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GOETHE INSTITUTE INTERNATIONAL PROFICIENCY CERTIFICATIONS

Sie möchten wissen, wie gut Ihre Deutschkenntnisse sind? Sie brauchen für Arbeit, Studium oder Visum ein Zertifikat oder Zeugnis? Am Goethe-Institut können Sie eine Vielzahl international anerkannter Prüfungen ablegen.


The Goethe-Institut issues six levels of skill and proficiency exams. Descriptions of these are as follows:

A1 Beginning German - Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and basic phrases. Can introduce oneself and others and can ask and answer questions about personal details such as where they live, people they know and things they have. Can interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help.

A2 Advanced Beginning German - Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions (e.g. basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment). Can communicate in situations requiring a simple and direct exchange of information. Can describe in simple terms aspects of one's background, environment and matters of immediate interest.

B1 Intermediate German - Can understand the main points in matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc. Can deal with most situations likely to arise while traveling in an area where the language is spoken. Can talk about topics which are familiar or of personal interest. Can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes & ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.

B2 Advanced Intermediate German - Can understand the main ideas in concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in their field of specialization. Can interact with native speakers without strain for either party. Can talk about a wide range of subjects and express a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.

C1 Advanced German - Can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognize implicit meaning. Can express themselves fluently and spontaneously. Can use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes. Can speak clearly and correctly on complex subjects, showing controlled use of organizational patterns, connectors and cohesive devices.

C2 Advanced German - Can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read. Can summarize information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation. Can express themselves spontaneously, fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in complex situations.


Miami University is currently certified to administer the Goethe-Zertifikat B2 Exam each year, usually in late March or early April. Notification of yearly exams are made through the German courses. You can also call the GREAL Department Office at (513) 529-2526 and ask for Dr. John Jeep for more information about the exam in February and early March. If you cannot make the test date or need to find another location, a list of test centers is available through the Goethe-Institut.