A2 Goethe Exam Pattern

Understanding the Structure of the Goethe-Zertifikat A2 Examination

When learning a language, individuals are typically assessed on four fundamental skills: Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening. The Goethe-Zertifikat A2 exam evaluates candidates on these same parameters. To successfully pass the exam, candidates must achieve a minimum score of 60%.

Below is a detailed breakdown of each module:

---

READING (LESEN)

Duration: 30 minutes
Total Points: 25
This module comprises four parts:

• Part 1 (Teil 1) – Newspaper Report (Zeitungsmeldung)
  Questions: 5
  You will be presented with a text followed by five incomplete statements. Each statement has three options: a, b, and c. Read the text carefully and choose the correct completion for each statement.

• Part 2 (Teil 2) – Finding Information (Information Finden)
  Questions: 5
  An information table (e.g., about an organization or shopping mall) will be provided. Based on this, answer five multiple-choice questions by selecting the correct option (a, b, or c).

• Part 3 (Teil 3) – Reading an Email (E-Mail Lesen)
  Questions: 5
  This section involves reading an informal email or letter, followed by five incomplete statements. Choose the correct answer (a, b, or c) based on the email's content.

• Part 4 (Teil 4) – Classified Ads (Kleinanzeigen)
  Questions: 5
  You will see six advertisements and five short requests or needs from different people. Match each request to the appropriate ad. One request will not match any advertisement—mark it with an ‘X’.

---

LISTENING (HÖREN)

Duration: 30 minutes
Total Points: 20
This module consists of four parts:

• Part 1 (Teil 1) – Short Announcements (Kurze Ansagen)
  Questions: 5
  Listen to five short telephone conversations or announcements. Each audio is played twice. Answer one multiple-choice question per audio with options A, B, and C.

• Part 2 (Teil 2) – A Conversation (Ein Gespräch)
  Questions: 5
  A single conversation between two individuals will be played once. Match each of the five people mentioned to one of the nine given images. Answers must be marked during the audio playback.

• Part 3 (Teil 3) – Short Dialogues (Kurze Gespräche)
  Questions: 5
  Listen to five brief conversations. Each is played once and followed by a multiple-choice question (A, B, C).

• Part 4 (Teil 4) – Interview (Ein Interview)
  Questions: 5
  Listen to an interview played twice. Mark each of the five given statements as True (Richtig) or False (Falsch) based on what you hear.

---

WRITING (SCHREIBEN)

Duration: 30 minutes
Total Points: 20
This module has two sections:

• Part 1 (Teil 1) – SMS Writing
  Points: 10
  Write an informal SMS of approximately 20–30 words to a friend. You must address three given prompts or questions within your message.

• Part 2 (Teil 2) – Formal Email or Letter
  Points: 10
  Compose a formal email or letter, including all three given prompts. The word limit is about 40 words (approximately 6–7 lines). Ensure clarity, relevance, and conciseness.

---

SPEAKING (SPRECHEN)

Duration: 15 minutes
Total Points: 25 (Includes 5 points for pronunciation)
The speaking test is conducted in pairs and has no preparation time. It consists of three parts:

• Part 1 (Teil 1) – Asking Questions (Frage stellen)
  Points: 4
  Each candidate receives four topic cards and must formulate and ask one question per card. For example, if you receive the card “Hobby,” you may ask: Was sind Ihre Hobbys?

• Part 2 (Teil 2) – Talking About Yourself (Von sich erzählen)
  Points: 8
  You will be given a main question with four sub-points. You must respond to all four. For example, “What do you do on weekends?” with sub-points like going to the movies, shopping, etc.

• Part 3 (Teil 3) – Making Plans / Finding Solutions (Zeit planen / Eine Lösung finden)
  Points: 8
  This is a partner activity where you and your partner plan an event together. You will each receive a schedule, and must negotiate details such as the time and place to meet.

---

Note:
At the end of the exam, you will be provided with a separate answer sheet. Ensure all your answers are clearly and accurately marked on this sheet.

---

Preparation Tips

• Build a solid A2-level vocabulary base.

• Practice using proper grammatical structures.

• Familiarize yourself with exam formats through mock tests.

• Develop your listening and speaking fluency through regular practice.

Success in the Goethe A2 exam depends on consistent preparation, clear understanding of exam patterns, and confident communication. Stay focused and best of luck!