Goethe A2 Scoring and Pass Mark: The 60, 45 and 15 Point Rule
Level:A2Duration:~1 h 45 minFee:~€110–150Validity:UnlimitedFormat:Single sitting
Last updated: 4 October 2026 · Verified against current official Goethe-Institut sources
The Goethe-Zertifikat A2 is not modular; all four sections are assessed as one exam. It is worth 100 points: 75 written and 25 oral. You need at least 60 points in total, but that is not enough on its own: at least 45 must come from the written part and at least 15 from the oral part. Otherwise the whole exam counts as failed.
How each section is scored
| Section | Raw score | Conversion | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 20 items (1 / 0) | × 1.25 | 25 |
| Listening | 20 items (1 / 0) | × 1.25 | 25 |
| Writing | 2 tasks, up to 20 | × 1.25 | 25 |
| Speaking | Average of two examiners | – | 25 |
Scenarios
| Written (75) | Oral (25) | Total | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 15 | 65 | Pass |
| 44 | 22 | 66 | Fail (written < 45) |
| 58 | 12 | 70 | Fail (oral < 15) |
| 45 | 15 | 60 | Pass |
Reaching 60 overall is not enough; both minimums must be met.
Marking and grades
- Two graders mark Writing independently and the average counts. If one is below 12 criteria points, the other above, and the mean is below 12, a third grader marks it.
- If task completion in Writing scores E (0), that task scores 0.
- Grades: 90–100 sehr gut, 80–89 gut, 70–79 befriedigend, 60–69 ausreichend, 0–59 nicht bestanden.
- In exceptional cases, and only if the centre can arrange it, just the oral or the whole written part may be retaken within a year at the same centre; there is no right to this.
Official sources
The exam rules and figures in this guide were checked against the official sources below.
Related guide
Measure your risk in the written part
Work through Goethe A2 Reading and Listening on Zertifly and see how close you are to the 45-point written minimum.