German A2 test: do you have the A2 level?
Last checked: 25.10.2026
German A2 is the second level of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) and belongs to basic language use. At A2 you handle simple routine situations in everyday life on your own: shopping, making an appointment, asking the way, talking briefly about yourself.
You receive your result and certificate after purchase (from €14.99). Taking the test costs nothing.
Verification ID and QR code · Instantly as a PDF · No subscription
In short
A2 · Elementary. The CEFR describes A2 as the level at which you understand sentences and frequent expressions about areas that concern you directly: family, shopping, work, your neighbourhood. You communicate in simple, routine situations that need a direct exchange of information on familiar matters.
What you can do at A2
Listening
- At the bakery or the checkout you understand the price and whether you want a bag.
- You understand a short voicemail in which an appointment is moved.
Reading
- You find the next connection on a timetable and what a dish contains on a menu.
- You understand a short email from colleagues about times or a room.
Speaking
- You make a doctor’s appointment and say when you are free.
- You say in simple sentences where you live, what you do for work and what you did at the weekend.
Writing
- You write a short message that you will be late and give the reason.
- You fill in a form with your address, date of birth and job.
Typical grammar and vocabulary at A2
These topics come up again and again at A2. In our test, 9 of the 50 questions are at A2; most of them check grammar and vocabulary like this.
Grammar
- Perfect tense with „haben“ and „sein“: „Ich habe gearbeitet“, „Ich bin gefahren“
- Modal verbs in present and simple past: „Ich musste warten“, „Wir wollten kommen“
- Clauses with „weil“ and „dass“ in simple sentences
- Dative after prepositions such as „mit“, „bei“, „nach“, „von“: „mit dem Bus“, „beim Arzt“
- Comparative and superlative: „größer“, „am besten“
- Separable verbs: „Ich rufe morgen an“
Vocabulary
- Everyday life: shopping, prices, opening hours
- Health: appointments, pain, pharmacy
- Housing: room, rent, neighbours
- Work and leisure: job, working hours, hobbies
Three sample questions at A2
They are not taken from our test, but they show the kind of German that counts at this level. The tasks are in German.
Task 1
Gestern ___ ich mit meiner Schwester ins Kino gegangen.
- habe
- bin
- war
- hatte
Show answer
B „bin“: Verbs of movement such as “gehen” form the perfect tense with “sein”: Ich bin gegangen.
Task 2
Ich kaufe das Geschenk ___ meinen Bruder.
- für
- mit
- bei
- von
Show answer
A „für“: “Für” takes the accusative and says who something is meant for: für meinen Bruder (for my brother).
Task 3
Lesen Sie den Aushang: „Die Praxis ist vom 2. bis 6. Juni geschlossen. In dringenden Fällen rufen Sie bitte Dr. Weber an.“ Was sollen Patienten in dieser Zeit tun?
- Am 2. Juni in die Praxis kommen.
- Bei Dr. Weber anrufen, wenn es dringend ist.
- Eine E-Mail an die Praxis schreiben.
- Bis zum 2. Juni warten.
Show answer
B „Bei Dr. Weber anrufen, wenn es dringend ist.“: The notice names Dr Weber for urgent cases. At A2 you understand short notices and signs from everyday life.
Do you have A2? A quick self-check
Test your level
The placement test has 50 questions from A1 to C2, 9 of them at A2. It measures grammar, vocabulary, reading and listening: 20 grammar, 14 vocabulary, 8 reading and 8 listening questions. A2 is the result for 30 to under 45 percent correct answers across the whole test. How the result is calculated is explained in the methodology (German).
You receive your result and certificate after purchase (from €14.99). Taking the test costs nothing.
Official A2 exams
If an employer, an authority or a university asks for proof of A2, you need the certificate of an official exam. Common ones are:
- Goethe-Zertifikat A2
- Goethe-Zertifikat A2: Fit in Deutsch (for teenagers)
- Start Deutsch 2 / telc Deutsch A2
- ÖSD Zertifikat A2
- Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer (DTZ) (final exam of the integration course; result A2 or B1)
- Goethe-Test PRO (adaptive test by the Goethe-Institut, result between A1 and C2)
Which exam counts is decided by the institution that asks for proof. Ask before you register.
Why A2 matters
A2 is the level at which daily life works without constant help. In the integration course, A2 is an intermediate goal: the Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer at the end of the course shows A2 or B1.
For many goals in Germany, such as citizenship, A2 is not enough; B1 is required. So it pays to keep learning straight after A2.
How long does it take to get from A1 to A2?
The BAMF does not give a figure for A2 alone. The general integration course leads from the basics to B1 in 600 teaching units; A2 lies roughly halfway along that route. How quickly you get there depends on how many hours you study per week and how often you use German in daily life.
If you already speak a related language such as English or Dutch, vocabulary often comes faster.
Questions about A2
I understand a lot but do not dare to speak. Am I A2?
Perhaps in understanding. Exams assess speaking separately. Our test measures grammar, vocabulary, reading and listening; if you reach A2 there, regular speaking helps more than more grammar exercises.
How many A2 questions does the test include?
Nine. A2 is the result for 30 to under 45 percent correct answers across the whole test.
Which A2 exams are there?
For example the Goethe-Zertifikat A2, Start Deutsch 2 / telc Deutsch A2 and the ÖSD Zertifikat A2. The Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer shows A2 or B1.
What comes after A2?
B1. There you manage familiar situations without help, including at work, and can briefly explain experiences and opinions.
What does the A2 test cost?
The test itself is free and you start without signing up. Your result and the certificate with a verification ID are unlocked after purchase, from €14.99. There is no subscription.
Can I prove A2 with the certificate?
The certificate is a placement result with a verification ID: it shows the level you reached in our test, and anyone can check it online. Whether that is enough is decided by whoever you show it to. Authorities and universities usually require an exam such as Goethe, telc or ÖSD.
Neighbouring levels and further reading
One level below: German A1. One level above: German B1. All levels at a glance: German levels A1 to C2. What the certificate shows: German certificate online.
Sources
- Global scale: Common Reference Levels (Europarat)
- Abschlussprüfung des Integrationskurses (Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge (BAMF))
- Deutschprüfungen (Goethe-Institut)
- telc Deutsch-Prüfungen (telc gGmbH)
- Österreichisches Sprachdiplom Deutsch (ÖSD)
- Integrationskurs: Inhalt und Ablauf (integration course) (BAMF)
Last checked: 25.10.2026 · Written by the Deutschniveau editorial team · Editorial policy (German)