If you have made it till B1 then B2 wont be difficult as they are quite similar just the speaking duration is increased if I recall correctly. The jump to C1 will be a tad bit tough, however since your question pertains to B1 -> B2 just read more german articles “Der Spiegel” app should take care of that.
Level B1 indicates a more intermediate speaker who can hold basic conversations and understand simple texts. Level B2 is considered advanced, and speakers at this level can participate in complex conversations and understand long and difficult texts.
Jens Olesen, a German tutor with over 20 years of teaching experience, explains. What is the difference between A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2 in terms of language levels? The three broad levels are A1/A2 ("Basic User"), B1/B2 ("Independent User"), and C1/C2 ("Proficient User").
These levels are classified as A1 for beginners, A2 for elementary, B1 for intermediate, B2 for upper intermediate, C1 as advanced, and C2 as mastery.
The B2 level can be challenging but a rewarding experience for learners. As the learner comes face-to-face with grammar complexity, vocabulary expansion, expressing their thoughts and opinions and much more. But with dedication and practice, you should be able to become proficient in the language over time.
It's generally considered that reaching B2 is having basic fluency.
Level B2 corresponds to independent users of the language, i.e. those who have the necessary fluency to communicate without effort with native speakers.
In CEFR terms, level B is split into two - B1 and B2 - with B1 being an independent user at the threshold, and B2 being an advanced independent user. A candidate receiving a B1 language level score can already access certain jobs requiring language skills.
Intermediate B1 to B2 – German level B1 takes 200 hours and B2 takes approximately 300 hours to become fluent. Advance C1 to C2 – C1 Level takes around 240 hours and C2 level takes around 240 hours to complete the whole course and become a pro at speaking German.
Even though most of them learn relatively fast and achieve B1/B2 level in about 12 months, just a few of them get to B2 level in 4-8 months.
If you´d like to work in Germany you´ll get by if your German is on level B1/B2 (online test). The certificate issued by GLS is recognized by many employers and even some universities in Germany.
C2 (Upper Advanced/Fluent)
Your mastery at the C2 level lets you produce and understand highly complex German.
According to CEFR, B1 level means:
Attaining b1 level German is something that you should be proud of. You can understand the main points of familiar matters that come across in families, schools, workplaces, etc. You can create text on simple topics of personal interest in language.
B2 First Scale Scores
The exam is targeted at Level B2 of the CEFR. The examination also provides reliable assessment at the level above B2 (Level C1) and the level below (Level B1).
Passing a B2 test with three months of practice is definitely possible; however, that is not the same as actually reaching B2 in a certain language.
If you take intensive classes (around 20 hours per week), you can reach the B1 level of day-to-day fluency. ... It takes around 80 hours per week (up to 8 weeks) to learn the German B1 level, also known as the intermediate level.
They say that you need to have completed at least 350 45-minute German lessons/practice sessions to reach B1, which would take roughly a year and a half since most people can't take a lesson every single day in a row.
Long answer: B1 means you can get by in most day to day situations, but "fluent" means different things to different people. For me, it means "no difficulty", and for that, I'd think you'd need C1 bare minimum, and even then I would hesitate if someone asked me if I was fluent.
At Duolingo, we're developing our courses to get you to a level called B2, at which you can get a job in the language you're studying. Reaching that kind of proficiency requires dedication, varied practice opportunities, and a lot of time.
The B1 level on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is considered intermediate or upper-intermediate, and it is not considered fluent or proficient because there is still room for improvement in a number of areas.
Level B2 corresponds to a more advanced, more independent level than previous levels. A B2 user can communicate easily and spontaneously in a clear and detailed manner. This is not yet an experienced speaker, but a B2 user is able to understand and be understood in most situations.