Find your level on the CEFR scale, from A1 (beginner) to C2 (proficient). Answer 30 German questions that get harder as you go. We score grammar and vocabulary, pinpoint where your German starts to thin out, and show the fastest way to climb: reading real books.
The CEFR rates German ability on six levels, from A1 (beginner) through B1 and B2 (independent user) up to C2 (mastery). This free test estimates your German level from 30 grammar and vocabulary questions in about five minutes, then recommends what to read next.
Your estimated German level
B1
Whatever your level, you climb quicker by meeting German in real sentences, again and again. Lingo7 lets you read real books in German at your level, with tap-to-translate and native-narrated audio. Free to start.
The 30 questions are split evenly across the six CEFR levels (five at each of A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2) and ordered from easiest to hardest. Roughly half check grammar (verb forms, agreement, structure) and half check vocabulary (the right word in context), so the result reflects both.
Your level is the highest band where you stay above 60% correct. We climb from A1 upward and stop at the first level you can no longer hold. That ceiling is your estimate, because it reflects what you can do reliably, not a single lucky answer. The breakdown then shows your score at every level and your grammar-versus-vocabulary balance.
It's an estimate, not a certificate. What it's genuinely good at is showing where your German thins out, and that the surest way to push that ceiling higher is to keep reading at, and just above, your level.
German unlocks access to the largest economy in Europe and a rich literary tradition from Goethe to Kafka, plus major scientific and philosophical texts in the original language.
Now find the best German books for your level →
How many German words do you know? Take the vocabulary test →
How long does it take to learn German? See the timeline →
Wondering which language to learn next? Rank 50 languages by difficulty →
This free test estimates it on the CEFR scale (A1 to C2) in about five minutes. You answer 30 German questions that get harder as you go, covering grammar and vocabulary. Your level is the highest band where you keep answering correctly, so it reflects what you can reliably do, not your single best guess.
CEFR is the standard European scale. A1 and A2 are beginner and elementary: simple phrases and everyday basics. B1 and B2 are intermediate and upper-intermediate: holding conversations, then working and reading novels in the language. C1 and C2 are advanced and proficient: near-native command with full nuance. Most learners aiming to "use" a language are heading for B2.
It is a quick placement estimate, not an exam. Because it samples a handful of items per level it can land a half-step off, especially if your skills are uneven. Read it as a level and a profile: the grammar and vocabulary subscores and the per-level breakdown show exactly where your German starts to thin out, which is more useful than a single number.
No. Official CEFR certification comes from accredited exams such as the Goethe-Zertifikat or telc, which test all four skills under controlled conditions. This tool is a free self-assessment to point you at the right level and the fastest way to climb it.
Meet the language in real context, again and again. Once you are past the basics, extensive reading is one of the most efficient ways to climb, because it grows vocabulary and grammatical intuition at the same time. Lingo7 lets you read real books in German at your level with tap-to-translate and native-narrated audio.