The Goethe-Institut A1 German test (Start Deutsch 1) has four modules — Hören, Lesen, Schreiben and Sprechen. The written parts take about 65 minutes, the speaking part about 15 minutes, and you need 60 out of 100 points to pass.
A1 (Start Deutsch 1) is a beginner-level certificate at CEFR level A1. It tests four skills — Lesen, Hören, Schreiben and Sprechen — using short, practical texts such as notices, adverts, emails and simple announcements. The whole exam takes about 65 minutes plus the speaking part.
A1 is most often required for spouse/family reunion visas to Germany and Austria, and as proof of basic German for employers and language schools. It is also the natural first goal for anyone starting German from zero.
| Section | What you practise | Time | Tasks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lesen | Reading | 25 min | 3 tasks · notices, emails, ads |
| Hören | Listening | 20 min | 3 tasks · announcements & dialogues |
| Schreiben | Writing | 20 min | Fill a form + write a short message |
| Sprechen | Speaking | 15 min | Introduce yourself, Q&A, ask & respond |
These are shortened examples in the official A1 task formats, with the answers shown. The full versions run under exam timing inside GermanArena.
Hallo Anna, ich komme heute später. Der Zug fährt erst um 18:30 Uhr. Kannst du bitte das Brot kaufen? Bis später! Tom
In the real A1 Lesen Teil 1 you get two short texts with five richtig/falsch statements in total.
„Achtung am Gleis 4: Der ICE nach München, Abfahrt 14:20 Uhr, fährt heute von Gleis 7 ab.“
A1 Hören announcements are played once. Train yourself to catch numbers, times and platforms first.
Your German course starts next week. Write to your teacher, Frau Weber: say you cannot come on Monday, give a reason, and ask for the homework.
All three content points must appear, and a formal greeting and closing are expected.
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Start A1 Free PracticeA1 is the easiest German certification level. Most learners reach it with 80–120 hours of guided study. The tasks use short, predictable texts and everyday topics, so the main challenge is vocabulary recall and listening speed rather than grammar depth.
The written parts take about 65 minutes in total: 25 minutes Lesen, 20 minutes Hören and 20 minutes Schreiben. The Sprechen part is taken separately, usually in a small group, and lasts around 15 minutes.
You need 60 out of 100 points overall. Points are shared across the four skills, so a weaker section can be balanced by a stronger one — but consistently weak listening is the most common reason candidates fall short.
Build a core vocabulary of roughly 500 words, drill the present tense and articles, then practise complete timed mock exams. Practising all four skills under exam timing is the fastest way to convert knowledge into a passing score.