🇩🇪 German level test
Free German level test: find your real level by speaking
Quick answer
The SpeakBase German level test is a free 3-minute spoken conversation in German with an AI tutor, graded on the CEFR scale from A1 to C1, the same scale as the Goethe-Zertifikat. You speak, Kate adjusts the difficulty, and you get your level and tips in English at the end. No download, no card.
Most online German tests are multiple choice, so they measure reading and guessing. This one measures the thing you actually want: whether you can hold a German conversation. You talk with Kate for about three minutes, she raises the difficulty until you start to struggle, and you get a CEFR level (A1 to C1) with specific tips in English on what to fix first.
3 minutes · free · no card · in your browser
What the test sounds like
Kate opens easy and adapts to you. A typical three minutes moves through prompts like these, in German:
- Tell me about your job or your studies.
- You are at a bakery in Berlin. Order breakfast and ask if you can pay by card.
- Why do you want to learn German, and what would you do in Germany?
If you are stuck, say so in English. Kate explains and moves on; struggling near the end is normal and is exactly what tells the grader where your ceiling is.
What the levels mean in German
| Level | What you can do |
|---|---|
| A1 to A2 | Introduce yourself, order, shop, ask directions, talk about your day in the present tense. |
| B1 | Talk about the past with the Perfekt, handle a landlord, a doctor or an office, give reasons with 'weil'. |
| B2 and above | Follow fast native speech, argue in a meeting, get articles and cases right without stopping to think. |
What you get at the end
- Your CEFR level, from A1 to C1, based on the hardest questions you handled.
- Scores for fluency, vocabulary, grammar and interaction.
- Up to three concrete tips in English on what to fix first.
- A recap of your mistakes with the corrected phrases, saved for review.
The test is your first free lesson. After it, you can keep practising German with Kate every day for $11.99 a month, billed in US dollars, and retake the test every few weeks to watch your level move.
Frequently asked questions
Is the result the same as a Goethe-Zertifikat level?
It uses the same CEFR scale (A1 to C1) that the Goethe-Zertifikat and telc exams use, so you know which exam level you are near. It is a 3-minute placement, not a certificate.
Do I need any German to take the test?
No. If you only know 'hallo', the test finds that out gently and places you at A1. Kate speaks slowly and explains in English when you are stuck.
What is in the result?
Your CEFR level, scores for fluency, vocabulary, grammar and interaction, and up to three tips in English on what to fix first, such as a case after a preposition or where the verb goes.
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3 minutes · free · no card · works in your browser