Goethe A1 Exam: All 3 Speaking Parts Explained
The Goethe-Zertifikat A1 (Start Deutsch 1) speaking exam has three parts, done in a small group rather than one-on-one: introducing yourself, asking and answering simple questions on a topic, and making a request and responding to one. Here’s exactly what happens in each, based on the Goethe-Institut’s own official practice materials.
The format overall
Unlike B1 and above, A1 is typically conducted with a small group of candidates together rather than in pairs, and moves through the three parts in sequence, with the examiner guiding transitions between them. No dictionaries or phones are allowed.
Teil 1: Sich vorstellen (introducing yourself)
Each candidate gives basic information about themselves when prompted — full name (often asked to spell it), where they live, sometimes a phone or ID number, and similar simple facts. The examiner moves through candidates one at a time.
A representative exchange from official practice materials:
Prüfer: Können Sie das bitte buchstabieren? Kandidat: Ja, natürlich. M-Ü-L-L-E-R. Prüfer: Und wo wohnen Sie? Kandidat: Ich wohne in der Hauptstraße.
This part rewards clarity and basic accuracy over anything complex — spelling your name correctly under mild pressure is a genuinely useful thing to rehearse specifically, since it’s easy to fumble even when you know it perfectly well in a calm setting.
Teil 2: Um Informationen bitten und Informationen geben
Candidates draw cards with topic prompts — official examples include Einkaufen (shopping) and Wochenende (weekend) — and take turns asking each other simple questions related to the topic, then answering.
The official Modellsatz walks through this with an example:
Prüfer: Bitte nehmen Sie eine Karte. Fragen Sie Ihren Partner. Bitte denken Sie an das Thema Einkaufen. Kandidat A: Wo kaufst du gern ein? Kandidat B: Ich kaufe gern auf dem Markt ein.
Each candidate typically gets two topics in sequence — the exam moves to a second theme after the first is complete, following the same ask-and-answer pattern.
Teil 3: Bitten formulieren und darauf reagieren
Candidates draw cards prompting a simple request, direct from the official example materials:
Kandidat A (draws a card, makes a request): Ein Glas Wasser, bitte! Kandidat B (responds): Ja, natürlich. Bitte.
Requests stay firmly everyday and predictable — asking to borrow something, asking someone to open a window, asking for an item. The skill being tested is basic politeness formulas and an appropriate, natural response, not complex language.
Rehearsing these exact interaction types out loud — not just reading through them — is what makes them feel automatic on exam day. SipLingo runs real voice conversations from A1, correcting your German in your own language as you build these basics. Try it free →
What to actually practise beforehand
Spelling your own name and basic details out loud, repeatedly, until it requires zero thought — this specific skill trips up more A1 candidates than any grammar point, purely from nerves.
A small set of request phrases and appropriate responses — “Können Sie mir bitte…?” / “Ja, natürlich” / “Tut mir leid, das geht nicht” — since Teil 3 draws from a genuinely narrow, learnable range of everyday request types.
Simple question-and-answer exchanges on common everyday topics — shopping, weekends, food, family — since Teil 2’s topic cards stay within a predictable, well-covered range of A1 vocabulary themes.
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Fuller example exchanges from official materials
A more complete Teil 2 exchange, from the Goethe-Institut’s own practice materials, on the theme Wochenende:
Kandidat A: Was machst du am Wochenende? Kandidat B: Ich treffe meine Familie. Und du? Kandidat A: Ich gehe einkaufen und dann ins Kino.
Notice how simple the actual exchange is — short, direct sentences, no complex structures required. This is representative of the genuine level expected throughout A1’s speaking component.
A fuller Teil 3 example:
Kandidat A (Karte: “Fenster”): Können Sie bitte das Fenster öffnen? Kandidat B: Ja, gerne. Ist es Ihnen zu warm? Kandidat A: Ja, genau. Danke.
What examiners are actually listening for at this level
Comprehensibility, not correctness. The Goethe-Institut’s own testing philosophy at A1 explicitly targets “the simplest possible communication” — an answer with a small grammar mistake that’s still clearly understood fulfils the task completely. This is worth internalising specifically if perfectionism is adding to your nerves: at A1, “understood” is the actual bar, not “flawless.”
Preparing specifically for the group format
Since A1 typically runs as a small group rather than strictly one-on-one, it’s worth practising in a group setting if you can — even a study group of two or three other learners — since responding after watching other candidates go first, and staying focused while waiting your turn, is a slightly different skill from purely one-on-one rehearsal.
Related guides: Goethe A1 exam format and pass mark · what happens if you fail Goethe A1
Official sources
For the official details and the latest updates, see:
- Goethe-Institut: Goethe-Zertifikat A1: Start Deutsch 1 – official exam page – 4 modules, durations (80 min total), group speaking test, booking
- Goethe-Institut: Goethe A1 practice materials (model test, audio, speaking video) – Free A1 model set, 2 practice sets, listening audio and a speaking-module video
Frequently asked questions
What are the 3 parts of the Goethe A1 speaking exam? Teil 1: introducing yourself with basic personal details. Teil 2: asking and answering simple questions with another candidate on a topic drawn from a card. Teil 3: making a simple request and responding appropriately to one.
Is the Goethe A1 speaking exam done alone or with a partner? Typically in a small group of candidates together, not strictly one-on-one — the examiner guides the group through each part in sequence.
What topics come up in the Goethe A1 speaking exam? Everyday, predictable subjects — shopping, weekends, food, family, basic daily activities. The range is intentionally narrow and learnable, unlike the more open-ended topics at B1 and above.
Can I fail the Goethe A1 speaking exam? Yes, technically — like other Goethe-Zertifikat exams, A1 has a 60% passing threshold per module. In practice, failure rates at A1 are low given the genuinely narrow, predictable scope of what’s tested.
How long does the Goethe A1 speaking exam take? Typically around 15 minutes total, though this varies slightly depending on group size, since candidates go through several parts together rather than entirely individually.
Build confidence in these exact exchanges through real speaking practice. SipLingo runs voice conversations from A1, with corrections in your own language. A1 to B2.
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