The real exam format
Goethe-Zertifikat A1 · Start Deutsch 1 — what actually happens on the day
Goethe-Zertifikat A1 — Start Deutsch 1
Four modules. You need 60% to pass. The written modules (Hören, Lesen, Schreiben) are done in one sitting of about 65 minutes; Sprechen is done separately, usually in a small group.
| Module | Time | Items | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hören | ~20 min | 15 | 25 |
| Lesen | 25 min | 15 | 25 |
| Schreiben | 20 min | 2 tasks | 25 |
| Sprechen | ~15 min | 3 parts | 25 |
Hören — listening
- Teil 1 — 6 short conversations, choose a/b/c. Played twice.
- Teil 2 — 4 public announcements, richtig or falsch. Played once only.
- Teil 3 — 5 short messages, choose a/b/c. Played twice.
What they test: numbers, times, prices, days and places.
Train your ear for halb (halb drei = 2:30) and for the
unit-first numbers (einundzwanzig = 21).
Lesen — reading
- Teil 1 — 2 short texts (usually emails), 5 richtig/falsch items.
- Teil 2 — 5 situations, each with two small ads. Pick the one that fits.
- Teil 3 — 5 signs and notices, richtig/falsch.
The trick in Teil 1: a false statement usually changes
exactly one detail — a day, a time, or a single noun. Read the statement, find that
detail in the text, and compare directly.
Schreiben — writing
- Teil 1 — fill in a form (5 gaps) from a short description of a person.
- Teil 2 — write about 30 words covering three bullet points.
The most common way to lose marks is not bad
grammar — it is missing a bullet point. Write one sentence per bullet, then check you
have three.
The skeleton that always works
Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren, ← formal
Liebe Anna, / Lieber Tom, ← informal
[one sentence for bullet 1]
[one sentence for bullet 2]
[one QUESTION for bullet 3]
Mit freundlichen Grüßen ← formal
Viele Grüße ← informal
[your name]
Remember: after the comma in the greeting, the next line starts with a small letter.
Sprechen — speaking
- Teil 1 — introduce yourself using 7 keywords (Name, Alter, Land, Wohnort, Sprachen, Beruf, Hobby), then spell a word and say a number.
- Teil 2 — you get a topic and a word card. Make a question with the word, and answer your partner's.
- Teil 3 — you get a picture. Make a polite request, and respond to your partner's.
Two patterns cover most of the speaking exam:
Questions — Wo ist…? · Wann…? · Was kostet…? · Haben Sie…?
Requests — Können Sie mir bitte … geben?
Questions — Wo ist…? · Wann…? · Was kostet…? · Haben Sie…?
Requests — Können Sie mir bitte … geben?
Teil 1 is the one part you can prepare word for word. Learn your
seven sentences until they are automatic, and you start the exam with easy marks.
Goethe vs Telc — the difference
Your earlier notes mention a Telc-style format. The two exams test the same A1 level but are laid out differently. This pack follows Goethe:
| Goethe A1 | Telc A1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Hören | 3 Teile, 15 items | 3 Teile, 15 items |
| Lesen | 3 Teile, 15 items | 3 Teile, plus a language-elements section |
| Schreiben | Form + ~30-word text | Form + short text |
| Sprechen | Introduce · ask/answer · request | Introduce · ask/answer · request |