Best App to Prepare for a German Exam (Goethe, telc, ÖSD): Pick by Skill
No single app prepares you for a German exam. The best preparation is the exam provider’s own free practice material for the format, plus tools for individual skills: a vocabulary app for words, listening practice for the audio parts, and a speaking tool for the oral exam. Apps help most with speaking and vocabulary; they help least with writing, where you need a human to read your text.
This guide goes through the four exam skills (Lesen, Hören, Schreiben, Sprechen) and gives the best tool for each as of October 2026, starting with the official free material that most people skip.
Start here: the official free practice material
Before any app, get the real format. All three big providers publish free material, and it is the only way to see actual task types.
| Provider | Free practice material | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Goethe-Institut | Free exam trainings for A1 to C2 | Same structure, task types and number of tasks as the real exam; includes solutions and tips |
| Goethe-Institut | Deutsch für dich | Free, 270+ interactive exercises from A1 to C2 for grammar, vocabulary, reading and listening |
| ÖSD | Downloads page | Free Modellsätze (sample exams) as ZIP files for A1 to C2, plus Übungssätze for some levels |
| telc | Free downloads for teachers, and mock-exam booklets in its shop | The B1 Übungstest product page offers a free PDF; the listening audio is a separate MP3 |
None of this is an app, and all of it is better exam preparation than a gamified lesson. Download a full practice test for your level and do it under timed conditions once before you choose anything else.
Skill by skill: what to use
Lesen (reading)
Use official sample tests. Apps rarely train reading under the exam’s time pressure, and the task types (matching headlines, true/false, multiple choice) are specific to each exam. Read the instructions in German so that the format stops being a surprise.
Best tools: the Goethe or ÖSD sample sets, plus a vocabulary app for the words that keep appearing.
Hören (listening)
Exam audio is played once or twice and spoken at a natural pace. Sample tests include audio, so use them. For everyday listening between tests, DW’s free Learn German app has video lessons and exercises from beginner levels upward.
Best tools: official sample audio, DW Learn German (free), and anything where you must respond, not just listen.
Schreiben (writing)
This is where apps help least. Exam writing tasks (an email, a message, a forum post) are marked on task completion, coherence, vocabulary and correctness, and you need a teacher or experienced partner to tell you what works. Busuu’s free tier includes community feedback from real people, which can help with short texts, though quality and speed vary.
Best tools: a teacher or exam course, model answers from official materials, community feedback.
Sprechen (speaking)
Speaking is the module where apps are most useful, because the exam is a live conversation you cannot rehearse by reading. What you need is the chance to say full answers aloud, many times, and hear what was wrong. For each exam’s speaking format, see our guides: Goethe B1 speaking, telc B1 speaking, Goethe B2 speaking and ÖSD vs Goethe speaking.
Best tools: a speaking partner (human or AI), recording yourself, and a bank of exam questions such as 50 B1 speaking exam questions.
Which apps help with which skill
| Tool | Reading | Listening | Writing | Speaking | Vocabulary | Cost model |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goethe and ÖSD sample tests | Yes | Yes | Task formats | Task formats | No | Free |
| DW Learn German | Some | Yes | Some | Some | Some | Free |
| Anki | No | No | No | No | Yes | Free on desktop and Android; iOS app is paid |
| Duolingo | Light | Light | Light | Light | Yes | Free tier; paid tiers |
| Babbel | Light | Light | Light | Some (speech recognition, Speak beta) | Yes | Subscription |
| Busuu | Light | Light | Community feedback | AI Conversations in top tier (confirm German) | Yes | Free tier; Premium; Premium Plus |
| Pimsleur | No | Yes (audio lessons) | No | Repetition drills | Phrases | Trial, then subscription |
| SipLingo (our app) | No | Partly (you hear the AI partner) | No | Yes | Some | Trial, then subscription |
“Light” means the app trains the skill in small doses but not in exam format.
Practise your German out loud with SipLingo, free to try on iPhone and Android:
Where SipLingo fits (and where it does not)
SipLingo (our app) is a speaking-practice tool and nothing else. You talk to an AI partner in everyday scenarios (doctor, renting a flat, bakery, work) at levels A1 to B2, receive instant corrections of grammar, word order and vocabulary explained in your own language, and get a score on word accuracy, grammar, fluency and intonation.
What it does not do: it is not endorsed by, or affiliated with, Goethe, telc or ÖSD, it does not recreate the official speaking tasks card by card, and a high score in the app does not predict an exam result. Use it to build the habit of speaking in full sentences and to catch recurring errors, and use the official sample papers to learn the exam’s rules. Try a first conversation.
If you prefer to practise without any app, practising for the speaking exam alone shows how.
A 4-week plan for the last month before the exam
| Week | Focus | Time per day |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Do one full official sample test, timed. Mark where you lose points per skill. | 60 min on test day, 30 min otherwise |
| 2 | Fix the weakest skill with targeted exercises. Speaking: 3 spoken sessions per week. | 45 min |
| 3 | Second full sample test, timed. Writing: have one text corrected by a human. | 45 min |
| 4 | Repeat weak tasks; speaking out loud daily; rest the day before | 30-45 min |
This is a general outline, not a guarantee. If your score on the first sample test is far below the pass mark, move the exam date instead of cramming.
What not to expect from an app
- A guarantee. No app can promise a pass. Pass marks and formats are set by the exam provider; check the current rules on its site.
- Exam-specific timing. Only official papers show you real timing.
- A substitute for a course. If your grammar is weak, you need explanation, not only practice.
Official sources
For the official details and the latest updates, see:
- Goethe-Institut: Goethe B1 practice materials (model tests, audio, speaking video) – Free B1 model and practice sets for adults and teens, audio and a speaking video
- Goethe-Institut: Goethe-Zertifikat B1 – official exam page – Modules, durations, fees, 350–650 lessons to B1, results in 2 days–2 weeks
Frequently asked questions
Which app is best for Goethe exam preparation?
No app is made by the Goethe-Institut for full preparation, but its free exam trainings are the best starting point. Add a vocabulary app and, for the oral part, a speaking practice tool.
Can I pass A1 German with Duolingo?
Some people pass A1 with Duolingo plus exam practice, but the app alone does not train the writing and speaking tasks in exam format. See passing A1 German with Duolingo.
Is Duolingo enough for B2 German?
No. Duolingo says its German course now includes content through B2, but an exam also tests free speaking and writing, which need extra practice. See what level of German Duolingo reaches.
What is the best way to prepare for the German exam?
Do a full official practice test early, find your weakest skill, and spend most of your time there. Practise speaking out loud every week, not only at the end.
Does SipLingo prepare you for the Goethe exam?
It trains the speaking side: full answers, corrections and a skill score. It is not an official exam product and does not replace official sample papers or a course.
Do the official practice test first, then add speaking practice. Try SipLingo for the conversation part.
