Syntactic complexity, along with accuracy and fluency, has been presented as a vital construct in the description of second language proficiency. This inquiry explored three dimensions of complexity employing oral data from learners of German at the intermediate, advanced, and superior proficiency levels. The data were explored for complexity by subordination, complexity by coordination, and phrasal complexity. The results displayed that all three complexity measures displayed different patterns of use as proficiency level rises, which backs up the comprehension of complexity as a multi‐dimensional construct. The results also displayed that mean clause length was the most useful measure for differentiating between adjacent proficiency levels.