Goethe-Zertifikat A2
The Goethe A2 exam: format, timing and pass mark
You pass the Goethe A2 exam with 60 of 100 points, including at least 45 of 75 written points and 15 of 25 speaking points. The exam has four parts: reading (30 minutes), listening (30 minutes), writing (30 minutes) and speaking as a paired exam.
Updated 25 September 2026, Faust Academy team
A2 shows that you can handle routine everyday situations in German, such as shopping, talking to neighbours and simple talks at work.
German residence law defines simple German as A1, sufficient German as A2 (hinreichend), adequate German as B1 (ausreichend) and full command as C1.
On Faust, one scored online paper per part is free, and every PDF is free. Every online paper gets a result.
Faust Academy is independent practice. It is not a product of the Goethe-Institut and issues no certificates. Book the real exam at a Goethe-Institut or a Goethe test centre.
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The four parts of the Goethe A2 exam
| Part | Length | Tasks |
|---|---|---|
| Reading (Lesen) | 30 minutes | 20 tasks in 4 parts |
| Listening (Hören) | 30 minutes | 20 tasks in 4 parts |
| Writing (Schreiben) | 30 minutes | 2 writing tasks |
| Speaking (Sprechen) | Oral exam | 3 parts, paired exam |
Goethe A2 pass marks
You need all three lines: 60 points in total, and the minimum in each of the two parts.
| Part | Maximum points | You need |
|---|---|---|
| Written exam (Lesen, Hören, Schreiben) | 75 | 45 points |
| Speaking (Sprechen) | 25 | 15 points |
| Whole exam | 100 | 60 points |
How the parts fit together
Goethe A2 is one exam, not separate modules. The written part, reading, listening and writing, takes 90 minutes. Speaking is a separate paired exam.
Because the whole exam counts together, a strong score in one part can make up for a weaker score in another part, as long as you reach the minimums in the table.
Reading, listening and writing in detail
- Reading (Lesen), 30 minutes. Part 1: multiple choice, 5 tasks. Part 2: multiple choice, 5 tasks. Part 3: multiple choice, 5 tasks. Part 4: matching, 5 tasks.
- Listening (Hören), 30 minutes. Part 1: multiple choice, 5 tasks, audio played twice. Part 2: matching, 5 tasks, audio played once. Part 3: multiple choice, 5 tasks, audio played once. Part 4: yes or no, 5 tasks, audio played twice.
- Writing (Schreiben), 30 minutes. Part 1: write a short message, 15 minutes, 10 points. Part 2: write an email, 15 minutes, 10 points.
The A2 speaking exam
Speaking is a paired exam, and in exceptional cases you sit it alone. It lasts 15 minutes in a pair and 10 minutes alone, and there is no preparation time. The exam has 3 parts.
You ask your partner questions about their life from word cards and answer theirs. Then you talk about yourself and your life. In the last part you plan something together, such as a meeting or an outing, and agree on a result.
Results, certificate and age
The test centre where you took the exam gives you the results. It cannot release a result early for one person. The Goethe-Institut issues the certificate on paper or as a PDF. The test centre decides the form. Anyone can check a certificate at goethe.de/verify.
If you lose the certificate, the test centre where you registered can issue a replacement within 10 years, for a fee. The Goethe-Institut recommends the adult A2 exam from 16 years. You do not need a certificate of a lower level to register.
Goethe A2 practice papers on Faust
Faust has 48 Goethe A2 practice papers: 12 for Lesen, 12 for Hören, 12 for Schreiben and 12 for Sprechen. Every PDF is free, with the answers, and every listening paper comes with its audio.
Full access to every paper is paid. The pricing page shows the current price.
Practise each part of Goethe A2
- Goethe A2 reading practice test
- Goethe A2 listening practice test
- Goethe A2 writing practice test
- Goethe A2 Sprechen (German page)
- Goethe A2 Modelltest PDFs (German page)
- Goethe points calculator (German page)
Frequently asked questions
- How long is the Goethe A2 exam?
- Reading takes 30 minutes, listening 30 minutes and writing 30 minutes. Speaking has 3 parts. Speaking is a paired exam, and in exceptional cases you sit it alone. It lasts 15 minutes in a pair and 10 minutes alone, and there is no preparation time.
- How many points do I need to pass Goethe A2?
- You pass the Goethe A2 exam with 60 of 100 points, including at least 45 of 75 written points and 15 of 25 speaking points.
- How many tasks are in the A2 reading and listening parts?
- Reading has 20 tasks in 4 parts. Listening has 20 tasks in 4 parts. Writing has 2 writing tasks.
- How long is the Goethe A2 certificate valid?
- The Goethe-Institut exam rules set no expiry date for the A2 certificate. The office that asks for your certificate, such as an embassy, a university or an employer, decides which certificates it accepts, so ask that office. Anyone can check that a certificate is real at goethe.de/verify.
- Can I retake the Goethe A2 exam?
- Yes. You can retake the A2 exam as often as you want. The test centre can set a waiting time before a retake date and tells you with your result.
- Where do I get my Goethe exam result?
- The test centre where you took the exam gives you the result. The Goethe-Institut does not release a result early for one person. The exam rules give no fixed number of days, so ask your test centre when it sends results.
- What does Goethe A2 practice cost on Faust?
- On Faust, one scored online paper per part is free, and every PDF is free. Full access to every paper is paid. The pricing page shows the current price.
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Sources
- Goethe-Institut exam rules for A2 (Durchführungsbestimmungen), 1 September 2025
- Goethe-Institut exam rules (Prüfungsordnung), 1 September 2025
- Goethe-Institut: German exams from A1 to C2
- German Residence Act, section 2 (language level definitions)