German A1 Exam Sample Questions (With Answers Explained)

The A1 exam (Start Deutsch 1) tests everyday German: introducing yourself, filling in a form, understanding short announcements. Below is one sample question per task type, in the official format.

Lesen Teil 1 — Richtig oder Falsch

Text: "Hallo Sara, ich komme am Samstag um 18 Uhr an. Kannst du mich vom Bahnhof abholen? Liebe Grüße, Tom."

Statement: Tom kommt am Sonntag an. — Falsch. The message says Samstag. Teil 1 statements usually change one single detail: a day, a time or a place. Underline that detail in the text before you answer.

Lesen Teil 2 — Which advertisement fits?

You read a situation ("Sie suchen ein Zimmer für zwei Nächte in Berlin") and two small ads. The correct ad matches every condition, not just the city. If one condition fails, the answer is the other ad.

Hören Teil 1 — Short conversations

You hear a station announcement twice. Question: "Wann fährt der Zug ab?" Numbers are the trap: 13:40 (dreizehn Uhr vierzig) and 3:14 sound similar under pressure. Write the number down on first listening, confirm on second.

Schreiben Teil 1 — Filling in a form

You complete five fields of a registration form from a short text: Familienname, Vorname, Geburtsdatum, Straße, Telefonnummer. Each correct field earns a point. Copy spelling exactly as given in the text.

Schreiben Teil 2 — Short message

Write about 30 words covering three bullet points. A message that covers only two bullets cannot reach full marks, however good the German is.

Sprechen Teil 1 — Introducing yourself

You give Name, Alter, Land, Wohnort, Sprachen, Beruf, Hobby, then spell a word and say a number. Prepare and rehearse these seven sentences until they are automatic.

Practise the full paper

Every task type above appears in the free A1 mock test with automatic scoring on Lesen and Hören.

About the author

Lena Hofmann holds an M.A. in German as a Foreign Language and writes GermanArena's A1 practice material.