Goethe A2 Sample Questions: Every Section, How Often You Hear It, Points
Level:A2Duration:~1 h 45 minFee:~€110–150Validity:UnlimitedFormat:Single sitting
Last updated: 30 September 2026 · Verified against current official Goethe-Institut sources
The Goethe-Zertifikat A2 is not modular; the written and oral parts are assessed together. The written exam lasts 90 minutes and the oral exam about 15 minutes in pairs. The official adult model exam shows the task types in the real exam; this guide explains each section the way the sample questions do.
Reading and Listening task types
| Part | Task | Items | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading 1 | Newspaper text – a/b/c | 5 | |
| Reading 2 | Department-store directory – which floor a/b/c | 5 | |
| Reading 3 | Email – a/b/c | 5 | |
| Reading 4 | 6 ads, 5 people – matching | 5 | One person has no ad: X |
| Listening 1 | Radio, voicemail, announcements – a/b/c | 5 | Twice |
| Listening 2 | One conversation – match pictures | 5 | Once |
| Listening 3 | 5 short conversations – a/b/c | 5 | Once |
| Listening 4 | Radio interview – yes/no | 5 | Twice |
Writing and Speaking
- Writing part 1: a text message to a friend, 20–30 words, three content points.
- Writing part 2: a semi-formal email (e.g. to your boss), 30–40 words, three content points.
- Speaking part 1 (~3 min): ask your partner four questions from cards and answer theirs.
- Speaking part 2 (~3 min per person): talk about your life based on a card.
- Speaking part 3 (~5 min): find a time to meet with your partner.
Scoring
| Section | Calculation | Max |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | 20 items × 1.25 | 25 |
| Listening | 20 items × 1.25 | 25 |
| Writing | 20 criteria points × 1.25 | 25 |
| Speaking | Average of two examiners | 25 |
Reading and Listening each include about 3 minutes within the time to transfer answers.
Official sources
The exam rules and figures in this guide were checked against the official sources below.
Related guide
Practise Goethe A2 questions in exam format
Work through timed Goethe A2 Reading and Listening tasks on Zertifly and get your writing assessed.