German A1 exam: requirements, format and preparation

The German A1 exam checks your basic German in both written and speaking sections. You need to show that you can handle very simple everyday situations: introduce yourself, understand basic signs and messages, and have a simple conversation. There isn’t just one German A1 exam. You can choose among Goethe-Zertifikat A1, Start Deutsch 1 / telc Deutsch A1, ÖSD Zertifikat A1, and other options. All correspond to CEFR levels A1, but their test format is slightly different. In this article, we'll unwrap the German A1 exam requirements, format and preparation.

German A1 level

At A1 proficiency level, you’re expected to be able to communicate in a simple way, use everyday expressions and understand short and slow conversations. A1 is the first of six levels in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), where C2 is the most advanced. Understanding CEFR levels helps you choose the right exam and set realistic study goals. For example, at A1 proficiency level, you should be able to:

• introduce yourself and give basic personal information;

• talk briefly about your family, home and job;

• ask and answer simple questions;

• understand numbers, prices, dates and times;

• read short notices, adverts and messages;

• fill in basic forms;

• write a short everyday message;

• understand simple conversations when people speak slowly and clearly.

Official Goethe A1 exam tasks cover listening, reading, writing and speaking in everyday situations. 

“Language is the key to integration. Anyone who lives or grows up here has to be able to speak German.” – Natalie Pawlik, State Minister and Federal Government Commissioner for Migration, Refugees, Integration and Anti-Racism, October 2025.

The Goethe-Institut estimates that reaching the A1 proficiency level takes around 80–200 lessons of 45 minutes, depending on your previous experience.

German A1 exam options

For adults, the main options are Goethe-Zertifikat A1: Start Deutsch 1, Start Deutsch 1 / telc Deutsch A1 and ÖSD Zertifikat A1 – all three at CEFR levels A1. Each is a recognised beginner German certification accepted by employers, universities and immigration authorities.

Now the real question is how to choose the exam. If you need an A1 for a visa, check the embassy or consulate website first – it tells you which certificates they accept. Then look at what is available near you, and also how long the exam centre takes to issue the result. See which option suits your location and timing more, and go for it. 

Let's look at the test format in more detail using Goethe-Zertifikat A1: Start Deutsch 1 as an example. The exam is one of the most common options, and its format gives you a good idea of what to expect from an A1 exam in general.

Goethe A1 exam format

The Goethe-Zertifikat A1: Start Deutsch 1 has four parts: listening, reading, writing and speaking.

Listening

To test your listening skills, you’ll hear short recordings in German and answer questions about what you heard. Most questions are built around one piece of information: a time, price, place, phone number or what someone plans to do. You don’t need to understand every sentence from start to finish. 

The main difficulty is that several answers may sound familiar because the recording mentions more than one option. Read the question first and listen for the details it asks about. The official Goethe practice tests are the best way to get used to the speed and question style.

Reading

The reading tasks are short, but you need to pick out the exact information from the text quickly. A notice may tell you when something is closed, an advert may list several prices, or a message may change the time or place of a meeting.

Pay attention to small words such as nicht (not), nur (only), ab (from) and bis (until) – they can completely change the answer. You can see the types of texts and questions in Goethe’s official A1 model tests.

Writing

In the writing part, your main job is to answer every point in the task clearly. If the task gives you three things to mention, all three need to appear in your message.

Keep the sentences short. At A1, no one expects you to write a poem, so using Ich komme am Freitag (“I’m coming on Friday”) and Mein Zug kommt um 18 Uhr an (“My train arrives at 6 pm”) are perfectly fine. Trying to squeeze everything into one complicated sentence only gives you more chances to make mistakes.

The official practice materials include full writing tasks, so practise with those rather than only doing grammar exercises.

Speaking

The German speaking test is structured, so you won’t be expected to have a long, spontaneous conversation. You introduce yourself first, then move on to short questions, answers and requests.

Prepare the basics so you don’t have to build them from scratch on exam day: your name, where you’re from, where you live, languages, work and hobbies. Then practise turning simple words into questions, for example, Wo wohnen Sie? (“Where do you live?”) or Was machen Sie am Wochenende? (“What do you do at the weekend?”).

Goethe has an official A1 speaking video, which you can check for preparation. Watching it gives you a clear picture of what the German speaking test looks and sounds like on the day.

Points to pass Goethe A1

60 out of 100 points is the minimum passing score for Goethe-Zertifikat A1: Start Deutsch 1 – if you complete all parts of the exam. The written part is worth up to 75 points, and the oral part up to 25. The score breakdown looks like this:

• 90–100: Very good

• 80–89: Good

• 70–79: Satisfactory

• 60–69: Pass

• 0–59: Fail

The passing score is the same regardless of which exam centre you use. As exam guidelines might change, keep yourself updated on the official Goethe website. 

Exam fees

The Goethe-Zertifikat A1: Start Deutsch 1 costs 155 EUR for adults in Germany in 2026 (prices may change, so keep an eye on Goethe updates). People who took a Goethe-Institut course no more than six months before the exam receive a 20% discount, reducing the current price to 124 EUR. These are prices for Goethe exams in Germany. Prices in other countries can differ, so check your local Goethe-Institut.

Telc and ÖSD exam fees aren’t fixed. In 2026, telc A1 is roughly 110–180 EUR at German exam centres, while ÖSD A1 is often around 130–185 EUR, depending on the country and centre. Check the exact price before booking.

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Exam registration

To register for Goethe A1 in Germany, go to the Goethe-Zertifikat A1 page for your country, follow that centre's registration steps. In Germany, you can visit centres in Berlin, Bonn, Bremen, Dresden, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Freiburg, Göttingen, Hamburg, Mannheim, Munich and Schwäbisch Hall. The place shouldn’t affect your exam itself:

“This testing and the standardised implementation guarantee fair exams, regardless of where they are taken.” – Julia Wecker, exam auditor at the Goethe-Institut

Here's how exam registration works for the Goethe:

1. Open the Goethe-Zertifikat A1 page for your country.

2. Choose the city where you want to take the exam.

3. Open that centre’s page and check available dates.

4. Follow its registration process.

5. Pay the examination fee.

6. Read the centre’s exam-day instructions.

If you need your certificate for a visa appointment, leave enough time for the exam and certificate process.

Preparation for the German A1 exam

Take a full official practice test before you study anything else – this is the most reliable way to find your weak spots. Goethe’s A1 exam training lets you simulate the real exam: print the candidate sheets, follow the official time limits, use the listening audio and compare your answers with the solutions. There are also downloadable and online A1 practice materials, including model exercises, listening recordings and a sample speaking video.

If you plan to take the telc instead, use the official telc A1 exam page, which also provides information about the test structure and preparation materials. For ÖSD, use the official ÖSD A1 preparation section.

Practise with a timer, not just with exercises

Once you know the format, start doing full sections under the real-time limit. A lot of people can answer A1 questions correctly when there is no pressure, but then lose time rereading texts or thinking too long about one answer.

For example, give yourself 25 minutes for reading and stop when the time is up. After that, check where you got stuck. If one task took five minutes, that is what you need to fix. Do this a few times before the exam. You’ll quickly see whether your problem is vocabulary, understanding the task, or simply working too slowly.

Learn vocabulary by situation

For A1, focus on the words and phrases you’re most likely to need in everyday life: introducing yourself, talking about family and work, shopping, transport, appointments and housing.  A good starter list is:

• name, age, nationality and address;

• family members;

• numbers, dates and times;

• food and shopping;

• transport and directions;

• appointments;

• housing;

• work and daily routine;

• hobbies and free time.

Try to learn phrases, not just single words. Wie viel kostet das? (“How much does that cost?”) will help you more in the exam than memorising kosten (“to cost”) on its own.

Write short messages

For the writing task, get used to writing very short everyday messages – you may need to cancel a meeting, say when you’ll arrive, ask for information, invite someone or explain why you can’t come.

The main thing is to answer every point in the task. Suppose the task asks you to say why you're writing, when you're free, and what you want the other person to do. Include all three. You don't need long sentences or fancy grammar, just make the answers clear.

It also helps to prepare a few basic phrases you can reuse, for example Ich kann leider nicht kommen (“Unfortunately, I can’t come”), Ich komme um 18 Uhr (“I’ll arrive at 6 pm”) or Können Sie mir bitte helfen? (“Could you please help me?”).

Speak out loud

For the speaking part, practise three things: introducing yourself, asking simple questions and making basic requests. Start with a short introduction you can give without stopping to think about every word: your name, where you’re from, where you live, what languages you speak and what you do.

Then practise simple questions such as:

• Wo wohnen Sie? (“Where do you live?”)

• Was machen Sie am Wochenende? (“What do you do at the weekend?”)

• Wann beginnt der Kurs? (“When does the course start?”)

• Wie viel kostet das? (“How much does that cost?”)

You should also be comfortable making short requests:

• Können Sie mir bitte helfen? (“Could you please help me?”)

• Kann ich bitte das Wasser haben? (“Can I have the water, please?”)

• Bitte öffnen Sie das Fenster. (“Please open the window.”)

Say the answers out loud even if you’re alone.

Choose the course around your exam

If you want classes, pick the exam first and then the course because a general “German for beginners” class may not prepare you for the exact Goethe, telc or ÖSD tasks. Look at the course description and see if it includes mock exams, writing tasks and speaking practice. Сheck the full price as well. The exam fee is often not included in the course price, so you may need to pay for the lessons and the test separately.

If you need A1 for a visa, check the dates – the course should finish early enough for you to take the exam, wait for the result and have the certificate ready for your appointment.

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FAQ: German A1 exam