Goethe-Zertifikat A1
Goethe-Zertifikat A1 — Complete Guide
Who needs A1
A1 is the entry point. Required for some family-reunification visas to Germany; useful for travellers who want a baseline of survival German. It certifies that you can introduce yourself, ask basic questions, and understand simple texts about everyday life.
Realistic prep time: 2–4 months from zero with consistent daily study (30 min/day). The Goethe-Institut estimates 80–200 guided teaching units (45 min each) for A1.
Exam structure — all four modules
A1 has 4 short modules. The whole exam fits in about 80 minutes including breaks.
Lesen
Lesen — 3 task formats · 15 items · 25 min
| Teil | Title | Format | Items / Pts | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teil 1 | Kurze Nachrichten T/F | T/F | 5 · 5 pts | ~8 min |
| Teil 2 | Wo finden Sie Informationen? multiple choice | multiple choice | 5 · 5 pts | ~8 min |
| Teil 3 | Schilder und Anzeigen T/F | T/F | 5 · 5 pts | ~8 min |
A1 Lesen has three Teile and 15 items — 5 points per Teil. All texts are short and concrete, well under 100 words each.
Teil 1: Kurze Nachrichten
Two short personal texts (an e-mail or message and a handwritten note). Five statements spread across both texts — mark each Richtig or Falsch.
Teil 2: Wo finden Sie Informationen?
Five everyday situations. Each comes with two possible sources (two websites) — choose the one where you would find that information.
Teil 3: Schilder und Anzeigen
Five signs and notices from everyday places (language school, post office, station, restaurant, bus stop). Mark each statement Richtig or Falsch.
Tips
- All A1 texts are short — do not expect complexity
- Teil 2: ignore the wording overlap and ask what each website is actually for
- Teil 3: read the place first ("Am Bahnhof", "An der Haltestelle") — it frames the notice
Common mistakes
- Teil 1: assigning a statement to the wrong text — the five statements are split across two texts, not one
- Teil 2: reading only the situation and not both websites — the answer is the source that would carry that information, not the one with a familiar word in its address
- Teil 3: overthinking a short notice — the signs test literal comprehension only
Hören
Hören — 3 task formats · 15 items · 20 min
| Teil | Title | Format | Items / Pts | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teil 1 | Kurze Gespräche und Ansagen multiple choice | multiple choice | 6 · 6 pts | ~7 min |
| Teil 2 | Durchsagen T/F | T/F | 4 · 4 pts | ~7 min |
| Teil 3 | Telefonische Informationen multiple choice | multiple choice | 5 · 5 pts | ~7 min |
A1 Hören has three Teile. Teil 1 and Teil 3 are played twice; Teil 2 is played once.
Teil 1: Kurze Gespräche und Ansagen
6 short conversations or announcements. One multiple-choice question per text (a/b/c). Played twice.
Teil 1 — Audio played twice
Listen to six short A1 texts, then choose a/b/c for each question.
0:00Teil 2: Durchsagen
4 short announcements. Mark each statement True or False. Played once.
Teil 2 — Audio played once
Listen to four short announcements, then mark each statement True or False.
0:00In the real exam this Teil is played once — try listening only once before answering.
Teil 3: Telefonische Informationen
5 short messages or information texts. One multiple-choice question per text (a/b/c). Played twice.
Teil 3 — Audio played twice
Listen to five short messages, then choose a/b/c for each question.
0:00
Tips
- Know cardinal and ordinal numbers 1–100 cold before the exam
- Notes in your native language during playback are allowed — no penalty
Common mistakes
- Numbers and times — A1 audio heavily tests these
- Missing key location or time words because of unfamiliar surrounding vocabulary
Schreiben
Schreiben — 2 task formats · 2 items · 20 min
| Teil | Title | Format | Items / Pts | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teil 1 | Formular ausfüllen form-fill | form-fill | 1 · 5 pts | ~10 min |
| Teil 2 | Kurze Mitteilung short writing (~30–80 words) | short writing (~30–80 words) | 1 · 10 pts | ~10 min |
Markers look for completion of all required fields and use of basic personal vocabulary.
Teil 1: Formular ausfüllen
Fill in a short personal-information form (name, age, hobby, address).
Teil 2: Kurze Mitteilung
Cover three given content points in about 30 words, plus a greeting and a sign-off. In the official Modellsatz the message goes to an institution (a tourist office), so write with "Sie" — this is a short semi-formal enquiry, not a note to a friend.
Tips
- Teil 2: draft first, count words, then copy neatly
- Answer all three content points — each is scored separately (3 points each)
- Anrede and Gruß carry their own point — never send the message without them
Common mistakes
- Writing too long in Teil 2 — 30 words is intentionally short
- Writing "du" in Teil 2 — the Modellsatz addresses an office, so "Sie" is expected
- Missing required fields in the Teil 1 form
Sprechen
Sprechen — 3 task formats · 3 items · 15 min
| Teil | Title | Format | Items / Pts | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teil 1 | Sich vorstellen self-introduction | self-introduction | 1 · 5 pts | ~5 min |
| Teil 2 | Um Informationen bitten und Informationen geben asking for and giving information | asking for and giving information | 1 · 5 pts | ~5 min |
| Teil 3 | Bitte formulieren und darauf reagieren making a request and reacting to one | making a request and reacting to one | 1 · 5 pts | ~5 min |
Taken in a group („Sprechen Sie bitte in der Gruppe"). Each of the three Teile runs about five minutes. Pronunciation matters more than perfect grammar at A1.
Teil 1: Sich vorstellen
Introduce yourself from seven keyword cards: Name, Alter, Land, Wohnort, Sprachen, Beruf, Hobby. About 5 minutes for the group.
Teil 2: Um Informationen bitten und Informationen geben
Each candidate draws word cards from a shared theme. Turn your word into a question, your partner answers — then you swap. About 5 minutes for the group.
Teil 3: Bitte formulieren und darauf reagieren
Each candidate draws picture cards of everyday objects. Make a polite request from the picture; your partner says yes or says why not. About 5 minutes for the group.
Tips
- Memorise a seven-point self-introduction — Teil 1 is highly predictable, and Wohnort is easy to forget
- Teil 2: turn the word on the card straight into a question — „Sport?" → „Machen Sie Sport?"
- Teil 3: „Können Sie bitte…?" fits almost every picture card
Common mistakes
- Answering in Teil 2 instead of asking — your turn starts with a question, not an answer
- Planning a trip together in Teil 3 — that is the A2 exam; at A1 you make a request from a picture
- Going completely silent instead of using "Moment bitte" or "Können Sie das wiederholen?"
Start learning German
The free A1 course on onewholearns.com is paced for total beginners — vocabulary in memory-palace scenes, grammar one rule at a time, and exam-style practice from week one.
Start your German journey — A1 course on onewholearns.com