Every French or German proficiency test uses the same European scale, the CEFR: A1 and A2 (basic), B1 and B2 (independent), C1 and C2 (proficient). Universities and employers ask for a level, not for a number of years of study. Knowing what each level contains tells you exactly what to practise next.
What each level means
- A1: greetings, numbers, family and home, articles and gender, the present tense of everyday verbs, simple questions and negation.
- A2: the past (passé composé / Perfekt), adjectives and comparison, prepositions and directions, shopping, food and travel vocabulary.
- B1: telling a story in the past (imparfait / Präteritum), the future and the conditional, pronouns and relative clauses, reading a clear everyday text.
- B2: the subjunctive (French) or Konjunktiv I and II (German), the passive, reported speech, connectors and building an argument.
- C1: academic vocabulary and nuance, register and idioms, writing and speaking clearly about complex topics.
Which certificates exist
- French: DELF (A1–B2) and DALF (C1–C2), which do not expire, and the TCF, which places you on a level and is valid for a limited time.
- German: Goethe-Zertifikat (A1–C2), TestDaF (for university admission) and telc.
- Many universities ask for B2 or C1. Always check the exact certificate and score on the university's own page.
Do not skip a level. Most B2 mistakes are A2 grammar used wrongly: gender, agreement, word order and the past tense.
How to practise each level
- Take a short mixed test first to find your real level. Your weakest unit is your starting point.
- Practise grammar in sentences, not in tables. Write one sentence of your own for each rule you get wrong.
- From B1 upwards, read one short text a day and answer questions on it.
- Before a certificate exam, do full timed mock exams so the format holds no surprises.
How EXAMEV helps
EXAMEV has a French bank with 1,138 questions and a German bank with 1,232, each in eight units from A1 to C1 plus writing and speaking tasks, every question with an explanation. French also has separate A1, A2, B1, B2 and C1 banks, and German has separate A1 and A2 banks, so you can practise only your level. These banks are practice for the language. They are not the official DELF, Goethe or TestDaF exams.