Levels
Our levelling corresponds to the levels set out in the CEF (Common European Framework) for language learning. For the first time, the CEF has created a common standard of levelling for Europe’s main languages.
The framework specifies different ability levels for every language and is roughly divided as follows: A for beginners, B for intermediate levels, and C for advanced levels. If you are interested in finding out what level you are, why not take our language placement test?
Level A1: Beginners
Upon completion of this level, you can understand and use familiar every day expressions and very basic phrases. You can introduce yourself and others. You can also ask and answer questions about personal details, such as where you live, people you know, and things you have. You can interact in a simple way, provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help.
Level A2: Basic Beginner with Knowledge
You will be able to understand sentences and commonly used expressions associated with topics directly related to your daily routine (e.g. personal information or information about your family, shopping, work, immediate surroundings). You will be able to understand basic routine situations dealing with simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and common topics. You will also be able to describe your background and education, immediate surroundings and other things associated with immediate needs in a simple way.
Level B1: Pre-Intermediate
At the end of this level, you will be able to understand the main points of everyday topics regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc. You will be able to deal with most situations likely to arise whilst travelling in an area where the language is spoken.
You will produce conversation and phrases on topics which are familiar or of personal interest to you. You will describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes and ambitions, and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans. You will be ready for the Zertifikat Deutsch (ZD) exam.
Level B2: Intermediate
By the end of this level, you will be able to understand the main ideas of complex texts on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in your field of specialisation. You will interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for you or your conversation partner.
You can produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options. You will be ready for the Zertifikat Deutsch für den Beruf (ZD Beruf) exam.
Level C1: Upper Intermediate
You will understand a wide range of challenging, longer texts and also grasp implicit meanings. You will express spontaneously with high fluency and precision.You will use the language effectively and flexibly in your social and professional life or in your studies. You will make clear, structured and detailed statements on complex topics and apply various means of text association appropriately in the process. You should be able to pass the Zentrale Mittelstufenprüfung (ZMP) without trouble.
Level C2: Advanced
Reaching the end of this level you should have shown that you can easily understand virtually everything heard or read. You will summarise information from different spoken and written sources; and reconstruct arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation.
You will express yourself spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in more complex situations.
