How many points do I need to pass Goethe A1?

You need 60 of 100 points over the whole exam, and you must take every part. 75 points come from the written exam and 25 from speaking.

Do I need 60 percent in every part of A1?

No. At A1 all parts count together. You need 60 points in total, not in each part.

How long is the Goethe A1 exam?

The written exam takes 65 minutes with no break: Hören, Lesen and Schreiben. Sprechen takes 15 minutes in a group.

Is there preparation time in A1 Sprechen?

No. The A1 speaking exam has no preparation time. It runs in a group of up to four candidates.

Is A1 enough for the German spouse visa?

German law asks a spouse who joins a partner in Germany for simple German, which it sets at level A1. The law lists exceptions, and the embassy or consulate decides which certificate it accepts.

Can I retake A1 if I fail?

Yes, as often as you want. A1 is one exam, so you retake all parts together.

Goethe-Zertifikat A1: Start Deutsch 1

How to pass the Goethe A1 exam

To pass Goethe A1 you need 60 of 100 points over the whole exam, and you must take every part. The written exam takes 65 minutes: Hören (20 minutes), Lesen (25 minutes) and Schreiben (20 minutes). Sprechen is a group exam. Because all parts count together, a strong part can make up for a weaker one.

Updated 25 September 2026, Faust Academy team

Many people take A1 for the spouse visa, as German law asks a spouse who joins a partner in Germany for simple German at level A1. The exam checks basic everyday German: short texts, announcements, a form, a short message and simple talk.

Below you find the format of each part, where candidates lose points, and a three week plan built on scored practice papers.

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The Goethe A1 exam at a glance

Part	Time	Tasks	Raw points
Hören (Listening)	20 minutes	15 tasks in 3 parts	15
Lesen (Reading)	25 minutes	15 tasks in 3 parts	15
Schreiben (Writing)	20 minutes	A form and a short message	15
Sprechen (Speaking)	15 minutes, no preparation time	3 parts, group exam	15

How the A1 points work

Goethe A1: the exam has 100 points, 75 written and 25 speaking. You pass with 60 points in total, and you must take every part.

Each part has 15 raw points. The Goethe-Institut multiplies the raw points by 1.66, adds them up and rounds to whole points. This gives 75 points for the written exam and 25 for speaking. With fewer than 35 points after the written exam, you cannot reach 60 any more, so the rules say that the speaking part no longer makes sense.

Because all parts count together, you do not need 60 percent in each part. But every part counts, so a skipped part or a blank answer costs you points you may need.

Hören and Lesen: short texts, clear answers

Hören has 15 tasks. You hear part 1 twice, part 2 once, part 3 twice. The texts are short: announcements, phone messages and everyday talks. Read the task before each text, and listen for numbers, times, days and places.

Lesen has 15 tasks in 25 minutes: short letters and messages, adverts and signs. Some tasks ask you to pick the right one of two adverts for a situation. You do not need every word. Look for the one piece of information the task asks for.

Schreiben: a form and a short message

In part 1 you complete a form with information from a short text, for 5 raw points. In part 2 you write a short message, for 10 raw points, with a target of 30 words.

The task for the message gives you three points to write about. Write one or two sentences for each point, add a greeting and a closing, and check that every point is there. Learn the spelling of your name, address and date formats in German.

Sprechen: a group exam with no preparation time

Sprechen takes place in a group of up to four candidates with two examiners, for 15 minutes, with no preparation time. In part 1 you introduce yourself, spell a word and say a number. In part 2 you ask and answer questions on everyday topics from word cards. In part 3 you make requests and react to the requests of others.

Part 1 gives up to 3 raw points, and parts 2 and 3 give up to 6 each. Practise short questions with W words and polite requests with "Können Sie" and "Ich möchte" until they come without thinking.

A three week plan with practice papers

Week 1: take one practice paper each for Hören, Lesen and Schreiben under real time limits. Add up your points to see where you stand.
Week 2: practise the part with the lowest score every day. Learn the words for numbers, times, days, family and shopping.
Week 3: do a full written exam in 65 minutes in one sitting, and practise the three speaking parts aloud. Book the exam when your total is safely above 60.

Practice papers for A1

Faust Academy has 48 Goethe A1 practice papers in the real exam format. Every online paper gets a score against the A1 pass rule. One scored online paper per part is free, and every PDF is free.

Faust Academy is independent practice. It is not a product of the Goethe-Institut and issues no certificates.

A1 papers by part

Frequently asked questions

How many points do I need to pass Goethe A1?: You need 60 of 100 points over the whole exam, and you must take every part. 75 points come from the written exam and 25 from speaking.
Do I need 60 percent in every part of A1?: No. At A1 all parts count together. You need 60 points in total, not in each part.
How long is the Goethe A1 exam?: The written exam takes 65 minutes with no break: Hören, Lesen and Schreiben. Sprechen takes 15 minutes in a group.
Is there preparation time in A1 Sprechen?: No. The A1 speaking exam has no preparation time. It runs in a group of up to four candidates.
Is A1 enough for the German spouse visa?: German law asks a spouse who joins a partner in Germany for simple German, which it sets at level A1. The law lists exceptions, and the embassy or consulate decides which certificate it accepts.
Can I retake A1 if I fail?: Yes, as often as you want. A1 is one exam, so you retake all parts together.

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