Free Goethe C1 mock exam: current resources and a 7-day plan
Last updated: 11 November 2026 · Checked against the official exam documents
If you are looking for a free Goethe-Zertifikat C1 mock exam, start with one warning: the free C1 Modellsatz PDF that is shared everywhere belongs to the old exam, valid only until 31.12.2023. Since 1 January 2024 the C1 has been modular: Lesen, Hören, Schreiben and Sprechen are separate modules, each scored out of 100. This page shows which free resources match the current format, what the old material is still good for, and how to turn these resources into a one-week free mock exam.
Free Goethe C1 resources: which are current?
The table lists what you can use without paying and whether it matches the modular exam in force since 2024. Links to the official documents are in the “Official sources” box at the end of this page.
| Resource | What is free | Current format? | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durchführungsbestimmungen C1 (Stand 1.9.2025) | All rules: modules, timing, scoring, Schreiben and Sprechen criteria | Yes | Goethe-Institut, PDF (see sources) |
| Official Übungsmaterialien page | Overview of the official practice material | Check which exam each item belongs to | goethe.de C1 page (see sources) |
| Old C1 Modellsatz (alte Prüfung) | A complete old exam set (PDF) | No – only until 31.12.2023 | Goethe-Institut, PDF (see sources) |
| Zertifly Goethe C1 lists | First exercise of every list; a few AI evaluations for Schreiben and Sprechen | Yes – modular C1 format | Links above and below |
| Simulation tab | You can see what it contains; the timed simulation itself is Pro | Yes | “Simulation” tab in every C1 list |
Most files that come up for “Goethe C1 Modellsatz PDF” are in the old format. If you see a 190-minute written exam or an Aufgabe 1 built around a graph, you are looking at the old exam.
The old Modellsatz: what to use and what to skip
The free C1 Modellsatz from the Goethe-Institut is explicitly the old exam and was valid only until 31.12.2023. In that exam the written part took 190 minutes, the first Schreiben task was based on a graph and required at least 200 words, and the oral exam was a pair exam of about 15 minutes. In today's modular exam Schreiben takes 75 minutes and has two different tasks: a forum post (Diskussionsbeitrag) of about 230 words and a formal e-mail of about 120 words.
- Use it for Lesen and Hören technique: reading speed, finding the main line of long texts, taking notes while listening.
- Skip it for Schreiben: describing a graph is not part of the current exam; you need forum posts and formal e-mails.
- Skip it for Sprechen: today Teil 1 is a talk of about 5 minutes on one of two topics (Vortrag) and Teil 2 is a discussion of about 5 minutes with your partner (Diskussion).
- Don't score yourself with the old set's scoring: today every module is scored separately out of 100 and passed with 60.
What is free on Zertifly for C1
The Goethe C1 lists on Zertifly follow the modular format: 15 sets each for Lesen and Hören (all four Teile), 30 Schreiben tasks (15 forum posts and 15 formal e-mails), and Sprechen Teil 1 Vortrag and Teil 2 Diskussion. The first exercise in every list is free.
- Lesen: every one of the 30 items has an explanation, so you see at once in which Teil you lose points.
- Hören: audio is played as in the exam – Teil 1 once, Teil 2 twice, Teil 3 section by section once, Teil 4 twice.
- Schreiben: a free account gets a few AI evaluations – points per Teil by Erfüllung, Kohärenz, Wortschatz and Strukturen, plus an “Enhance Text” rewrite.
- Sprechen: an AI examiner asks spoken questions and an AI partner discusses with you in Teil 2; scoring follows the official criteria.
- Simulation tab: a full timed mock per module under exam conditions – a Pro feature; with a free account you see what it contains and an upgrade option.
A 7-day mock week with free resources
The most reliable free mock combines the official rules with practice in the current format. Do one module per day in exam time: no dictionary, phone off, answers checked only at the end.
| Day | Task | Resource | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Read the rules: module timing, scoring, Schreiben and Sprechen criteria | Durchführungsbestimmungen | 30–40 min |
| 2 | All four Lesen Teile in one sitting, answers transferred to paper | Lesen list, first set (free) | 65 min |
| 3 | Hören without pausing the audio | Hören list, first set (free) | about 40 min |
| 4 | Speed and note-taking drill with the old Modellsatz Lesen and Hören texts only | Old Modellsatz (technique only) | 45–60 min |
| 5 | Schreiben Teil 1 (forum, about 230 words, 50 min) and Teil 2 (e-mail, about 120 words, 25 min) | Schreiben list, first task + AI evaluation | 75 min |
| 6 | Sprechen Teil 1: 20 min preparation, about 5 min Vortrag; record yourself | Sprechen list, first exercise (free) | about 30 min |
| 7 | Score everything, sort mistakes by Teil, plan the next week | Scoring rules below | 30–45 min |
For a rehearsal closer to the real exam day, do days 2, 3 and 5 back to back: the written modules take about 180 minutes in total without breaks.
How to score your free mock yourself
- Lesen and Hören: multiply your correct answers by 3.33. 30 correct = 100 points, 18 correct = 60 points = pass mark.
- Schreiben: Teil 1 is worth 60 points (Erfüllung 14, Kohärenz 14, Wortschatz 16, Strukturen 16), Teil 2 40 points (10 per criterion). Tick off the four points one by one first: the most common loss is one point not handled exactly as asked.
- Length: a text under about half the required length, or off topic, gets E for Erfüllung and that Teil scores 0. Writing more is not penalised.
- Sprechen: Teil 1 52 points, Teil 2 32 points, Aussprache 16 points across both. Listen back and check for an introduction, all four points and a conclusion.
- Your own score is an estimate: in the exam two independent graders mark Schreiben and two examiners mark Sprechen.
When the free part runs out
The free first exercises are enough to learn the format and find your weakest module. If you want a full-length, timed mock per module, the “Simulation” tab in each list runs one under exam conditions; it is a Pro feature. With a free account you can see what the tab contains.
Official sources
The exam rules and figures in this guide were checked against the official sources below.
- Goethe-Institut: Durchführungsbestimmungen Goethe-Zertifikat C1 (Stand 1. September 2025, PDF)
- Goethe-Institut: Goethe-Zertifikat C1 – Prüfungsinformationen
- Goethe-Institut: Goethe-Zertifikat C1 – Übungsmaterialien
- Goethe-Institut: Modellsatz Goethe-Zertifikat C1 – alte Prüfung, nur bis 31.12.2023 (PDF)
Related guide
Do your first C1 exercise for free
Build your own mock from the first exercises of the four Goethe C1 lists; Zertifly shows you straight away in which module you lose points.