It certifies that candidates have acquired extremely advanced language skills and corresponds to the sixth level (C2) on the six-level scale of competence laid down in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
C2 (Upper Advanced/Fluent)
Your mastery at the C2 level lets you produce and understand highly complex German. This is close to native-level German fluency. Even accents from different parts of the German-speaking world don't throw you off.
The German language has 6 CEFR levels – starting with A1 (absolute beginner), and ending with C2 (completely fluent).
The C2 level exam: Think “very hard” & multiply that by a thousand. The Common European Framework of References for Languages level C2 is one of the hardest possible examinations you can do in any language.
C2 – Advanced - German Near-Native / Highest assessment of all 6 CEFR levels.
C1 Advanced is targeted at the C1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), while C2 is targeted at the C2 CEFR level. C2 Proficiency is therefore the more difficult of the two exams.
For level C2 you need a vocabulary of around 5,000 German words. To learn this, you need an average of about 80 hours with 17 Minute Languages, if you have no previous knowledge.
English level C2 is the sixth and final level of English in the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), a definition of different language levels written by the Council of Europe. In everyday speech, this level might be called “bilingual”, as in “I am bilingual in English and French.”
How Long Does It Take To Learn German C2? To reach the C2 level, you should have studied German for at least 750 hours, but it might take up to 3 years.
A C2 Proficiency qualification shows the world that you have mastered English to an exceptional level. It proves you can communicate with the fluency and sophistication of a highly competent English speaker.
6 months, taking the intensive course, or - if you want to invest less time - ca. 4 months taking the super intensive course.
An example of beyond-C2-level English is academic English. Academic English requires a different level of formality, longer and complex sentences, and is sometimes filled with jargon (vocabulary specific to a particular field of research).
The candidate's overall score is averaged from the individual scores for each skill (Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking) and for Use of English. C2 Proficiency is targeted at CEFR Level C2, but also provides reliable assessment at the level below C2 (Level C1).
These levels are classified as A1 for beginners, A2 for elementary, B1 for intermediate, B2 for upper intermediate, C1 as advanced, and C2 as mastery.
C1 level German is considered advanced and shows the holder has full control of German grammar and vocabulary. The only higher CEFR level is C2, which even native German speakers can struggle to reach.
The Level C1 in German requires a very high language level and is therefore correspondingly difficult. For many students, the C1 level in German is a great challenge. However, there are also many resources to prepare for the exam. With the right motivation and the will to pass the exam, anyone can pass the C1 level!
Language Levels: CEFR
In the minds of many, this is a good measure of fluency. Someone holding C2 level would have an active vocabulary of 10,000 and a passive vocabulary of around 20,000. That's in line with what information shows is the average for a native speaker to know.
Depending on the German federal state, level B1 or B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is required. German for your spouse: Are you entering Germany with your spouse, who will work in Germany?
Across multiple sources, Mandarin Chinese is the number one language listed as the most challenging to learn. The Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center puts Mandarin in Category IV, which is the list of the most difficult languages to learn for English speakers.
The Goethe-Institut certificate (Zertifikat) is recognised worldwide as a German language certification, and can be used in Germany for visa, residence permit and citizenship applications, as well as for university entrance requirements.
The relevant levels of language ability according to the Common European Framework of Reference are C2, C1, and B2, with C2 being the hardest, and B2 the easiest. So "Goethe-Zertifikat C 2 (Goethe)" is the hardest. "DSH-3" is the upper end of C1, and is next in line. "TELC Deutsch C1 Hochschule" is equivalent to this.
German Abitur (higher school-leaving certificate)/DIAP
The German Abitur or the “German International Abitur” (Deutsche Internationale Abiturprüfung – DIAP) provides you with direct access to German universities: your school-leaving certificate is recognised as equivalent in Germany.