German levels: A1 · A2 · B1 · B2 · C1 · C2 · Overview
German A2 is the second CEFR level — still elementary, but a real step up from A1. At A2 you handle everyday routines and simple exchanges with more confidence.
What you can do at A2
- Understand sentences and common expressions about personal and family info, shopping, work and your surroundings.
- Communicate in simple, routine tasks and direct exchanges of information.
- Describe your background, immediate environment and needs in simple terms.
Who needs A2?
A2 is a stepping stone toward B1 and appears in some integration and residence steps. It is where German starts to feel genuinely usable in daily life.
What you learn at A2
Grammar: the perfect (spoken past) tense, modal verbs, the dative case, comparatives, separable verbs, and connectors like weil and dass.
Vocabulary and skills: health, travel, work, daily routines, directions, and describing people and places.
How long does A2 take?
Expect another 60–80 hours on top of A1 — roughly 4–6 months total from zero.
How to study for A2
Add regular reading and listening practice and keep speaking. Lock in the grammar with cases and verb conjugation.
The exam: Goethe-Zertifikat A2 (Start Deutsch 2)
The A2 exam builds on A1 with slightly longer tasks. Prepare with the Goethe exam guide.
Next: German B1
Ready for the big milestone? Continue to German B1, or see the levels overview.