German A2 Exam — Complete Preparation Guide
The German A2 exam certifies elementary German. It shows you can communicate in simple, routine situations and understand sentences about family, shopping, work and your local area.
What is the German A2 exam?
A2 (Start Deutsch 2) is an elementary-level certificate at CEFR level A2. It tests Lesen, Hören, Schreiben and Sprechen with short everyday texts, adverts and conversations. The written parts run about 80 minutes, plus a paired speaking part.
Who is A2 for?
A2 is commonly required for family reunion and some residence permits, and is a standard checkpoint before starting B1 study for work or vocational training.
Exam format
| Section | What you practise | Time | Tasks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lesen | Reading | 30 min | 4 tasks · short texts and adverts |
| Hören | Listening | 30 min | 4 tasks · everyday situations |
| Schreiben | Writing | 30 min | SMS/email + short opinion |
| Sprechen | Speaking | 15 min | Introduce yourself, plan together, ask & answer |
German A2 exam preparation
GermanArena A2 preparation covers the full exam suite: timed reading and listening with instant scoring, model-answer writing tasks with AI feedback, and speaking prompts recorded and scored for fluency. A2 mock exams mirror the official section order and timing.
- 1000 A2 vocabulary
- Perfect tense & prepositions
- Model letters
- 4 full mock exams
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Start A2 Free PracticeGerman A2 — frequently asked questions
How difficult is A2 German?
A2 is still elementary but noticeably wider than A1. Most learners need 180–240 hours in total. The step up is mainly vocabulary volume, past tense (Perfekt) and handling longer listening passages at natural speed.
How long is the A2 exam?
The written sections take about 80 minutes: 30 minutes Lesen, 30 minutes Hören and 30 minutes Schreiben, depending on the format. The paired Sprechen part adds roughly 15 minutes.
What is tested in A2?
Four skills are tested. Lesen uses adverts and short texts, Hören uses everyday conversations and announcements, Schreiben asks for a short message and a short opinion, and Sprechen covers self-introduction, asking questions and planning something with a partner.
How can I prepare for A2?
Extend your vocabulary to around 1,000 words, master the Perfekt and common prepositions, and memorise message structures for the writing part. Then run complete timed mocks until your section timing is comfortable.