Goethe-Zertifikat A2
Goethe-Zertifikat A2 — Complete Guide
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.
Realistic prep 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 — all four modules
A2 introduces longer texts and more nuanced listening. The total runtime is about 105 minutes including breaks.
Lesen
Lesen — 4 task formats · 20 items · 30 min
| Teil | Title | Format | Items / Pts | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teil 1 | Zeitungsartikel multiple choice | multiple choice | 5 · 5 pts | ~8 min |
| Teil 2 | Informationstafel multiple choice | multiple choice | 5 · 5 pts | ~8 min |
| Teil 3 | multiple choice | multiple choice | 5 · 5 pts | ~8 min |
| Teil 4 | Anzeigen matching | matching | 5 · 5 pts | ~8 min |
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
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
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
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
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
Hören — 4 task formats · 20 items · 30 min
| Teil | Title | Format | Items / Pts | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teil 1 | Kurze Texte multiple choice | multiple choice | 5 · 5 pts | ~8 min |
| Teil 2 | Zusammenhängendes Gespräch matching | matching | 5 · 5 pts | ~8 min |
| Teil 3 | Einzelgespräche multiple choice | multiple choice | 5 · 5 pts | ~8 min |
| Teil 4 | Radiointerview T/F | T/F | 5 · 5 pts | ~8 min |
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 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
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 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
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
Schreiben — 2 task formats · 2 items · 30 min
| Teil | Title | Format | Items / Pts | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teil 1 | Formular + Kurzmitteilung short writing (~30–80 words) | short writing (~30–80 words) | 1 · 15 pts | ~15 min |
| Teil 2 | E-Mail schreiben short writing (~30–80 words) | short writing (~30–80 words) | 1 · 15 pts | ~15 min |
A2 writing is still informal — both tasks are addressed to a friend or peer.
Teil 1: Formular + Kurzmitteilung
Fill in a form AND write a 30–40 word note about a change or problem (e.g. cancelling an appointment).
Teil 2: E-Mail schreiben
Write a 60–80 word email to a friend covering 3 given bullet points.
Tips
- Teil 2 tone: casual ("Du" form, contractions OK)
- Tick off all 3 bullet points in the prompt before submitting
Common mistakes
- Treating the email too formally (A2 is to a friend — use "Du")
- Missing one of the 3 bullet points in the email prompt
Sprechen
Sprechen — 3 task formats · 3 items · 15 min
| Teil | Title | Format | Items / Pts | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teil 1 | Fragen zur Person asking personal questions | asking personal questions | 1 · 10 pts | ~5 min |
| Teil 2 | Von sich erzählen talking about your own life | talking about your own life | 1 · 10 pts | ~5 min |
| Teil 3 | Gemeinsam etwas planen plan together | plan together | 1 · 10 pts | ~5 min |
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
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
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
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
Continue to A2
The A2 course on onewholearns.com builds on the A1 foundation — more verbs, the cases that A2 introduces, and exam-style reading and writing practice from day one.
Continue to A2 on onewholearns.com