Which German level do I need? A1 to C1 explained

A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 — these codes decide whether you get a training place, whether your visa is extended, and whether your application is read at all. They come from the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and mean the same thing across Europe. A B1 earned in Dortmund is the same B1 as one earned in Lisbon.

The six levels, one line each

• A1 — the beginning. You introduce yourself, ask for directions, order food. You understand slow, clear sentences on familiar topics.
• A2 — everyday life. Shopping, a doctor’s appointment, forms with help. You can describe your family, your work and where you come from.
• B1 — independent. You manage daily life in Germany without someone alongside you, follow conversations about work and school, and can give reasons for your opinion. This is the level asked for most often.
• B2 — working life. You follow a technical discussion, write structured texts and negotiate. For many apprenticeships and most care professions, B2 is the entry ticket.
• C1 — study and leadership. You handle long, demanding texts, express yourself precisely, and notice your own mistakes.
• C2 — near-native. Rarely required in practice.

Who asks for what?

The short answer: always check with whoever will read the certificate — the embassy, the university, the employer or the professional chamber. Requirements change, and they differ by federal state and by profession. As rough orientation:

• Spouse reunification: usually A1
• Naturalisation: usually B1
• Dual vocational training: mostly B1 to B2, depending on the trade
• Nursing and healthcare: often B2, frequently with a specialist language exam
• Study at a German university: usually C1 (DSH or TestDaF)

How long does one level take?

On an intensive course we reckon on roughly eight weeks per level with four mornings a week. That is a realistic average, not a promise: if you have already learned a second foreign language you will often move faster, and if you work full time alongside the course you will need longer. More honest than any number of weeks is the question of how much you practise between class days.

Not sure where you stand?

That is the normal case, especially if you have picked up German partly in class and partly in daily life — listening and writing are often two levels apart. Our free placement test takes about 30 minutes and tells you which course will leave you neither bored nor lost. A badly chosen level is the most common reason people abandon a course.

You can see every level with dates and prices on our German intensive courses page.