German B2: test, examples and what you can do at B2
Last checked: 25.10.2026
German B2 is the upper level of independent language use on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). At B2 you understand longer texts with arguments, follow technical discussions in your field and talk spontaneously without searching for words for long.
You receive your result and certificate after purchase (from €14.99). Taking the test costs nothing.
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In short
B2 · Upper intermediate. The CEFR describes B2 as the level at which you understand the main ideas of complex texts on concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in your own field. You speak fluently enough that a conversation with native speakers works without strain for either side, and you can explain and support a point of view.
What you can do at B2
Listening
- You follow a news programme or a podcast about politics or business and can then summarise the main positions.
- In a team meeting you also understand objections and side remarks, as long as standard German is spoken.
Reading
- You read a newspaper comment and recognise which opinion the author holds and how it is justified.
- You understand an employment contract or house rules well enough to ask about the points that are unclear.
Speaking
- In a job interview you explain why you want to change jobs and respond to follow-up questions.
- You discuss the pros and cons of a solution with colleagues and suggest a compromise.
Writing
- You write a complaint to a landlord with the facts, a deadline and what you expect.
- You write a short project report with results and open points.
Typical grammar and vocabulary at B2
These topics come up again and again at B2. In our test, 9 of the 50 questions are at B2; most of them check grammar and vocabulary like this.
Grammar
- Passive in all tenses, also with modal verbs: „Der Antrag muss bis Freitag eingereicht werden.“
- Subjunctive II for suggestions, conditions and polite requests: „Wenn wir früher anfangen würden, …“
- Relative clauses with genitive and prepositions: „die Firma, deren Angebot …“, „das Thema, über das …“
- Two-part connectors: „je … desto“, „sowohl … als auch“, „entweder … oder“, „zwar … aber“
- Nominal style in reports: „die Einführung des Systems“ instead of „das System wird eingeführt“
- Infinitive clauses with „um … zu“, „ohne … zu“, „anstatt … zu“
Vocabulary
- Work and applications: working conditions, further training, notice period
- Society and media: survey, development, consequences
- Housing and contracts: utility costs, defects, deadlines
- Phrases for arguing: „Einerseits …, andererseits …“, „Ich halte das für …, weil …“
Three sample questions at B2
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
Die Wohnung, ___ Fenster zum Park zeigen, ist leider schon vermietet.
- die
- deren
- dessen
- denen
Show answer
B „deren“: “Die Wohnung” is feminine and the relative clause expresses possession, so the genitive “deren” is needed.
Task 2
Der Antrag muss bis Freitag ___ werden.
- einreichen
- eingereicht
- einzureichen
- reichte ein
Show answer
B „eingereicht“: Passive with a modal verb: past participle + “werden” in the infinitive: muss eingereicht werden (must be submitted).
Task 3
„Die neue Regelung ist nicht unumstritten.“ Was bedeutet der Satz?
- Alle finden die Regelung gut.
- Es gibt Kritik an der Regelung.
- Die Regelung ist noch nicht beschlossen.
- Niemand kennt die Regelung.
Show answer
B „Es gibt Kritik an der Regelung.“: “Nicht unumstritten” is a double negative and means that there is disagreement or criticism. Cautious wording like this is typical of newspaper texts at B2.
Do you have B2? A quick self-check
Test your level
The placement test has 50 questions from A1 to C2, 9 of them at B2. It measures grammar, vocabulary, reading and listening: 20 grammar, 14 vocabulary, 8 reading and 8 listening questions. B2 is the result for 60 to under 75 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 B2 exams
If an employer, an authority or a university asks for proof of B2, you need the certificate of an official exam. Common ones are:
- Goethe-Zertifikat B2
- telc Deutsch B2
- ÖSD Zertifikat B2
- telc Deutsch B1∙B2 Pflege (for nurses and care workers)
- ÖSD Zertifikat B2 / Pflege und medizinische Berufe (for nursing and medical professions)
- 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.
Where is B2 required?
Many employers expect B2 for jobs with a lot of contact with customers or colleagues. In nursing and healthcare, B2 is often the basis for professional recognition, and there are special exams such as telc Deutsch B1∙B2 Pflege. The responsible body decides which exam counts.
For studying in German, B2 is usually not enough; universities generally require proof at C1. A secure B2 is the step before that.
How long does it take to get from B1 to B2?
There is no official figure for the step from B1 to B2. For comparison: the general integration course of Germany’s Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) includes 600 teaching units of language course to get from the basics to B1. The step to B2 is shorter than that whole route but more demanding, because vocabulary and sentence structure grow considerably.
How long you need depends mostly on how much you listen, read and speak. People who use German every day at work or in daily life usually progress faster than with a course alone. „B1 or B2?“ shows with examples what changes between the two levels.
Questions about B2
I understand almost everything but speak slowly. Am I B2 yet?
Possibly in understanding, but not necessarily in speaking. Exams assess all four skills. Our test measures grammar, vocabulary, reading and listening; if you reach B2 there, focused speaking practice before an exam is worth it.
Is my B2 result from the test enough for a job application?
You can state the result and attach the certificate with its verification ID. Whether it is enough is up to the employer. Professional recognition requires an official exam.
Which B2 exam suits me?
General exams are the Goethe-Zertifikat B2, telc Deutsch B2 and the ÖSD Zertifikat B2. There are special exams for nursing. Ask the institution that wants proof which exams it accepts.
How many B2 questions does the test include?
Nine, plus questions from A1 to B1 and above. B2 is the result for 60 to under 75 percent correct answers across the whole test.
What if the test shows B1 although my course is called B2?
Course levels and test results measure different things. A course is named after the level it aims for; the test shows what you master securely today. The report shows how close you are to B2.
What does the B2 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.
Neighbouring levels and further reading
One level below: German B1. One level above: German C1. All levels at a glance: German levels A1 to C2. What the certificate shows: German certificate online.
- A1Beginner
- A2Elementary
- B1Intermediate
- B2Upper intermediate
- C1Advanced
- C2Proficiency
Sources
- Global scale: Common Reference Levels (Europarat)
- 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)