Goethe A2 Exam Format: Sections, Timings and Exam-Day Order
Last updated: 13 October 2026 · Verified against current official Goethe-Institut sources
The Goethe-Zertifikat A2 is not modular: Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking are taken as one exam and assessed together. The written part lasts 90 minutes without a break, and the speaking part about 15 minutes in pairs. This guide puts the whole exam on one page, based on the official terms and conditions of 1 September 2025 and the 2025 model exam.
The four sections at a glance
| Section | Time | Parts | Items / tasks | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 30 min | 4 | 20 items | 25 |
| Listening | about 30 min | 4 | 20 items | 25 |
| Writing | 30 min | 2 | Text 20–30 + email 30–40 words | 25 |
| Speaking | ~15 min (pair) | 3 | Questions, talking about yourself, finding a time | 25 |
Exam-day order
- The written exam usually comes before the oral; if not on the same day, they are at most 14 days apart.
- The recommended order is Reading – Listening – Writing; a centre may change it for organisational reasons.
- There are no breaks between the written sections; the 90 minutes run straight through.
- In Reading and Listening the roughly 3 minutes needed to transfer answers to the answer sheet are part of the section time.
- In Writing you write directly on the answer sheet.
How often each Listening text is played
| Part | Text | Items | Played |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part 1 | Radio, voicemail, announcements – a/b/c | 5 | Twice |
| Part 2 | One conversation – match pictures | 5 | Once |
| Part 3 | Five short conversations – a/b/c | 5 | Once |
| Part 4 | Radio interview – yes/no | 5 | Twice |
How Speaking runs
| Stage | Time |
|---|---|
| Introductions | about 1 min |
| Part 1 – asking and answering with cards | about 3 min |
| Part 2 – talking about yourself | about 3 min per person |
| Part 3 – finding a time together | about 5 min |
There is no preparation time in Speaking; you get the tasks during the exam. Pairs are put together at random.
Who is it for?
- According to the model exam, the Goethe-Zertifikat A2 is for candidates aged 16 and over.
- Under-16s are recommended the Goethe-Zertifikat A2 Fit in Deutsch; both exams have the same format.
- Dictionaries and mobile phones are not allowed in any section.
Official sources
The exam rules and figures in this guide were checked against the official sources below.
Related guide
Rehearse all four sections with real timings
Work through timed Goethe A2 Reading and Listening sets on Zertifly and get your Writing and Speaking assessed against the official criteria.