If you want to reach C1 level of proficiency in German, you'll need an active vocabulary of at least 5,000 words.
If B2 is what many consider “fluent,” then C1 is fluency with increased nuance and understanding. At C1, you can understand subtle jokes in the language, and express yourself with colorful native phrases. When you reach C1, you should have a working vocabulary of about 8000 words – almost double that of B2!
In terms of grammar, learners at this level can use a wide range of verb tenses and sentence structures. They make very few mistakes. In terms of vocabulary, C1 level learners know around 5,000 words. This means that they can understand and use a wide range of words in both written and spoken English.
A C1 level speaker can also be considered as someone who is a fluent speaker of the language. They will have no problem speaking, reading, writing and understanding the language and don't really need to take pauses to think while they are speaking.
The basis for the calculations is a huge databank collecte from a pool of factual and literary texts in the equivalent of 40,000 books. But the latest edition of Duden gets along with 145,000 keywords. And the average speaker uses only 12,000 to 16,000 words in their vocabulary.
With consistent practice, mastering the language will most likely take a couple of years. To be fluent in German, a speaker must know approximately 10,000 words. Learning words out of context can be challenging. You can get by with just words if you don't require lessons.
How many German language levels are there? The German language has 6 CEFR levels – starting with A1 (absolute beginner), and ending with C2 (completely fluent).
SKILLS AT LEVEL C1
He/she can express him/herself fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for the right expression.
The main difference between the two tests is the level of English that they allow you to achieve. C1 Advanced is targeted at the C1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), while C2 is targeted at the C2 CEFR level. C2 Proficiency is therefore the more difficult of the two exams.
The C1 level would allow for full autonomy in a native English-speaking country. According to the official CEFR guidelines, someone at the C1 level in English: Can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognize implicit meaning.
Language Levels: CEFR
Someone holding C2 level would have an active vocabulary of 10,000 and a passive vocabulary of around 20,000.
It takes at least 18 years in general for a native speaker to reach C1 level in his own language, so you can hardly expect that a teenage or adult foreigner can take any less than a decade to approach that level.
Are you a learner at C1 English level (advanced)? This section offers reading practice to help you understand long, complex texts about a wide variety of topics, some of which may be unfamiliar. Texts include specialised articles, biographies and summaries.
It takes a lifetime for a native speaker to reach C1 level (at least 10–15 years in general), so you can hardly expect that adult foreigner can take any less than a decade to approach that level.
CEFR-level C1 (advanced)
You can express yourself fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions. You can use language flexibly and effectively for social and professional purposes.
It's generally considered that reaching B2 is having basic fluency. You'll have a vocabulary of about 4000 words. In fact, the standard requirements at German universities are levels B2 to C1, so if it is enough to get you into a German-speaking university, it is enough to be able to communicate.
Level C1 corresponds to users who can express themselves fluently and spontaneously. They can use language flexibly and effectively for all purposes.
A C1 Advanced qualification shows that you can:
follow an academic course at university level. communicate effectively at a managerial and professional level. participate with confidence in workplace meetings or academic tutorials and seminars.
C1 Advanced is a focused academic English exam, which shows that students have the English skills they need to succeed at college or university on undergraduate and postgraduate courses. This exam is the logical step in a student's language-learning journey between B2 First and C2 Proficiency.
A well-educated native English speaker is technically at a C2 level. Relatively few English learners reach this level because their professional or academic goals do not require it.
Other level names in this convention are: A1- Breakthrough, A2- Waystage, B1- Threshold, B2- Vantage, C1- Advanced, C2- Mastery. Which CEFR level is the highest? C2 (Proficiency) is the top level you can achieve on the CEFR scale.
The Level C1 in German requires a very high language level and is therefore correspondingly difficult. For many students, the C1 level in German is a great challenge. However, there are also many resources to prepare for the exam. With the right motivation and the will to pass the exam, anyone can pass the C1 level!
B1 (Conversational German): 260 – 490 hours. B2 (High Intermediate German): 450 – 600 hours. C1 (Advanced German): 600 – 750 hours. C2 (Near Native Fluency): 750+ hours.
C1 level German is considered advanced and shows the holder has full control of German grammar and vocabulary. The only higher CEFR level is C2, which even native German speakers can struggle to reach.