Goethe C1 scoring and pass mark: 60 of 100 per module
Last updated: 11 November 2026 · Checked against the official exam documents
In the modular Goethe-Zertifikat C1 (in force since 1 January 2024) every module is scored and passed on its own: 60 of 100 points is enough. Based on the official Durchführungsbestimmungen (Stand 1.9.2025), this guide shows how raw scores in Lesen and Hören become points out of 100, how many points each criterion is worth in Schreiben and Sprechen, how the two graders' scores are averaged and rounded, and what your certificate shows — with worked examples.
The pass mark: 60 of 100 in each module
In the modular C1 the four modules are independent and can be taken individually or in any combination. Section 6.3 of the Durchführungsbestimmungen is explicit: „Ein Modul ist bestanden, wenn mindestens 60 Punkte bzw. 60 % erreicht sind.“ Each module is worth a maximum of 100 points (= 100 %). There is no total score and no averaging: 85 points in Lesen will not rescue 55 points in Schreiben. The result is simply “Lesen passed, Schreiben not passed”.
The front of the certificate shows each module's result as points or a percentage. On the back, the points are matched to these official ratings (Prädikate):
| Points | Prädikat | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 100–90 | sehr gut | very good |
| 89–80 | gut | good |
| 79–70 | befriedigend | satisfactory |
| 69–60 | ausreichend | sufficient (pass) |
| 59–0 | nicht bestanden | not passed |
Some score calculators online still describe the old C1 format (valid until 31.12.2023, written part 190 minutes). In today's modular exam every module is scored out of its own 100 points.
Lesen and Hören: raw score to points table
Lesen and Hören each have 30 items (Messpunkte). A correct answer earns 1 raw point, a wrong or empty answer 0 — there is no negative marking. The raw score is multiplied by 3.33 and rounded to a whole number. This table is identical to the one in the official document (left: 30–15 correct, right: 14–0 correct):
- The critical line is 18 correct: 18/30 = 60 points (pass), 17/30 = 57 points (fail). One item is worth 3–4 points, so if you are close to the line, two slips in a single Teil decide the result.
- Wrong answers cost nothing, so never leave an item blank.
- In the paper exam only answers on the Antwortbogen count. According to the official text you should plan about 5 minutes of the Lesen time for transferring answers; in Hören about 3 minutes are given for this.
- In the digital exam there is no transfer; Lesen and Hören answers are scored automatically by the platform.
| Correct (Messpunkte) | Points (Ergebnispunkte) | Correct (Messpunkte) | Points (Ergebnispunkte) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 100 | 14 | 47 |
| 29 | 97 | 13 | 43 |
| 28 | 93 | 12 | 40 |
| 27 | 90 | 11 | 37 |
| 26 | 87 | 10 | 33 |
| 25 | 83 | 9 | 30 |
| 24 | 80 | 8 | 27 |
| 23 | 77 | 7 | 23 |
| 22 | 73 | 6 | 20 |
| 21 | 70 | 5 | 17 |
| 20 | 67 | 4 | 13 |
| 19 | 63 | 3 | 10 |
| 18 | 60 | 2 | 7 |
| 17 | 57 | 1 | 3 |
| 16 | 53 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | 50 | – | – |
Lesen · Punkte · Original exercise 1
Rechnen Sie mit der offiziellen Umrechnungstabelle (Messpunkte × 3,33, gerundet).
Eine Kandidatin löst im Modul LESEN 19 von 30 Items richtig. Wie viele Ergebnispunkte erhält sie?
Zertifly created these original tasks from the official task formats; they are not past exam questions.
Schreiben: criteria and level values
Schreiben has two parts: Teil 1 is a Diskussionsbeitrag for an online forum (about 230 words, 60 points), Teil 2 a formal e-mail (about 120 words, 40 points). Each Teil is marked on four criteria; each criterion gets a level from A to E, and only the values in the table may be given. The official wording: „Zwischenwerte sind nicht zulässig.“
- The 50 % rule: if a text is shorter than roughly half the required length or off-topic, Erfüllung is E and that Teil scores 0 (roughly under 115 words in Teil 1, under 60 in Teil 2).
- Writing more than required is not penalised.
- The most common loss of points: one of the four content points is not handled exactly as asked, which costs points in Erfüllung.
- Two independent graders mark the text; the result is the arithmetic mean of both, rounded to whole points. Only the final copy (Reinschrift) on the Antwortbogen is marked.
- Third marking: if one grader is below 60, the other above 60 and the mean falls below 60, a third grader assesses the text.
| Teil | Criterion (Kriterium) | A | B | C | D | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teil 1 | Erfüllung | 14 | 10.5 | 7 | 3.5 | 0 |
| Teil 1 | Kohärenz | 14 | 10.5 | 7 | 3.5 | 0 |
| Teil 1 | Wortschatz | 16 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 0 |
| Teil 1 | Strukturen | 16 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 0 |
| Teil 1 | Summe | 60 | 45 | 30 | 15 | 0 |
| Teil 2 | Erfüllung | 10 | 7.5 | 5 | 2.5 | 0 |
| Teil 2 | Kohärenz | 10 | 7.5 | 5 | 2.5 | 0 |
| Teil 2 | Wortschatz | 10 | 7.5 | 5 | 2.5 | 0 |
| Teil 2 | Strukturen | 10 | 7.5 | 5 | 2.5 | 0 |
| Teil 2 | Summe | 40 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 0 |
Schreiben · Punkte · Original exercise 1
Wie viele Punkte erhält der Kandidat im Modul SCHREIBEN?
Zertifly created these original tasks from the official task formats; they are not past exam questions.
Sprechen: Teil 1, Teil 2 and Aussprache
Sprechen is run by two examiners; both take notes and score independently. The short warm-up at the start is not scored. Teil 1 (Vortrag plus the questions that follow) is worth 52 points, Teil 2 (Diskussion) 32; Aussprache is scored once across both parts, out of 16. Again, no in-between values are allowed.
- The result is the mean of both examiners, rounded by the official rule: „bis 0,49 wird abgerundet, ab 0,5 wird aufgerundet“.
- The question round after your talk (Fragen/Antworten) is a criterion of its own worth 12 points — do not treat those few minutes as an afterthought.
- Interaktion in Teil 2 is worth only 4 points, but Wortschatz and Strukturen are scored again out of 10 each in the discussion.
- Results of the written modules are not passed on to the Sprechen examiners; Sprechen is scored only on what you do in the room.
| Teil | Criterion (Kriterium) | A | B | C | D | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teil 1 | Erfüllung | 10 | 7.5 | 5 | 2.5 | 0 |
| Teil 1 | Kohärenz | 10 | 7.5 | 5 | 2.5 | 0 |
| Teil 1 | Wortschatz | 10 | 7.5 | 5 | 2.5 | 0 |
| Teil 1 | Strukturen | 10 | 7.5 | 5 | 2.5 | 0 |
| Teil 1 | Fragen/Antworten | 12 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| Teil 2 | Erfüllung | 8 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Teil 2 | Interaktion | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Teil 2 | Wortschatz | 10 | 7.5 | 5 | 2.5 | 0 |
| Teil 2 | Strukturen | 10 | 7.5 | 5 | 2.5 | 0 |
| Teil 1 + 2 | Aussprache | 16 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 0 |
| Teil 1 + 2 | Summe | 100 | 75 | 50 | 25 | 0 |
Sprechen · Punkte · Original exercise 1
Welches Ergebnis wird im Modul SPRECHEN festgehalten?
Zertifly created these original tasks from the official task formats; they are not past exam questions.
Worked examples
- Lesen 17/30 → 57 points, not passed. Lesen 18/30 → 60 points, passed (Prädikat: ausreichend).
- Hören 24/30 → 80 points, „gut“.
- Schreiben, grader 1: Teil 1 B/B/B/B = 10.5 + 10.5 + 12 + 12 = 45; Teil 2 B/A/B/B = 7.5 + 10 + 7.5 + 7.5 = 32.5 → 77.5. Grader 2: 74. Mean 75.75 → 76 points, „befriedigend“.
- Schreiben, graders give 64 and 54: one above and one below 60, mean 59 → a third grader marks the text.
- Sprechen, examiner 1: every Teil 1 criterion B (7.5 × 4 + 9 = 39), every Teil 2 criterion B (6 + 3 + 7.5 + 7.5 = 24), Aussprache C (8) → 71. Examiner 2: 68.5. Mean 69.75 → 70 points, „befriedigend“.
- One exam day, Lesen 87, Hören 63, Schreiben 55, Sprechen 72: three modules passed, Schreiben not. Each module is documented separately, so you can retake Schreiben on its own.
How to use these numbers in your preparation
- In Lesen and Hören aim for 21–22 correct, not 18; that leaves a buffer of 2–3 items for a bad day.
- Count your mistakes per Teil. Of the 30 Lesen items, 8 are in Teil 1, 7 in Teil 2, 8 in Teil 3 and 7 in Teil 4 — one weak Teil can cost you the pass on its own.
- In Schreiben secure the length and all four content points first: Erfüllung E wipes out the whole Teil, while one level lower in Wortschatz costs 4 points.
- In Sprechen write only key words during the 20-minute preparation; you may take your notes into the exam, but reading out a script does not help Kohärenz.
Official sources
The exam rules and figures in this guide were checked against the official sources below.
Related guide
See your score before exam day
Pick your Goethe C1 module on Zertifly: work through Lesen and Hören sets and get points by the official criteria in Schreiben and Sprechen. Your personal C1 study route is waiting on the dashboard.