How long does Goethe-Zertifikat A1 take?

About 80 minutes in total: Lesen (Reading) 25 minutes, Hören (Listening) 20 minutes, Schreiben (Writing) 20 minutes, Sprechen (Speaking) 15 minutes. The oral part often takes place on a different date.

How many points do you need for Goethe-Zertifikat A1?

Normally 60 per cent. Each module counts on its own. A failed module can be repeated alone.

How long does preparing for A1 take?

As a guideline, about 80 to 200 lessons from zero are quoted for A1 in total. Anyone who speaks a related language needs far fewer; the range is deliberately wide.

Practise Goethe-Zertifikat A1.

80 minutes, four modules, pass mark 60 per cent. Exam set in preparation.

Available today: telc Deutsch B1. The four modules and the pass mark are the same; anyone studying for Goethe-Zertifikat A1 can already practise the format with it.

Practise with the available set Pricing

Structure and length

Mostly for spousal reunification: anyone joining a partner in Germany usually has to prove basic German.

In the Goethe-Zertifikat every module counts on its own. Pass three and fail one, and you repeat only that one. That makes the exam dearer per module, and much cheaper when something goes wrong.

Lesen (Reading)25 minIn preparation here
Hören (Listening)20 minIn preparation here
Schreiben (Writing)20 minIn preparation here
Sprechen (Speaking)15 minIn preparation here
Total80 minPass mark 60 %

What happens if you do not pass

Each module counts on its own. A failed module can be repeated alone. Your test centre sets the fee, and it differs from place to place.

What level A1 demands

The written part takes 65 minutes in total; the longest single module is Lesen (Reading) at 25 minutes. Because the Goethe-Zertifikat is modular, you can spread the four modules over different dates and, after a fail, repeat only the module concerned.

Lesen (Reading): Understand single words and very short sentences: signs, adverts, a form, a short note.
Hören (Listening): Understand announcements spoken very slowly and clearly about familiar things: times, prices, directions.
Schreiben (Writing): Fill in a form and write a short, simple message, such as a postcard or a cancellation.
Sprechen (Speaking): Introduce yourself, ask the way, buy something, in simple sentences, with pauses.

Where A1 is usually lost

The commonest reason for failing A1 is not missing vocabulary but the form: whoever assigns the columns wrongly loses points the language had long earned.

As a guideline, about 80 to 200 lessons from zero are quoted for A1. The range is wide because prior knowledge of a related language changes the effort a lot. It serves rough planning, not as a promise.

Frequently asked questions

How long does Goethe-Zertifikat A1 take?: About 80 minutes in total: Lesen (Reading) 25 minutes, Hören (Listening) 20 minutes, Schreiben (Writing) 20 minutes, Sprechen (Speaking) 15 minutes. The oral part often takes place on a different date.
How many points do you need for Goethe-Zertifikat A1?: Normally 60 per cent. Each module counts on its own. A failed module can be repeated alone.
How long does preparing for A1 take?: As a guideline, about 80 to 200 lessons from zero are quoted for A1 in total. Anyone who speaks a related language needs far fewer; the range is deliberately wide.