How is the Goethe A1 speaking exam conducted?

In a group, about 15 minutes, in three parts: introducing yourself, asking and answering with word cards, and forming requests with picture cards.

What is asked in Teil 1?

You introduce yourself along the keywords Name, Alter, Land, Wohnort, Sprachen, Beruf and Hobby, then spell a word and say a number.

How do I prepare for spelling (buchstabieren)?

Practise the German alphabet aloud and rehearse spelling your name and city at least 10 times.

What if I don't understand a question?

Ask 'Wie bitte?' or 'Können Sie das bitte wiederholen?' — that is valid communication and costs no points.

Do small mistakes prevent passing?

No; intelligibility is what counts at A1. Slow and clear beats fast but unclear.

Goethe A1 Speaking: 3 Parts, Sample Questions and Model Answers

Level:A1Duration:~65 min + 15 min oralFee:Varies by centerValidity:UnlimitedFormat:4 modules

Last updated: July 2026 · 7 min read

The Goethe A1 speaking exam takes about 15 minutes and is held in a group. It has three parts: you introduce yourself, ask and answer questions using word cards, and form requests using picture cards. Because the questions come from the same fixed patterns in every sitting, this module is the easiest to secure with memorisation plus pronunciation practice.

Teil 1: Sich vorstellen (Introducing Yourself)

The examiner points to keywords on the board and you introduce yourself along them: Name, Alter, Land, Wohnort, Sprachen, Beruf, Hobby.

„Ich heiße Fatma Demir. Ich bin 28 Jahre alt. Ich komme aus der Türkei und wohne in Izmir. Ich spreche Türkisch und ein bisschen Deutsch. Ich bin Friseurin von Beruf. Mein Hobby ist Kochen."

Two follow-up tasks come next: spelling your name or city (buchstabieren) and saying a number (usually your phone number). Practise the alphabet and digits 0-9 out loud — these two small tasks trip up unprepared candidates most often.

Teil 2: Asking For and Giving Information

You receive a topic (e.g. "Essen und Trinken", "Freizeit") and cards with a single word. You form a question with your card's word; another candidate answers.

Topic: Freizeit · Card: "Sport"

Question: „Machst du Sport?"

Answer: „Ja, ich spiele Fußball am Wochenende."

Topic: Essen und Trinken · Card: "Frühstück"

Question: „Was isst du zum Frühstück?"

Answer: „Ich esse Brot mit Käse und trinke Tee."

Strategy: memorise one frame for W-questions (was, wo, wann, wie) and one for yes/no questions; whatever word appears on the card, slot it into the frame.

Teil 3: Making Requests (Bitten formulieren)

Picture cards are handed out (e.g. a bottle of water, a window, a pen). You form a request with the object on the card; the other candidate reacts appropriately.

Card: window

Request: „Machen Sie bitte das Fenster zu." / „Kannst du bitte das Fenster zumachen?"

Reaction: „Ja, natürlich. Kein Problem."

Card: water

Request: „Geben Sie mir bitte ein Glas Wasser."

Reaction: „Ja, gern. Bitte schön."

Two frames cover every card: "… Sie bitte …" (formal) and "Kannst du bitte …?" (informal). For reactions, "Ja, natürlich / gern / kein Problem" is enough.

Scoring and Tips

Intelligibility is what counts — small mistakes are tolerated at A1, silence is not.
Speak slowly and clearly; fast but unintelligible answers lose points.
If you don't understand a question, ask: „Wie bitte?" / „Können Sie das bitte wiederholen?" — that also counts as valid communication.
Memorise your introduction but don't recite it robotically; rehearse it aloud 10+ times for a natural tempo.

Rehearse with a Speaking Simulation

Zertifly's Goethe A1 speaking simulation mirrors the real three-part flow: you hear the examiner, see your preparation time and record your answer. The AI gives feedback on pronunciation and content — rehearse as often as you like before exam day.

For the other three modules (Hören, Lesen, Schreiben) and the scoring system, see the complete Goethe A1 guide.

Conclusion

A1 Sprechen is the most predictable part of the exam: three fixed task types with a limited set of patterns. A candidate who rehearses a ~20-sentence repertoire — introduction + question frames + request frames — walks out of this module with a high score.