Information about the designations A1 & Co
The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, or GER for short, ensures a uniform classification that is understandable for all course providers. The levels are structured as follows:
Level A comprises basic language skills:
A1 - Beginner
A2 - basic knowledge
Level B means advanced language skills:
B1 - Advanced language use
B2 - Independent language application
Level C marks a competent language acquisition:
C1 - Business fluent language level
C2 - Approximately native language level
The levels of the Common European Framework of Reference (GER)
A1 (Elementary 1) Learners can understand and use familiar, everyday expressions and very simple sentences aimed at satisfying specific needs. You can introduce yourself and others and ask other people questions about yourself and answer questions of this kind. You can communicate easily when the other party speaks slowly and clearly and is ready to help. You can write short texts and have acquired basic grammar knowledge. Your vocabulary is about 500 words.
A2 (Elementary 2) Learners can understand sentences and frequently used expressions that are related to areas of very immediate importance (e.g. information about the person and family, shopping, work, immediate surroundings). You can communicate in simple, routine situations that involve an easy and direct exchange of information about familiar and familiar things. You can use simple means to describe your origin and education, your immediate surroundings and things related to immediate needs, verbally and in writing. You have differentiated grammar skills. Your vocabulary is approximately 1100 words.
B1 (Elementary Level 3) Learners can understand the main points when using clear standard language and when it is about familiar things from work, school, leisure, etc. You can cope with most situations encountered when traveling in the language area. You can express yourself in a simple and coherent manner on familiar topics and personal areas of interest, as well as report on experiences and events, describe dreams, hopes and goals, and give brief reasons or explanations for plans and views. They understand more complex grammatical relationships and have a vocabulary of around 1800 words.
B2 (Intermediate 1) Learners can understand the main content of complex texts on concrete and abstract topics, as well as specialist discussions in their own specialty. You can communicate so spontaneously and fluently that a normal conversation with native speakers is possible without much effort on both sides. Learners can express themselves clearly and in detail on a wide range of topics, explain a point of view on a current question and state the advantages and disadvantages of various options. You have all the essential grammar knowledge of the target language. You can understand and produce text types from the field of general education and record the content of more specific text types. Your vocabulary is approximately 2600 words.
C1 (Intermediate 2) Learners can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts and can also grasp implicit meanings. You can express yourself fluently and spontaneously without having to search for words more clearly. You can use the language effectively and flexibly in social and professional life or in training and studies and express yourself in a clear, structured and detailed manner on complex issues, using various means of text linking appropriately. You have extensive and detailed grammar knowledge of the target language and can use it in your own texts. You can record and produce structured, complex and special texts. Your vocabulary is approximately 3500 words.
C2 (advanced level) Learners can easily understand practically everything they read or hear. You can summarize information from various written and oral sources and give reasons and explanations in a coherent representation. They can express themselves spontaneously, very fluently and precisely and make finer shades of meaning clear even in more complex situations. You can directly record and produce written, complex and structured texts in terms of content and style. Your vocabulary is at least 5000 words.
The vocabulary of the German standard language comprises approx. 75,000 words, the total size of the German vocabulary is estimated at 300,000 to 500,000 words or lexemes, depending on the source and the way of counting.