Goethe A2 Sprechen: What Happens in the Mündliche Prüfung

The Goethe-Zertifikat A2 speaking test lasts about 15 minutes and is usually taken in pairs. There is no long preparation time and no written notes to read out, so the marks go to candidates who can keep a simple conversation going. It has three parts.

Teil 1 — asking and answering questions

You get keyword cards on an everyday topic (for example "Wohnen", "Essen", "Urlaub") and take turns asking your partner a question and answering theirs.

• Ask a full question, not a single word: "Wo wohnst du?" rather than "Wohnen?".
• Answer in two sentences: the fact, then a detail. "Ich wohne in Surat. Die Stadt ist groß und sehr laut."
• Prepare question forms for each topic: Wo? Wann? Wie oft? Mit wem? Warum?

Teil 2 — talking about yourself

You get a topic card and speak about your own experience for a minute or two: your day, your job, your last holiday, your hobbies.

• Structure it: what you do, when, with whom, and whether you like it.
• Use the Perfekt for past events: "Letztes Jahr bin ich nach Delhi gefahren."
• Two or three linked sentences per idea is enough at A2. Do not aim for long speeches.

Teil 3 — planning something together

You and your partner plan an activity together, such as a birthday party, a trip or a visit to a friend.

• Make suggestions: "Wollen wir ...?", "Ich schlage vor, dass ...", "Wie wäre es mit ...?".
• React to your partner: "Gute Idee!", "Das finde ich nicht so gut, weil ...".
• Agree on a result. The examiners want to hear a real exchange, so leave space for your partner to speak.

How to practise

• Practise out loud with a partner or a recorder — reading silently does not train this module.
• Time yourself: 15 minutes total means roughly 3 to 5 minutes per part.
• Learn 10 fixed phrases for suggesting, agreeing and disagreeing. They carry the whole of Teil 3.

Silence loses more marks than a wrong ending. If you do not understand something, say "Können Sie das bitte wiederholen?" — asking is allowed and shows you can manage a conversation.

See the full A2 module list, timings and pass mark on our A2 exam page, then take a timed A2 mock in GermanArena to check your Lesen and Hören scores before exam day.