B1 Goethe Exam Pattern

Congratulations on Reaching the B1 Level in the German Language!
B1 is considered an intermediate level, indicating that you have successfully built a strong foundation in German and are now progressing toward more advanced communication skills. In the Goethe-Zertifikat B1 exam, you will be evaluated across the four fundamental language skills: Reading, Listening, Writing, and Speaking.

To pass the exam, a minimum of 60% is required in each module.

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READING (LESEN)

Total Time: 65 minutes (including 5 minutes to transfer answers)
Total Points: 30
This module consists of 5 parts:

Teil 1 – Blog Entry (10 minutes)

• Questions: 6

• You will read a blog post and answer 6 true-or-false statements based on the text.

Teil 2 – Press Reports (20 minutes)

• Questions: 6

• You will read two press reports. Each report is followed by 3 multiple-choice questions (a, b, c) to assess your understanding of the content.

Teil 3 – Advertisements (10 minutes)

• Questions: 7

• You will see 9 advertisements and must match them to 7 people’s specific needs. One person will not find a suitable ad—mark that response as ‘null’.

Teil 4 – Leserbriefe (10 minutes)

• Questions: 7

• You will read 7 brief “letters to the editor” reacting to a controversial topic. Indicate whether each person is for (Ja) or against (Nein) the topic. Only the headline will be provided, so read it carefully.

Teil 5 – Information Table (10 minutes)

• Questions: 4

• You will read an information sheet or table (e.g., organizational rules) and answer 4 multiple-choice questions based on the content.

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LISTENING (HÖREN)

Total Time: 40 minutes
Total Points: 30
This module includes 4 parts:

Teil 1 – Short Monologues (15 minutes)

• Questions: 10

• You will listen to 5 monologues, each with 2 questions: one true/false and one multiple choice (a, b, c). The monologues are played twice.

Teil 2 – Guided Tour or Announcement (5 minutes)

• Questions: 5

• One recording is played once, and you answer 5 multiple-choice questions. You have 60 seconds before the audio to read the questions.

Teil 3 – Short Conversation (5 minutes)

• Questions: 7

• You will hear a short conversation and respond to 7 true/false statements. The audio is played once only.

Teil 4 – Discussion or Debate (15 minutes)

• Questions: 8

• A discussion between a moderator and two guests (one for and one against a topic). You will answer 8 multiple-choice questions after listening. The discussion will be played twice.

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 WRITING (SCHREIBEN)

Total Time: 60 minutes
Total Points: 100
There are 3 parts in this module:

Teil 1 – Informal Email (20 minutes)

• Points: 40

• Write an email to a friend including 3 given prompts. Maintain proper structure, including salutation and closing.

• Word limit: approx. 80 words

Teil 2 – Opinion on a Topic (25 minutes)

• Points: 40

• Write a short essay giving your personal opinion on a social or current topic. You can take either side (support/oppose).

• Word limit: approx. 80 words (±10 words allowed)

Teil 3 – Formal Email (15 minutes)

• Points: 20

• Write a formal email based on a given scenario. Ensure clear structure: salutation, introduction, body, and formal closing.

• Word limit: approx. 40 words

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SPEAKING (SPRECHEN)

Total Time: 20 minutes
Total Points: 100 (including 16 points for pronunciation)
The Speaking exam is conducted in pairs and you are provided with 15 minutes of preparation time.

Teil 1 – Dialogue (3 minutes)

• Points: 28

• Have a structured conversation with your partner on a given situation, covering 4 guiding points. This usually involves planning an event or activity.

Teil 2 – Individual Presentation (5 minutes)

• Points: 40

• Choose one of two given topics and present it for 5 minutes. Prepare by listing keywords, not full sentences.

Teil 3 – Questions on the Presentation (4 minutes)

• Points: 16

• Respond to questions from your partner and examiner about your presentation. You will also ask your partner relevant questions about their presentation.

???? Tip: Actively listen to your partner’s presentation so you can ask thoughtful, topic-related questions.

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Final Note:

At the end of the exam, you will be provided with a separate answer sheet where you must fill in all your responses.

Preparation Tips:

• Focus on expanding your vocabulary (at the B1 level) and mastering grammar concepts.

• Practice regularly in all four modules, especially under timed conditions.

• Familiarize yourself with exam formats and common question types.