Goethe A1 Exam Format: Sections, Timing and Tasks
Last updated: 24 July 2026 · Checked against rules effective 1 September 2025
Goethe-Zertifikat A1: Start Deutsch 1 is one examination with Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking sections. The standard written testing time totals about 65 minutes; the group speaking test lasts about 15 minutes.
Overview of the four sections
| Section | Standard time | Structure | Texts/tasks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening | About 20 min | 3 parts, 15 tasks | Short conversations and announcements |
| Reading | About 25 min | 3 parts, 15 tasks | Notes, ads, signs and notices |
| Writing | About 20 min | 2 parts | Form filling and a short text of about 30 words |
| Speaking | About 15 min | 3 parts, group exam | Introduction, information exchange and requests |
Listening
Listening has three parts and 15 tasks. In Part 1, six short texts are played twice; in Part 2, four public announcements are played once; in Part 3, five short messages are played twice. Tasks use multiple choice or true/false.
The official model tests concrete details such as prices, times, room numbers, transport and phone messages. The goal is to select the information requested, not transcribe every word.
Playback differs by part: Part 2 is heard only once.
Reading
Reading contains 15 tasks in three parts. Part 1 uses short personal texts and true/false statements; Part 2 asks you to choose information that matches a need; Part 3 tests signs and brief notices.
The standard time is about 25 minutes. The official model shows five raw points in each part.
Writing
Part 1 asks you to fill five missing fields in a form using information from a situation. Part 2 asks for a short text of about 30 words covering three content points, with an opening and closing.
Official criteria score fulfilment of each content point and the communicative design of the text. A minor language error is not the same as failing to address a point; intelligibility and task fulfilment matter.
Speaking
| Part | Approx. time | Task |
|---|---|---|
| Part 1 | 5 min | Introduce yourself using name, age, country, town, languages, occupation and hobby |
| Part 2 | 5 min | Ask for and give information using a word card |
| Part 3 | 5 min | Formulate a request and respond to a partner's request |
Scoring and pass rule
The current rules allocate up to 75 points to the written test and 25 to speaking. A candidate passes with at least 60/100 and participation in all sections.
Start Deutsch 1 is not modular. Under the current rules, only the full examination can be retaken, not a single section.
This is the adult Start Deutsch 1 exam. The youth Fit in Deutsch 1 exam has different scoring details.
Official sources
Timing and tasks come from the Goethe-Institut exam page and online model; scoring and retake rules come from the administration rules effective 1 September 2025.
Related guides
Practise every section in its real format
Once you know the structure, develop each skill through timed, task-focused sets.
