoint with subordinate points and relevant examples.
- Can explain a viewpoint on a problem giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options and build the argument logically.
- Can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers possible without strain for either party.
- Can understand differently structured, longer texts provided difficult passages can be read several times.
Proficient User
C1
- Can use language effectively and flexibly for personal, academic and professional purposes.
- Can express him/herself fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions.
- Can describe and present complex subjects clearly and in detail, include subordinate subjects and elaborate on specific points, using different means to connect ideas in a text.
- Can understand longer, complex texts, even if they are not within his/her own field of specialisation, provided that difficult passages can be read several times.
C2
- Can express him/herself spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in more complex situations. Understands idiomatic and colloquial expressions and their connotations.
- Can produce clear, fluent, complex text in an appropriate style with a logical structure that helps readers identify key points.
- Can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read.
- Can understand a wide range of long, demanding texts, recognising subtle stylistic differences and implicit meaning.