Exam format explorer
Goethe exam format from A1 to C2
The Goethe exam has four modules at every level from A1 to C2: Lesen (reading), Hören (listening), Schreiben (writing) and Sprechen (speaking). At B1, Lesen takes 65 minutes, Hören 40 minutes and Schreiben 60 minutes, and you pass each module with 60 of 100 points.
Updated 26 September 2026, Faust Academy team
Pick a level and a module to see only those tables, or read all six levels in order. Each table shows the parts (Teil), the task types, the number of tasks and the time. The numbers come from the official Modellsatz that the Goethe-Institut publishes for each level, linked under Sources.
Sprechen is an oral exam with examiners, so its row shows the number of parts and whether you speak in a group, with a partner or alone.
Level
Module
Goethe A1 exam format
All modules count together. You pass with 60 of 100 points: 75 points come from the written modules and 25 from speaking.
| Module | Time | Parts | Tasks | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading (Lesen) | 25 min | 3 | 15 | 25 |
| Listening (Hören) | 20 min | 3 | 15 | 25 |
| Writing (Schreiben) | 20 min | 2 | 2 | 25 |
| Speaking (Sprechen) | Oral exam | 3 | Group exam | 25 |
Goethe A1 Reading (Lesen)
15 tasks in 3 parts, 25 minutes.
| Part | Task type | Tasks |
|---|---|---|
| Teil 1 | True or false | 5 |
| Teil 2 | Find information in short texts, 2 options | 5 |
| Teil 3 | True or false | 5 |
Goethe A1 Listening (Hören)
15 tasks in 3 parts, 20 minutes.
| Part | Task type | Tasks | Audio played |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teil 1 | Multiple choice, 3 options | 6 | Twice |
| Teil 2 | True or false | 4 | Once |
| Teil 3 | Multiple choice, 3 options | 5 | Twice |
Goethe A1 Writing (Schreiben)
2 writing tasks in 20 minutes.
| Part | Task | Words |
|---|---|---|
| Teil 1 | Fill in a form with 5 missing details | No word count |
| Teil 2 | Short message | 30 words |
Goethe A2 exam format
All modules count together. You pass with 60 of 100 points, with at least 45 of the 75 written points and at least 15 of the 25 speaking points.
| Module | Time | Parts | Tasks | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading (Lesen) | 30 min | 4 | 20 | 25 |
| Listening (Hören) | 30 min | 4 | 20 | 25 |
| Writing (Schreiben) | 30 min | 2 | 2 | 25 |
| Speaking (Sprechen) | Oral exam | 3 | Paired exam | 25 |
Goethe A2 Reading (Lesen)
20 tasks in 4 parts, 30 minutes.
| Part | Task type | Tasks |
|---|---|---|
| Teil 1 | Multiple choice, 3 options | 5 |
| Teil 2 | Multiple choice, 3 options | 5 |
| Teil 3 | Multiple choice, 3 options | 5 |
| Teil 4 | Match to 6 ads, a task can have no match | 5 |
Goethe A2 Listening (Hören)
20 tasks in 4 parts, 30 minutes.
| Part | Task type | Tasks | Audio played |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teil 1 | Multiple choice, 3 options | 5 | Twice |
| Teil 2 | Matching | 5 | Once |
| Teil 3 | Multiple choice, 3 options | 5 | Once |
| Teil 4 | Yes or no | 5 | Twice |
Goethe A2 Writing (Schreiben)
2 writing tasks in 30 minutes.
| Part | Task | Words |
|---|---|---|
| Teil 1 | Text message (SMS) | 20 to 30 words |
| Teil 2 | 30 to 40 words |
Goethe B1 exam format
Each module has 100 points. You pass a module with 60 points, and every module counts on its own.
| Module | Time | Parts | Tasks | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading (Lesen) | 65 min | 5 | 30 | 100 |
| Listening (Hören) | 40 min | 4 | 30 | 100 |
| Writing (Schreiben) | 60 min | 3 | 3 | 100 |
| Speaking (Sprechen) | Oral exam | 3 | Paired exam | 100 |
Goethe B1 Reading (Lesen)
30 tasks in 5 parts, 65 minutes.
| Part | Task type | Tasks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teil 1 | True or false | 6 | 10 min |
| Teil 2 | Multiple choice, 3 options | 6 | 20 min |
| Teil 3 | Match to 10 ads, a task can have no match | 7 | 10 min |
| Teil 4 | Yes or no | 7 | 15 min |
| Teil 5 | Multiple choice, 3 options | 4 | 10 min |
Goethe B1 Listening (Hören)
30 tasks in 4 parts, 40 minutes.
| Part | Task type | Tasks | Audio played |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teil 1 | True or false plus multiple choice, 2 tasks per text | 10 | Twice |
| Teil 2 | Multiple choice, 3 options | 5 | Once |
| Teil 3 | True or false | 7 | Once |
| Teil 4 | Matching | 8 | Twice |
Goethe B1 Writing (Schreiben)
3 writing tasks in 60 minutes.
| Part | Task | Words | Time | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teil 1 | Personal email | 80 words | 20 min | 40 |
| Teil 2 | Opinion post for a discussion | 80 words | 25 min | 40 |
| Teil 3 | Short polite email | 40 words | 15 min | 20 |
Goethe B2 exam format
Each module has 100 points. You pass a module with 60 points, and every module counts on its own.
| Module | Time | Parts | Tasks | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading (Lesen) | 65 min | 5 | 30 | 100 |
| Listening (Hören) | 40 min | 4 | 30 | 100 |
| Writing (Schreiben) | 75 min | 2 | 2 | 100 |
| Speaking (Sprechen) | Oral exam | 2 | Paired exam | 100 |
Goethe B2 Reading (Lesen)
30 tasks in 5 parts, 65 minutes.
| Part | Task type | Tasks | Suggested time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teil 1 | Matching | 9 | 18 min |
| Teil 2 | Put sentences into gaps, some sentences are left over | 6 | 12 min |
| Teil 3 | Multiple choice, 3 options | 6 | 12 min |
| Teil 4 | Match statements to short texts | 6 | 12 min |
| Teil 5 | Match paragraphs to gaps or tasks | 3 | 6 min |
Goethe B2 Listening (Hören)
30 tasks in 4 parts, 40 minutes.
| Part | Task type | Tasks | Audio played |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teil 1 | True or false plus multiple choice, 2 tasks per text | 10 | Once |
| Teil 2 | Multiple choice, 3 options | 6 | Twice |
| Teil 3 | Matching | 6 | Once |
| Teil 4 | Multiple choice, 3 options | 8 | Twice |
Goethe B2 Writing (Schreiben)
2 writing tasks in 75 minutes.
| Part | Task | Words | Suggested time | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teil 1 | Forum post with your opinion | 150 words | 50 min | 60 |
| Teil 2 | Personal message | 100 words | 25 min | 40 |
Goethe C1 exam format
Each module has 100 points. You pass a module with 60 points, and every module counts on its own.
| Module | Time | Parts | Tasks | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading (Lesen) | 65 min | 4 | 30 | 100 |
| Listening (Hören) | 40 min | 4 | 30 | 100 |
| Writing (Schreiben) | 75 min | 2 | 2 | 100 |
| Speaking (Sprechen) | Oral exam | 2 | Paired exam | 100 |
Goethe C1 Reading (Lesen)
30 tasks in 4 parts, 65 minutes.
| Part | Task type | Tasks | Suggested time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teil 1 | Gap fill, 4 options per gap | 8 | 10 min |
| Teil 2 | Multiple choice, 3 options | 7 | 20 min |
| Teil 3 | Put sentences into gaps, some sentences are left over | 8 | 20 min |
| Teil 4 | Match statements to authors | 7 | 15 min |
Goethe C1 Listening (Hören)
30 tasks in 4 parts, 40 minutes.
| Part | Task type | Tasks | Audio played |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teil 1 | Matching | 6 | Once |
| Teil 2 | Multiple choice, 3 options | 9 | Twice |
| Teil 3 | Multiple choice, 3 options | 8 | Once |
| Teil 4 | Multiple choice, 3 options | 7 | Twice |
Goethe C1 Writing (Schreiben)
2 writing tasks in 75 minutes.
| Part | Task | Words | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teil 1 | Discussion post in an online forum | 230 words | 60 |
| Teil 2 | Formal or semi-formal email | 120 words | 40 |
Goethe C2 exam format
Each module has 100 points. You pass a module with 60 points, and every module counts on its own.
| Module | Time | Parts | Tasks | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading (Lesen) | 80 min | 4 | 30 | 100 |
| Listening (Hören) | 35 min | 3 | 30 | 100 |
| Writing (Schreiben) | 80 min | 2 | 2 | 100 |
| Speaking (Sprechen) | Oral exam | 2 | One-to-one exam | 100 |
Goethe C2 Reading (Lesen)
30 tasks in 4 parts, 80 minutes.
| Part | Task type | Tasks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teil 1 | Multiple choice, 4 options | 10 | 25 min |
| Teil 2 | Match statements to text sections | 6 | 20 min |
| Teil 3 | Match paragraphs to gaps or tasks | 6 | 25 min |
| Teil 4 | Matching | 8 | 10 min |
Goethe C2 Listening (Hören)
30 tasks in 3 parts, 35 minutes.
| Part | Task type | Tasks | Audio played |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teil 1 | Yes or no | 15 | Once |
| Teil 2 | Matching | 5 | Once |
| Teil 3 | Multiple choice, 3 options | 10 | Twice |
Goethe C2 Writing (Schreiben)
2 writing tasks in 80 minutes.
| Part | Task | Words | Time | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teil 1 | Revise 10 marked passages of a text | No word count | 20 min | 20 |
| Teil 2 | Long text on one of four topics | 350 words | 60 min | 80 |
What changes from A1 to C2
A1 and A2 are single exams. The three written modules give 75 points and Sprechen gives 25, and you pass with 60 of 100 points. At A2 you also need at least 45 written points and 15 speaking points.
Goethe B1, B2, C1 and C2 are modular. You can take Lesen, Hören, Schreiben and Sprechen alone or together, and each passed module gets a certificate. Each module has 100 points, and you pass it with 60.
Sprechen is a group exam at A1, a paired exam from A2 to C1 and a one-to-one exam at C2.
The writing tasks grow with the level. At A1 you fill in a form and write a short message of 30 words. At C2 you revise a text and write 350 words on one of four topics.
How to practise with the format
- Time each part the way the exam does. At B1 Lesen, Teil 1 to Teil 5 take 10, 20, 10, 15 and 10 minutes.
- Read the task type before the text. A true or false task needs a different reading style than a matching task.
- In Hören, mark the parts you hear only once. At B2 these are Teil 1 and Teil 3.
- In Schreiben, cover every point of the task and check your word count against the target.
- Before the real exam, take one full practice paper under exam time.
Practice papers in this format
Faust has 288 Goethe practice papers, 48 of them for B1. Every paper follows the parts, task types and times in the tables above, and each online paper gets a score.
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.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the Goethe B1 exam pattern?
- Goethe B1 has four modules. Lesen: 5 parts, 30 tasks, 65 minutes. Hören: 4 parts, 30 tasks, 40 minutes. Schreiben: 3 tasks, 60 minutes. Sprechen: 3 parts, paired exam. Each module has 100 points, and you pass it with 60.
- How long is the Goethe B2 exam?
- The written modules of Goethe B2 take 65 minutes (Lesen), 40 minutes (Hören) and 75 minutes (Schreiben), 180 minutes in total. Sprechen is a separate oral exam with a partner.
- How many parts does the Goethe A1 exam have?
- Goethe A1 has four modules. Lesen: 3 parts, 15 tasks, 25 minutes. Hören: 3 parts, 15 tasks, 20 minutes. Schreiben: 2 tasks, 20 minutes. Sprechen: 3 parts, group exam. You pass with 60 of 100 points in total.
- Can I take only one module of the Goethe exam?
- Goethe B1, B2, C1 and C2 are modular. You can take Lesen, Hören, Schreiben and Sprechen alone or together, and each passed module gets a certificate. At A1 you must take every part, and all points count together.
- How many words do I write in Goethe B1 Schreiben?
- Teil 1: personal email, target 80 words, 20 minutes. Teil 2: opinion post for a discussion, target 80 words, 25 minutes. Teil 3: short polite email, target 40 words, 15 minutes. The word counter on this site checks your text against each target.
- How many words is the Goethe B2 forum post?
- Teil 1 (forum post with your opinion) has a target of 150 words and a suggested time of 50 minutes. Teil 2 (personal message) has a target of 100 words and a suggested time of 25 minutes.
- What is the pass mark of the Goethe exam?
- 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. Goethe A2: you pass with 60 of 100 points in total. At least 45 of the 75 written points and at least 15 of the 25 speaking points are necessary. Goethe B1, B2, C1 and C2: each module has 100 points. You pass a module with 60 points.
- Can I take the Goethe exam online?
- The Goethe-Institut exam rules name three formats: on paper at a test centre, digital on a laptop at a test centre, and, under certain conditions, online on your own computer. The structure, content and grading are the same in all three formats. Ask your test centre which formats it offers.
Ready? Start a practice paper now.
No signup needed. The practice exam starts right in the browser.
Sources
- Goethe-Institut: Modellsatz A1 (PDF)
- Goethe-Institut: Modellsatz A2 (PDF)
- Goethe-Institut: Modellsatz B1 (PDF)
- Goethe-Institut: Modellsatz B2 (PDF)
- Goethe-Institut: Modellsatz C1 (PDF)
- Goethe-Institut: Modellsatz C2 (PDF)
- Goethe-Institut: Durchführungsbestimmungen A1, Stand 1. September 2025
- Goethe-Institut: Durchführungsbestimmungen A2, Stand 1. September 2025
- Goethe-Institut: Durchführungsbestimmungen B1, Stand 1. September 2025
- Goethe-Institut: Deutschprüfungen A1 bis C2