Goethe B1 Exam Format: Modules, Timings and Exam-Day Order
Last updated: 8 October 2026 · Verified against current official Goethe-Institut sources
The Goethe-Zertifikat B1 is modular: Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking can be taken separately or together on one day, and each module gets its own result. The written modules take about 165 minutes of working time; the speaking exam lasts about 15 minutes in pairs. This guide puts the whole exam on one page, based on the official terms and conditions dated 1 September 2025.
The four modules at a glance
| Module | Time | Parts | Tasks / items |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 65 min | 5 parts | 30 items |
| Listening | about 40 min | 4 parts | 30 items |
| Writing | 60 min | 3 tasks | ~80 + ~80 + ~40 words |
| Speaking | ~15 min (pair) | 3 parts | Planning, presentation, feedback |
Exam-day order and breaks
- If you take all four modules on one day, the written modules are usually held as a group exam before the speaking module.
- The recommended order is Reading – Listening – Writing; a centre may change it for organisational reasons.
- A break of at least 15 minutes is planned between the written modules.
- In Reading and Listening the roughly 5 minutes needed to transfer answers to the answer sheet are part of the module time; there is no extra time.
- In Writing you write directly on the answer sheet; if you draft on rough paper first, you must plan the copying time yourself.
How the Speaking module runs
| Stage | Time |
|---|---|
| Preparation | 15 min |
| Introductions (not scored) | about 1 min |
| Part 1 – planning together | about 2–3 min |
| Part 2 – presentation | about 3–4 min per person |
| Part 3 – reaction and question | about 1–2 min per person |
Speaking is normally a pair exam; an individual exam is only possible in exceptional cases and takes about 10 minutes.
Scoring and passing
- In Reading and Listening each correct answer is one checkpoint; the total is multiplied by 3.33 and rounded to a score out of 100.
- 18 correct = 60 points (pass mark); 17 correct = 57 points.
- Writing and Speaking are rated independently by two examiners; the result is the average of both scores.
- Modules do not compensate for each other: a high Reading score does not rescue a low Writing score.
Official sources
The exam rules and figures in this guide were checked against the official sources below.
Related guide
Rehearse all four modules with real timings
Work through timed Goethe B1 Reading and Listening sets on Zertifly and get your Writing and Speaking assessed against the official criteria.