LingardHow the German test works
Everything in the test is in German, and nothing is translated. You’ll get three types of questions: choosing what a word or phrase means in context, filling in a blank, and reading a short text to answer a question about it. Then the cycle repeats.
Every three questions, the test adapts. It decides whether to keep you at the current level, move you up, or drop you down, ensuring you spend most of your time answering questions suited to your actual skill level. It finishes after 12 to 21 questions once a consistent level is identified. If you land on the border between two levels, you’ll be assigned the lower one.
What it checks in German
In the earlier levels, you’ll read simple messages, invitations, and notices. You’ll fill in blanks to test verb endings, the use of kein, and verb placement in subordinate clauses. By the B1 level, you’ll see words like seit and obwohl, verbs with fixed prepositions like sich freuen auf, and texts where you need to identify the writer’s opinion or the main purpose of a message.
From B2 onwards, the test focuses on what makes written German challenging: noun-verb phrases, genitive prepositions like angesichts, and connectors like gleichwohl. At the C2 level, you’ll encounter idioms and advanced vocabulary typically found in essays and critiques. Keep in mind that the test only measures reading, vocabulary, and grammar in context. It does not cover speaking, listening, or writing.
What the six levels mean
- A1 · Beginners
- You can understand familiar names, common words, and very simple sentences, such as signs, notes, or short messages.
- A2 · Pre-intermediate
- You can read short, simple texts and find the information you need in everyday materials like ads, menus, timetables, and short personal letters.
- B1 · Intermediate
- You can understand texts written in everyday language about familiar subjects, as well as descriptions of events, feelings, and wishes in personal letters and simple stories.
- B2 · Upper-intermediate
- You can read articles and reports on current issues where the writer takes a clear position, and you can read contemporary fiction.
- C1 · Advanced
- You can understand long, complex factual and literary texts and notice differences in style, even outside your own field.
- C2 · Proficiency
- You can read practically anything with ease, including abstract and demanding texts like specialized articles and complex literary works.
What to read at your level
Reading at the right level makes a huge difference in German, because long sentences stop feeling like a puzzle once you know the vocabulary. In Lingard’s library, A2 features everyday dialogues and brief grammar notes, while B1 offers summaries and retellings like Harry Potter und der Stein der Weisen. B2 unlocks unabridged books, starting with shorter works like Krambambuli (under 4,000 words) and moving on to classics like Kafka’s Die Verwandlung. You can tap any word to see its explanation and save it for later review.
Questions about the test
- Is the test free?
- Yes. You don’t need an account or an email address, and you’ll see your level as soon as you finish the last question.
- How long does it take?
- The test consists of 12 to 21 questions and has no time limit. It usually takes about 12 minutes to complete.
- Is the result an official certificate?
- No. It provides an estimate of your reading level on the CEFR scale based on vocabulary, grammar in context, and reading comprehension. It doesn’t test speaking, listening, or writing, and it does not replace a formal language exam.
- Can I take it again?
- Yes, as often as you like. The questions are pulled from a larger pool, so your next attempt will not be a repeat of the first.