Goethe Zertifikat A1 LESEN | Reading Part
The Goethe A1 reading exam has 3 parts, 15 questions and only 25 minutes, so a clear plan matters as much as your vocabulary. Johannes goes through the whole LESEN part of Goethe-Zertifikat Start Deutsch A1 step by step: what each part looks like, how to find the right answer and why the other answers are wrong. You can pause the video at each task, try it yourself and then compare.
How the A1 Reading Exam Is Structured
| Part | What you get | Questions | Answer type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teil 1 | 2 texts (an email or a notice) | 1 to 5 | richtig / falsch (true / false) |
| Teil 2 | 5 separate situations, each with 2 advertisements (A and B) | 6 to 10 | A or B (multiple choice) |
| Teil 3 | 5 short notes or signs (Notizen) | 11 to 15 | richtig / falsch |
In total that is 15 questions in 25 minutes. On the first page of every part you will find an explanation and an example. You can skip them in the test, because after this lesson you already know how it works. That saves you some time.
Teil 1: Two Texts, Five True / False Questions
Text 1: Frank writes to Miriam
| Statement | What the text says | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Frank ist für seine Arbeit in Hamburg. | Ich besuche meine Tante und meinen Onkel. He is there to visit family, not for work. | falsch |
| 2. Er möchte mit Miriam essen gehen. | Ich kenne ein gutes Restaurant in der Altstadt. Wir können dorthin gehen. | richtig |
Text 2: A company trip
| Statement | What the text says | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 3. Die Firma macht jedes Jahr einen Ausflug. | Auch dieses Jahr machen wir wieder einen Betriebsausflug. The words auch dieses Jahr and wieder tell you it happens every year. | richtig |
| 4. Die Ankunft ist am Donnerstag um 8.30 Uhr. | Abfahrt ist am Donnerstag um 8.30 Uhr. Abfahrt (departure) is the opposite of Ankunft (arrival). | falsch |
| 5. Jeder bezahlt 15 Euro für die Busfahrt, das Essen und die Getränke. | Die Busfahrt kostet 15 Euro. Das Essen und die Getränke im Restaurant muss jeder selbst bezahlen. | falsch |
Before you go on, take the Antwortbogen (answer sheet). It is the most important paper of the whole test: you have to transfer all your answers onto it, and it is the only thing the Goethe Institut checks. If you do not transfer your answers, you get zero points.
Teil 2: Which Advertisement Fits?
Each task has one sentence that describes a situation, and below it two advertisements. You decide which one fits: A or B.
Tip from Johannes: do not only look for words that fit the situation. Look for words that do not fit. If an advertisement says Kaufangebote (offers to buy) and you want to rent, you can stop reading it. If you do not know a word, do not waste time on it: read the next advertisement first.
| Situation | Key words | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 6. Sie studieren in Bremen und suchen eine Mietwohnung. | Ad B talks about Kaufangebote (buying), but you want to rent (mieten). | A |
| 7. Sie arbeiten in München und möchten in Ihrer Freizeit Tennis spielen. | Ad A is about tennis news (Nachrichten). Ad B offers a Verein (club) for tennis and other sports. | B |
| 8. Der Computer ist kaputt. Sie können ihn nicht allein reparieren. | Computer and Reparaturen (noun of reparieren) match. You do not need to read B. | A |
| 9. Sie möchten mit dem Schiff auf dem Rhein fahren. | Rheinschiffe and Abfahrtszeiten (departure times). Ad B is a restaurant. | A |
| 10. Sie möchten am Samstagabend mit Ihren Freunden tanzen gehen. | Ad A (a dance school) gives no time. Ad B is open Friday and Saturday until 4 o'clock for dancing. | B |
Teil 3: Five Notes, Five True / False Questions
Here you get a place, a short note or sign, and one true / false statement below it. If there is a lot of text, it often helps to read the statement first.
| Place and note | Statement | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 11. Am Bahnhof: Auf dem gesamten Bahnhofsgelände ist das Rauchen verboten. | Sie können hier Zigaretten rauchen. | falsch |
| 12. Im Restaurant: a 5-star chef from Bangkok cooks Thai specialities next month. | Jeden Montag bietet das Restaurant thailändisches Essen an. Nothing is said about every Monday. | falsch |
| 13. Vor der Post: Saturday 9 to 12 Uhr. | It is Saturday morning, you can buy stamps now (Briefmarken kaufen). 9 to 12 is Vormittag. | richtig |
| 14. An der Bushaltestelle: Linie 3 from 21.05 only to the Hauptbahnhof. | Today is 22 May and you cannot go to the Hauptbahnhof. But Linie 3 does go to the Hauptbahnhof (it ends there). | falsch |
| 15. Im Hotel: day trip to Schloss Neuschwanstein, Busfahrt, Eintritt, Mittagessen, 79 Euro pro Person. | For 79 euros you go by bus to the castle, visit it and lunch is included. | richtig |
Four Tips for Exam Day
- Time management. Bring a watch, because mobile phones are not allowed. You have 25 minutes for all three parts. Johannes recommends 7 to 10 minutes at most for Teil 1 and the rest for Teil 2 and Teil 3.
- Mark the important words. Use one colour (for example blue) for everything that fits the question and another colour (for example red) for words that do not fit. It makes the answer easier to find, and checking later is much faster.
- Do not waste time. 15 questions in 25 minutes is less than two minutes per question. If you are stuck, make a good guess, mark the number and come back at the end if you still have time.
- Mark exactly as the instructions say. Look at the information paper. The pen you use, for example a ball pen, has to be blue.
Johannes also reminds you not to be nervous (nicht nervös sein) and to review your words and grammar. He mentions our A1.1 online video course for more help with the basics: it follows our book and includes worksheets, audio files and tests.
What to Learn Next
Reading is one of four parts of the exam. Continue with HÖREN (listening), SCHREIBEN (writing) and SPRECHEN (speaking). Many reading answers depend on small words, so all A1 prepositions and how to tell the time in German are good things to revise. Planning to take A2 afterwards? See the A2 speaking exam.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many parts and questions does the Goethe A1 reading exam have?
Three parts with 15 questions in total: Teil 1 has 2 texts with 5 true / false questions, Teil 2 has 5 situations with advertisements A and B, and Teil 3 has 5 notes with true / false questions.
How much time do I have for the A1 reading exam?
You have 25 minutes for all three parts. Johannes recommends 7 to 10 minutes at most for Teil 1 and the rest for Teil 2 and Teil 3.
What is the best way to find the right advertisement in Teil 2?
Look for words that do not fit the situation as well as words that fit. For example, Kaufangebote does not fit someone who wants to rent an apartment, so you can stop reading that advertisement.
Do I have to transfer my answers to the Antwortbogen?
Yes. The Antwortbogen is the only paper that the Goethe Institut checks. If you do not transfer your answers, you get zero points.
What should I do if I do not know the answer to a question?
Do not think too long. You have less than two minutes per question, so make a good guess, mark the number and come back at the end if you have time left.
Want to build the words and grammar for this exam step by step? Our A1 German online course follows our book and comes with worksheets, audio and tests.
