{"id":150,"date":"2026-09-22T18:34:48","date_gmt":"2026-09-22T18:34:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/siplingo.com\/blog\/?p=150"},"modified":"2026-10-31T09:10:38","modified_gmt":"2026-10-31T09:10:38","slug":"goethe-a1-speaking-parts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/siplingo.com\/blog\/goethe-a1-speaking-parts\/","title":{"rendered":"Goethe A1 Exam: All 3 Speaking Parts Explained"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The format overall<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Unlike B1 and above<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Teil 1: Sich vorstellen (introducing yourself)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Each candidate gives basic information about themselves when prompted \u2014 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A representative exchange from official practice materials:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Pr\u00fcfer:<\/strong> K\u00f6nnen Sie das bitte buchstabieren?<\/em> Kandidat:<\/strong> Ja, nat\u00fcrlich. M-\u00dc-L-L-E-R.<\/em> Pr\u00fcfer:<\/strong> Und wo wohnen Sie?<\/em> Kandidat:<\/strong> Ich wohne in der Hauptstra\u00dfe.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

This part rewards clarity and basic accuracy over anything complex \u2014 spelling your name correctly<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Teil 2: Um Informationen bitten und Informationen geben<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Candidates draw cards with topic prompts \u2014 official examples include Einkaufen<\/em> (shopping) and Wochenende<\/em> (weekend) \u2014 and take turns asking each other simple questions related to the topic, then answering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The official Modellsatz<\/a> walks through this with an example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Pr\u00fcfer:<\/strong> Bitte nehmen Sie eine Karte. Fragen Sie Ihren Partner. Bitte denken Sie an das Thema Einkaufen.<\/em> Kandidat A:<\/strong> Wo kaufst du gern ein?<\/em> Kandidat B:<\/strong> Ich kaufe gern auf dem Markt ein.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Each candidate typically gets two topics in sequence \u2014 the exam moves to a second theme after the first is complete, following the same ask-and-answer pattern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Teil 3: Bitten formulieren und darauf reagieren<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Candidates draw cards prompting a simple request, direct from the official example materials:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Kandidat A (draws a card, makes a request):<\/strong> Ein Glas Wasser, bitte!<\/em> Kandidat B (responds):<\/strong> Ja, nat\u00fcrlich. Bitte.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Requests stay firmly everyday and predictable \u2014 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Rehearsing these exact interaction types out loud \u2014 not just reading through them \u2014 is what makes them feel automatic on exam day.<\/strong> SipLingo runs real voice conversations from A1, correcting your German in your own language as you build these basics. Try it free \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What to actually practise beforehand<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Spelling your own name and basic details out loud, repeatedly<\/strong>, until it requires zero thought \u2014 this specific skill trips up more A1 candidates than any grammar point, purely from nerves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A small set of request phrases and appropriate responses<\/strong> \u2014 “K\u00f6nnen Sie mir bitte…?” \/ “Ja, nat\u00fcrlich” \/ “Tut mir leid, das geht nicht”<\/em> \u2014 since Teil 3 draws from a genuinely narrow, learnable range of everyday request types.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Simple question-and-answer exchanges on common everyday topics<\/strong> \u2014 shopping, weekends, food, family \u2014 since Teil 2’s topic cards stay within a predictable, well-covered range of A1 vocabulary themes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practise your German out loud with SipLingo, free to try on iPhone and Android:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Download<\/a>\"Get<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Fuller example exchanges from official materials<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A more complete Teil 2 exchange, from the Goethe-Institut’s own practice materials, on the theme Wochenende<\/em>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Kandidat A:<\/strong> Was machst du am Wochenende?<\/em> Kandidat B:<\/strong> Ich treffe meine Familie. Und du?<\/em> Kandidat A:<\/strong> Ich gehe einkaufen und dann ins Kino.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Notice how simple the actual exchange is \u2014 short, direct sentences, no complex structures required. This is representative of the genuine level expected throughout A1’s speaking component.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A fuller Teil 3 example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Kandidat A (Karte: “Fenster”):<\/strong> K\u00f6nnen Sie bitte das Fenster \u00f6ffnen?<\/em> Kandidat B:<\/strong> Ja, gerne. Ist es Ihnen zu warm?<\/em> Kandidat A:<\/strong> Ja, genau. Danke.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

What examiners are actually listening for at this level<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Comprehensibility, not correctness. The Goethe-Institut’s own testing philosophy at A1 explicitly targets “the simplest possible communication” \u2014 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.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Preparing specifically for the group format<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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 \u2014 even a study group of two or three other learners \u2014 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Related guides:<\/strong> Goethe A1 exam format and pass mark<\/a> \u00b7 what happens if you fail Goethe A1<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Official sources<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For the official details and the latest updates, see:<\/p>\n\n\n\n