Goethe-Zertifikat
The Goethe-Institut's German exams from A1 to C2, for study, work, visas and citizenship.
The Goethe-Zertifikat is the best-known German exam worldwide, offered at Goethe-Instituts and partner centres. There is one exam for each level of the European framework, and from B1 upwards you can take and pass the four skills as separate modules.
Overview
German exams are often needed for practical reasons. B1 is the level Germany asks for in many citizenship and residence cases, B2 and C1 open many jobs and university courses, and C2 shows near-native command. The Goethe-Zertifikat is recognised for all of these, and because the levels match the European framework, schools and employers across Europe understand the result straight away.
The modular system is a real help. If your reading and listening are strong but speaking is not, you can pass the modules you are ready for and retake the others later. Each level has clear task types, so working through the official model tests is the fastest way to know what to expect. Speaking with a partner rewards the ability to react and agree on things, which is worth practising out loud with someone.
The four modules (B1 times)
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Reading (Lesen) 65 minutes
Blog posts, articles, adverts and rules, with questions.
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Listening (Hören) About 40 minutes
Announcements, conversations and a radio discussion.
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Writing (Schreiben) 60 minutes
Three tasks: an e-mail to a friend, an opinion post and a short formal message.
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Speaking (Sprechen) About 15 minutes
With a partner: planning something together, a short presentation and questions about it.
How it's scored
From B1 to C2 each module is scored out of 100, and you pass a module with 60. You get a certificate for every module you pass and can retake only the ones you failed. At A1 and A2 the exam is taken and passed as a whole. Results are given as points and a grade, from sehr gut to ausreichend.
How to prepare
- Check which level and modules you need: visas, jobs and universities ask for different things.
- Use the free practice materials (Übungsmaterialien) on the Goethe-Institut's site for your level.
- Practise writing with a timer and a word count: each task has a set length.
- If one skill is weaker, take that module again later instead of the whole exam.
Official pages
Dates, registration and fees change from year to year, so check them on the official pages.