Goethe-Zertifikat A2
Format, scoring and sample tasks for every module of the Goethe A2 exam.
Who needs A2
A2 is the standard milestone after A1 — a strong indicator that you can handle most everyday situations in German: ordering food, navigating public services, holding short conversations on familiar topics. It is required for some long-term residence permits and is a useful checkpoint on the path to B1.
A2 is not enough for German citizenship. Naturalization requires B1. If your goal is citizenship, treat A2 as a checkpoint, not a destination.
Preparation time: 3–6 months from A1 with consistent daily study (30 min/day). The Goethe-Institut estimates 200–350 guided teaching units (45 min each) from zero to A2.
Exam structure
A2 introduces longer texts and more nuanced listening. Breaks are included in the total time.
Lesen (reading)
| Teil | Title | Format | Tasks | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teil 1 | Zeitungsartikel multiple choice | multiple choice | 5 | 5 |
| Teil 2 | Informationstafel multiple choice | multiple choice | 5 | 5 |
| Teil 3 | multiple choice | multiple choice | 5 | 5 |
| Teil 4 | Anzeigen matching | matching | 5 | 5 |
A2 Lesen has four Teile and 20 items — 5 points per Teil. Three of the four Teile hang all five questions on ONE text, so read the text once carefully instead of jumping back and forth.
Teil 1: Zeitungsartikel
5 tasks, 5 points
One newspaper article of roughly 200 words (usually a portrait of a person). Five multiple-choice questions with three options a/b/c — the last one always asks what the whole text is about.
Teil 2: Informationstafel
5 tasks, 5 points
A department-store floor directory. Each of the five errands names two candidate floors plus the option "anderer Stock" — pick it when neither named floor is right.
Teil 3: E-Mail
5 tasks, 5 points
One private e-mail of roughly 200 words. Five multiple-choice questions with three options a/b/c, asked in the order the information appears in the mail.
Teil 4: Anzeigen
5 tasks, 5 points
Five people with a specific need are matched against six short internet Anzeigen (a–f). One person has no matching ad — that answer is the letter X — and one ad is left over.
Tips
- Teile 1 and 3: read the whole text once before looking at the questions — all five come from the same text, in order
- Teil 2: search the directory for the exact product, not the shop type ("Geldautomat" sits in the Untergeschoss, not with the Information desk)
- Teil 4: read all six Anzeigen first, then the five people — and expect one ad to be left over
Common mistakes
- Teile 1–3: answering from the first sentence that shares a word with the question — the options are built from words that really are in the text, but only one matches its meaning
- Teil 2: forgetting that "anderer Stock" is a real answer, and forcing one of the two named floors
- Teil 4: giving an ad to a person it only half fits instead of using X — one person genuinely has no matching ad
Hören (listening)
| Teil | Title | Format | Tasks | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teil 1 | Kurze Texte multiple choice | multiple choice | 5 | 5 |
| Teil 2 | Zusammenhängendes Gespräch matching | matching | 5 | 5 |
| Teil 3 | Einzelgespräche multiple choice | multiple choice | 5 | 5 |
| Teil 4 | Radiointerview true or false | true or false | 5 | 5 |
A2 Hören has four Teile and 20 items: Teil 1 and Teil 4 are played twice; Teil 2 and Teil 3 are played once.
Teil 1: Kurze Texte
5 tasks, 5 points
5 short radio, voicemail, or announcement texts. One multiple-choice question per text (a/b/c). Played twice.
Teil 1 — Audio played twice
Listen to five short texts, then choose a/b/c for each question.
0:00Teil 2: Zusammenhängendes Gespräch
5 tasks, 5 points
One connected conversation. Match 5 days to activities from a picture/text list. Played once.
Teil 2 — Audio played once
Listen to one connected weekly-planning conversation, then match each day to the activity.
0:00In the real exam this Teil is played once — try listening only once before answering.
Teil 3: Einzelgespräche
5 tasks, 5 points
5 short conversations. One multiple-choice question per conversation (a/b/c). Played once.
Teil 3 — Audio played once
Listen to five short conversations, then choose a/b/c for each question.
0:00In the real exam this Teil is played once — try listening only once before answering.
Teil 4: Radiointerview
5 tasks, 5 points
One radio interview. 5 Ja/Nein statements. Played twice.
Teil 4 — Audio played twice
Listen to one radio interview, then mark five statements Ja/Nein.
0:00
Tips
- Pre-read every question set in the 30 seconds before each audio
- Teil 3: identify topic and speaker attitude on the first listen, details on the second
Common mistakes
- Getting distracted by unfamiliar vocabulary — focus on the main message
- Not reading the questions before the audio starts
Schreiben (writing)
| Teil | Title | Format | Tasks | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teil 1 | SMS short writing (~30–80 words) | short writing (~30–80 words) | 1 | 15 |
| Teil 2 | short writing (~30–80 words) | short writing (~30–80 words) | 1 | 15 |
Two short tasks with two different registers: Teil 1 is an informal text message to a friend (du), Teil 2 a polite email to someone like a teacher or boss (Sie).
Teil 1: SMS
1 task, 15 points
Write a 20–30 word text message to a friend covering 3 given points (informal, du).
Teil 2: E-Mail
1 task, 15 points
Write a 30–40 word email to someone you address with „Sie“ (a teacher, boss or landlord) covering 3 given points.
Tips
- Teil 1 (SMS): du-form, a short greeting and sign-off, no need for long sentences
- Teil 2 (E-Mail): Sie-form with „Liebe Frau …“ / „Lieber Herr …“ and „Viele Grüße“
- Tick off all 3 points in each prompt before submitting
Common mistakes
- Using the wrong register — du in the email to Frau Müller, or Sie in the SMS to a friend
- Missing one of the 3 points — each task lists three, and each one is scored
Sprechen (speaking)
| Teil | Title | Format | Tasks | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teil 1 | Fragen zur Person asking personal questions | asking personal questions | 1 | 10 |
| Teil 2 | Von sich erzählen talking about your own life | talking about your own life | 1 | 10 |
| Teil 3 | Gemeinsam etwas planen plan together | plan together | 1 | 10 |
About 15 minutes for the two of you together. You are scored individually — ask, answer, and keep the conversation moving, also when it is your partner speaking.
Teil 1: Fragen zur Person
1 task, 10 points
You get four cards, each with one keyword. Turn every card into a question for your partner — and answer the four questions your partner asks you.
Teil 2: Von sich erzählen
1 task, 10 points
You get one card: a question about your everyday life plus four keywords. Talk about yourself, using each keyword as a step.
Teil 3: Gemeinsam etwas planen
1 task, 10 points
You and your partner get one shared errand and a page from your own diary. Suggest times, say when you are busy, and agree on a slot that is free for both.
Tips
- Teil 1: turn the keyword straight into a W-question — „Beruf?" becomes „Was sind Sie von Beruf?"
- Teil 2: give one or two sentences per keyword and add a small detail or example — the card is a route, not a list to read
- Teil 3: name a concrete time first („Passt Ihnen zehn Uhr?"), then react to what your partner says
Common mistakes
- Answering your partner in Teil 1 with a single word instead of a full sentence
- Reading the four keywords out loud in Teil 2 instead of telling a connected story about yourself
- Saying yes to your partner's first suggestion in Teil 3 without checking your own diary
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