How long does Goethe-Zertifikat C1 take?

About 205 minutes in total: Lesen (Reading) 70 minutes, Hören (Listening) 40 minutes, Schreiben (Writing) 80 minutes, Sprechen (Speaking) 15 minutes. The oral part often takes place on a different date.

How many points do you need for Goethe-Zertifikat C1?

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

How long does preparing for C1 take?

As a guideline, about 800 to 1000 lessons from zero are quoted for C1 in total. Anyone who speaks a related language needs far fewer; the range is deliberately wide.

Practise Goethe-Zertifikat C1.

205 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 C1 can already practise the format with it.

Practise with the available set Pricing

Structure and length

For studying at a German university, for the medical licence (Approbation) and for qualified jobs with a lot of customer contact.

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)70 minIn preparation here
Hören (Listening)40 minIn preparation here
Schreiben (Writing)80 minIn preparation here
Sprechen (Speaking)15 minIn preparation here
Total205 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 C1 demands

The written part takes 190 minutes in total; the longest single module is Schreiben (Writing) at 80 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 long, demanding texts and grasp implicit meaning: irony, allusion, unspoken judgement.
Hören (Listening): Follow longer contributions even when they are loosely structured and connections are only implied.
Schreiben (Writing): Express yourself clearly and in a well-structured way, present complex matters in detail and match the style to the occasion.
Sprechen (Speaking): Speak fluently and spontaneously without obvious searching for words, and use the language effectively at work.

Where C1 is usually lost

At C1 the giveaway is avoiding Konjunktiv II and phrasing suggestions in the indicative with „vielleicht“. Linguistic precision is expected, not just comprehensibility.

As a guideline, about 800 to 1000 lessons from zero are quoted for C1. 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 C1 take?: About 205 minutes in total: Lesen (Reading) 70 minutes, Hören (Listening) 40 minutes, Schreiben (Writing) 80 minutes, Sprechen (Speaking) 15 minutes. The oral part often takes place on a different date.
How many points do you need for Goethe-Zertifikat C1?: Normally 60 per cent. Each module counts on its own. A failed module can be repeated alone.
How long does preparing for C1 take?: As a guideline, about 800 to 1000 lessons from zero are quoted for C1 in total. Anyone who speaks a related language needs far fewer; the range is deliberately wide.