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Goethe A1 exam guide

The Goethe-Zertifikat A1: Start Deutsch 1 shows that you have beginner-level German. It is often the level required for a spouse visa to Germany. Here is how the exam is built, how it is scored and how to prepare.

The four sections

SectionTimeWhat you do
Hören~20 minListen to short phone messages, announcements and conversations and answer questions (3 parts).
Lesen25 minRead short notes, ads, signs and emails and answer questions (3 parts).
Schreiben20 minFill in a form and write a short message of about 30 words (2 parts).
Sprechen15 minIn a group: introduce yourself, ask and answer questions, and make a request (3 parts).

The written exam (Hören, Lesen, Schreiben) takes 65 minutes in total with no break. The speaking exam is usually on the same day, at the latest within 14 days.

Scoring

You can get up to 100 points: 75 from the written exam and 25 from speaking. You need at least 60 points to pass. The exam can only be retaken as a whole, so you cannot repeat just one section.

How the speaking exam works

  1. You introduce yourself: name, age, country, where you live, languages, job, hobby. You may also be asked to spell your name.
    Ich heiße … / Ich komme aus … / Ich wohne in …
  2. You draw cards on a topic and ask someone in the group a question, and they ask you.
    Thema: Essen und Trinken – Karte „Frühstück“: Was essen Sie zum Frühstück?
  3. With picture cards, you make a request and respond to someone else's request.
    Karte: Fenster → Können Sie bitte das Fenster öffnen? – Ja, natürlich.

The writing section

In part one you fill in a form using information from a text. In part two you write a short message: an invitation, a request or some information. Example:

Liebe Anna, am Samstag habe ich Geburtstag. Ich mache eine kleine Party bei mir zu Hause. Sie beginnt um 19 Uhr. Kannst du kommen? Bitte schreib mir bis Donnerstag. Viele Grüße, Mehmet

What you need to know

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A 4-week study plan

  1. Week 1: 20 minutes of A1 flashcards a day. Learn the numbers and the alphabet.
  2. Week 2: Practise telling the time and dates, memorise your self-introduction and say it out loud.
  3. Week 3: Do practice exams (the Goethe-Institut website has free model tests) and try writing short messages.
  4. Week 4: Fill your gaps, practise listening every day with Hör-Rush and rehearse the speaking part with a friend.

Source: Goethe-Institut, implementation regulations for the Goethe-Zertifikat A1: Start Deutsch 1.

Preparing for A1

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