Goethe C1 retake: how to resit just one module
Last updated: 11 November 2026 · Checked against the official exam documents
If you scored under 60 in one Goethe-Zertifikat C1 module, you do not have to sit the whole exam again. In the modular C1 (since 1 January 2024) every module can be taken on its own, is scored on its own and is documented on its own. This guide shows what the official Durchführungsbestimmungen (Stand 1.9.2025) say about retakes, what you need to ask your exam centre, which module makes sense to retake first and how to prepare a single module in 3–4 weeks.
Can you retake just one module?
Yes. Section 1.3 of the Durchführungsbestimmungen: „Die Module können einzeln oder in Kombination abgelegt werden.“ On retakes, § 7 says: „Die Module können, sofern es die organisatorischen Möglichkeiten am Prüfungszentrum erlauben, beliebig oft abgelegt bzw. wiederholt werden.“ So the document sets no limit on the number of attempts; the limit is the exam centre's dates and capacity. The same section refers to § 14 and § 15 of the Prüfungsordnung for retakes and certification.
Each module's result is documented separately (Lesen and Hören on their answer sheets, Schreiben and Sprechen on their own result forms), and a module certificate is issued per module. You do not have to retake a module you passed because of the one you failed.
- Ask your exam centre: which modules are offered on which dates, fees and registration deadlines, and which format (paper, digital at the centre, online under certain conditions) is available.
- Also ask the exam centre how modules passed on different dates are documented and about validity; the Durchführungsbestimmungen do not regulate this in detail.
- If a university, employer or authority needs the certificate, confirm with them that they accept module certificates from different dates.
Which module should you retake first?
Your module score tells you how far you are from 60. In Lesen and Hören that distance is counted in items (18/30 = 60); in Schreiben and Sprechen you need a timed mock to see where the points went. If you failed more than one module, plan the one closest to 60 first and give the one further away more time.
| Your result | What it means | First step |
|---|---|---|
| Lesen/Hören 53–57 | 16–17 correct; 1–2 items short of 18 | Focus on your weakest Teil; 3 weeks are usually enough |
| Lesen/Hören 50 or less | 15 or fewer correct; at least 3 items short | Increase reading/listening volume; plan 4 weeks or more |
| Schreiben under 60, one Teil very low | Text possibly too short, off-topic or time ran out | Time plan (about 50 + 25 min) and all four content points |
| Schreiben 50–59, a bit short everywhere | Criteria mostly at level C instead of B | Connectors, Redemittel, rewriting your texts |
| Sprechen under 60 | Vortrag structure, question round or interaction in the discussion | Record yourself; train Teil 1 and Teil 2 separately |
This table is Zertifly's preparation advice, not an official rule. The only official line is the pass mark: 60 of 100 in each module.
A 3–4-week retake plan
The plan is built for one module and assumes 60–90 minutes a day. If you only have 3 weeks, merge weeks 2 and 3.
| Week | Lesen / Hören | Schreiben | Sprechen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1: diagnosis | One full timed set; log mistakes per Teil | Write Teil 1 + Teil 2 in 75 minutes; get points per criterion | Record a 5-minute Vortrag and answer questions |
| Week 2 | One set of your weakest Teil every day; read the explanation of every wrong answer | 3 forum posts; check all four points in each | 3 topics with 20 min preparation + Vortrag (introduction, 4 points, conclusion) |
| Week 3 | Second-weakest Teil; in Hören practise single listening (Teil 1, Teil 3) | 3 formal e-mails: complaint, special request, refusal; Sie and politeness | Diskussion: pros and cons, reacting to the partner, agreement or summary |
| Week 4: dress rehearsal | Two full simulations (Lesen 65 min incl. transfer, Hören about 40 min) | Two full simulations (75 min); rewrite your weakest text | Two full simulations; fine-tune Aussprache with recordings |
Lesen and Hören: where to win points back
- Lesen Teil 1 (Aufgaben 1–8): 8 word gaps in a magazine article. Collocations and word families earn the points.
- Lesen Teil 2 (9–15): an online article on a study, 7 multiple-choice items. Separate what the study actually shows from comment on it.
- Lesen Teil 3 (16–23): 8 sentence gaps in a commentary. Follow the references before and after the gap (dies, solche, dennoch).
- Lesen Teil 4 (24–30): three expert texts, 7 statements to match. Match meaning, not words; the statements paraphrase the texts.
- Hören: Teil 1 (podcast) is played once, Teil 2 (radio interview) twice, Teil 3 (conversation in four sections) each section once, Teil 4 (talk/lecture) twice. In the single-listening Teile, reading the items beforehand makes the biggest difference.
- In the paper exam transfer your answers to the Antwortbogen within the time: plan about 5 minutes in Lesen; in Hören about 3 minutes are given for this.
Schreiben and Sprechen: what to focus on
- Schreiben Teil 1: a Diskussionsbeitrag for a forum, about 230 words, public and neutral register; handle each of the four points on the task card exactly as asked.
- Schreiben Teil 2: a formal e-mail in a work or university context, about 120 words, Sie and politeness; the content is often delicate (complaint, refusal, explanation).
- The order of the Teile is free; the suggested time is about 50 minutes for Teil 1 and 25 for Teil 2. If you draft first, leave time to copy onto the Antwortbogen — only the final copy is marked.
- Sprechen Teil 1: choose one of two topics, talk for about 5 minutes (introduction, 4 points, conclusion), then about 2 minutes of questions; afterwards you ask your partner a question about their talk.
- Sprechen Teil 2: same sheet, no roles, about 5 minutes; discuss pros and cons and, depending on the task, reach an agreement or summarise the positions. Your partner is assigned at random; in the exceptional single exam an examiner takes the partner's role.
- In the 20-minute preparation write key words only; you may use these notes in the exam. Dictionaries are not allowed.
Retake day: one module or several
If you sit one module, only that module's time applies: Lesen 65 minutes, Hören about 40 minutes, Schreiben 75 minutes, Sprechen about 20 minutes in pairs or about 15 minutes alone, plus 20 minutes of preparation beforehand. Your identity is checked before every module.
If you sit several written modules on one day, the recommended order is Lesen – Hören – Schreiben with a break of at least 15 minutes between modules; if all four modules are in one session, the written modules usually come before Sprechen. In the digital exam answers go straight into the platform and can be changed until the module is submitted or the time is up.
Official sources
The exam rules and figures in this guide were checked against the official sources below.
Related guide
Start your retake module today
Open the list for the module you need on Zertifly, use the first exercise as your diagnosis and follow the 3–4-week plan with your C1 study route on the dashboard.