Levels describe what you can do
A1, A2 and B1 are levels in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). They describe communicative ability, not a fixed number of app lessons, vocabulary cards or hours played. A1 and A2 are basic-user levels; B1 is the first independent-user level.
Your abilities may be uneven. You might read a familiar message comfortably and still find a phone call difficult. Choose practice by the skill and situation you need, rather than treating one label as a complete portrait of your German.
The summaries below are practical paraphrases. The Council of Europe’s official CEFR global scale is the reference for the level descriptions.
A1: make a first connection
At A1, practice centres on basic personal information and immediate needs. You learn to introduce yourself, understand familiar everyday expressions and ask or answer simple questions. Successful interaction often depends on the other person speaking clearly, slowly and helpfully.
Useful tasks include giving your name, asking where a place is and ordering a simple drink. A sentence like Ich hätte gern einen Tee can be useful even before you understand all the grammar inside it.
Start with our first-week German plan if you are new. Repeat small exchanges and gradually reduce the help you need. Understanding a familiar greeting is progress; it does not mean you must already follow a whole conversation.
A2: handle familiar everyday exchanges
A2 adds more routine situations and the ability to exchange straightforward information about familiar topics. You practise talking about your background, daily surroundings and immediate needs in simple language.
Try explaining where you live, describing a typical day or making a simple arrangement. Instead of only ordering a drink, you might say what you want, ask a follow-up question and explain a preference.
At this stage, connecting ideas becomes useful. Practise short sequences rather than isolated sentences: what happened first, what happened next and what you need now. Reading and listening still benefit from clear context and familiar topics.
B1: explain, connect and keep going
B1 involves understanding the main points of clear language on familiar matters and producing connected text about familiar topics. Learners work on experiences, plans, opinions and brief explanations, including situations that arise while travelling.
For practice, describe a past trip, explain why you chose something or summarise the main point of a short text. You do not need perfect grammar to express a view, but you need enough connected language for the listener or reader to follow it.
One next step is giving a reason with weil. The word order guide explains how this changes the position of the verb.
Pick a starting point, then adjust
Try one short task at your suspected level. Can you understand its purpose? Can you complete a reply without copying? Where do you need support: vocabulary, listening speed, grammar or getting started?
If almost every phrase is new, step back to a simpler task. If you can complete it easily, try a less familiar topic or remove a layer of help. A short sample is a starting signal, not a formal assessment of your overall level.
In glotworld, A1–B1 labels describe practice material. The game’s placement sample recommends a practice level; it does not award a CEFR qualification or bypass the story’s route progression.
If you are preparing for an exam
Check the requirements and sample tasks from the organisation offering your exam. Give reading, listening, writing and speaking their own practice. A story game can supplement that preparation, but game progress alone does not establish exam readiness.