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Goethe-Zertifikat A1 practice test online
Listening and reading in the Start Deutsch 1 format: 30 tasks, with the audio read by your browser. At the end you get a score for each module and an explanation for every answer.
- 30 tasks
- Hören + Lesen
- Audio
- Explanations
- No sign-up
This is an unofficial Slay School practice test: our own tasks in the exam format. The Goethe-Zertifikat is an exam of the Goethe-Institut; you register for it at an exam centre.
The Goethe-Zertifikat A1 exam format
Four modules. This page covers the two that can be taken honestly online.
| Module | Time | Tasks | On this page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hören — listening | ≈ 20 min | 3 parts, 15 tasks | ✓ |
| Lesen — reading | ≈ 25 min | 3 parts, 15 tasks | ✓ |
| Schreiben — writing | ≈ 20 min | a form and a short message | — |
| Sprechen — speaking | ≈ 15 min | in a group: about yourself, questions and requests | — |
To pass, you need at least 60 of 100 points in total. Check the format and timing on the Goethe-Institut website before your exam.
Goethe A1 practice test
Your answers are saved in the browser — you can close the page and continue later.
Your browser can’t read this language aloud — try Chrome, Safari or Edge, otherwise the listening part won’t work.
Hören
Teil 1
Sie hören sechs kurze Gespräche. Kreuzen Sie an: a, b oder c.
Six short conversations. Choose a, b or c.
Teil 2
Sie hören vier Durchsagen. Kreuzen Sie an: richtig oder falsch.
Four announcements. True (richtig) or false (falsch)?
Teil 3
Sie hören fünf Nachrichten auf dem Anrufbeantworter. Kreuzen Sie an: a, b oder c.
Five voicemail messages. Choose a, b or c.
Lesen
Teil 1
Lesen Sie die zwei Texte. Sind die Aussagen richtig oder falsch?
Two texts. Is each statement true or false?
Text 1
Liebe Julia,
ich bin jetzt in Hamburg. Die Stadt ist sehr schön, aber das Wetter ist schlecht: Es regnet jeden Tag. Ich wohne bei meiner Tante. Morgen gehen wir zusammen ins Museum. Am Sonntag fahre ich wieder nach Hause.
Viele Grüße Maria
Text 2
Hallo Ben,
ich habe heute leider keine Zeit für Tennis, ich muss lange arbeiten. Können wir am Freitag spielen? Ich habe ab 17 Uhr frei.
Gruß Paul
Teil 2
Lesen Sie die Aufgaben und die Anzeigen. Welche Anzeige passt? Kreuzen Sie an: a oder b.
A situation and two ads. Which one fits, a or b?
Teil 3
Lesen Sie die Schilder. Sind die Aussagen richtig oder falsch?
Signs and notices. Is each statement true or false?
Your result
Want to pass the exam with confidence?
Writing and speaking can’t be checked online — they’re best prepared with a teacher. At a free trial lesson we’ll check your level and make a preparation plan.
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How to prepare for Goethe A1
- Hören: learn numbers, times and days of the week — every dialogue has a time, price or date (halb acht is 7:30!).
- Lesen: read the question first, then look for the answer in the text — you don’t need to read every word.
- Schreiben: practise the form (name, address, date of birth) and a short three-point note.
- Sprechen: prepare a short introduction using the keywords Name, Alter, Land, Wohnort, Sprachen, Beruf, Hobby.
FAQ
Didn’t find your answer? Send us a request — we’ll tell you everything.
Is this test like the real Goethe A1?
Yes: the parts, task types and number of questions follow the Hören and Lesen modules of Start Deutsch 1. The texts and audio are our own, and the audio is read by your browser’s voice, so it sounds a little different from the exam recordings.
How many points do you need to pass Goethe A1?
At least 60 of 100 points across all four modules. In this test, aim for 60% correct answers in listening and reading.
How many times is the audio played in the exam?
Parts 1 and 3 twice, part 2 once (at the time this test was written). Here you can replay as often as you like — handy for learning, but you won’t be able to in the exam.
How long does it take to prepare for Goethe A1 from scratch?
Usually 3–5 months of regular lessons (about 80–150 teaching hours). It goes faster with a teacher, as writing and speaking are practised in the exam format from the start.
What’s next
German online
Online German with a teacher: preparation for Goethe A1–B1, live on Zoom or Google Meet. Your first lesson is free.
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Sein, haben, gehen, fahren: Präteritum and Perfekt with audio and a trainer.
Open the tableGerman level test
Grammar, vocabulary and reading from A1 to C1 — and your CEFR level in German.
Take the test
Grammar for this topic
Rules in plain words — with tables, examples and a quiz in every topic.
Word order
The verb in second place, the bracket, questions and subordinate clauses with the verb at the end.
Level A1–B1Accusative and dative
Whom? what? and to whom? — articles, pronouns, verbs and prepositions of the two cases.
Level A1–A2Modal verbs
können, müssen, wollen, dürfen, sollen, mögen — forms, meanings and the infinitive at the end.
Level A1–A2Separable verbs
aufstehen, anrufen, einkaufen — when the prefix goes to the end and when it stays.
Level A1–A2
Next step
Keep learning with a mini-course
Short online courses by Slay School teachers: a 15-minute lesson a day with audio, exercises and dialogues, and the words you forget come back on their own.
- Day 1 is free
- 15 minutes a day, at your own pace
- Every word has audio
- Lifetime access once paid
All you need to start is an email or a Google account.