The German A1 exam, Start Deutsch 1, tests whether you can handle simple, everyday German. It has four parts — listening, reading, writing and speaking — and you pass with 60 of 100 points. Here is what each part looks like and how to get ready.
The four parts at a glance
| Part | German name | About how long | What you do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening | Hören | 20 minutes | Short announcements and conversations, multiple choice and true/false |
| Reading | Lesen | 25 minutes | Short texts, signs and ads |
| Writing | Schreiben | 20 minutes | Fill in a form, write a short message |
| Speaking | Sprechen | 15 minutes | Introduce yourself, ask and answer questions, make requests — in a small group |
Check the current details with your exam centre, the official source.
Listening (Hören)
You hear everyday situations: a station announcement, a message on an answering machine, a short conversation. Read the questions before each recording plays — you know then exactly what to listen for.
Tip: Numbers, times and days of the week come up again and again. Make sure dreizehn and dreißig never trip you up.
Reading (Lesen)
The texts are short: an email, a notice on a door, small ads. You don't need every word. Look for the information the question asks for and ignore the rest.
Writing (Schreiben)
First you fill in a form with personal details. Then you write a short message — for example, an email to a friend — covering the three points in the task. Cover all three points; that matters more than long sentences.
Speaking (Sprechen)
You speak with other candidates: introduce yourself, then ask and answer questions on a topic card, then make and respond to requests. Short, correct sentences are exactly what the examiners want to hear.
A simple plan to prepare
- Weeks 1–2: learn the core vocabulary — numbers, time, family, food, shopping. Try the A1 word list.
- Weeks 3–4: take one mock exam per module and note what went wrong. Start with A1 listening.
- Weeks 5–6: fix the grammar behind your mistakes — articles, word order, the present tense. See A1 grammar.
- Last week: a full mock exam under time pressure, then rest.
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