German A1 listening: the three parts and exercises with answers
The listening part of the A1 exam takes about twenty minutes and has 15 items in three parts: short dialogues, announcements and phone messages. Below you will find what you hear in each part, how often it is played and a worked example for each.
By Olcay Sari, founder of Level Exams
Last updated: 2026-11-12
telc A1 and Goethe A1 are the same exam (“Start Deutsch 1”), and the listening part is identical in both. It is worth 15 points; the whole exam has 60 points and you need at least 36 to pass.
The recording plays without a break; you cannot pause or rewind. The texts are spoken slowly and clearly. You hear the texts in the first and third parts twice, and the announcements in the second part only once.
The three parts at a glance
| Part | What you hear | Items | Plays | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teil 1: Short dialogues | Short everyday dialogues; you choose the right one of three pictures | 6 | 2 | 6 |
| Teil 2: Announcements | Short announcements at a station, in a shop or at a school; is the statement true or false | 4 | 1 | 4 |
| Teil 3: Phone messages | Short voicemail messages; you choose the right one of three options | 5 | 2 | 5 |
Teil 1: Short dialogues
You hear a short dialogue between two people and answer one question. The options are pictures: three objects, three times or three prices. In the example on this page, text stands in for the pictures.
The dialogue usually mentions more than one of the options; the right one is the decision reached at the end. Catch the decision on the first play and check it on the second.
Worked example: Hören Teil 1
Task: Sie hören ein kurzes Gespräch zweimal. Was ist richtig: a, b oder c? (In der Prüfung sind die Antworten Bilder.)
Frau: Entschuldigung, was kostet die Tasche? Verkäufer: Die blaue kostet fünfundzwanzig Euro, die schwarze fünfunddreißig Euro. Frau: Dann nehme ich die blaue. Was bezahlt die Frau? a) 25 Euro b) 35 Euro c) 45 Euro
- Answer: a. The woman says “Dann nehme ich die blaue”; the blue bag costs twenty-five euros.
- Thirty-five euros is mentioned too (the black bag): you hear two prices and one is chosen.
- In the exam the options are pictures, for example three price tags.
Teil 2: Announcements
You hear a short announcement and decide whether a statement is true or false. The announcements are made at a station, at an airport, in a shop or at a school.
This part is played only once; read the statement before the announcement. Watch for the pattern “nicht …, sondern …”: first the wrong information, then the right one.
Worked example: Hören Teil 2
Task: Sie hören eine Durchsage nur einmal. Ist der Satz richtig oder falsch?
Sie hören: „Achtung, eine Durchsage für die Fahrgäste nach Köln: Der Zug fährt heute nicht von Gleis drei, sondern von Gleis acht ab.“ Satz: Der Zug nach Köln fährt von Gleis drei.
- Answer: falsch. The train leaves “nicht von Gleis drei, sondern von Gleis acht”.
- “Gleis drei” from the statement is in the announcement too, but together with “nicht”.
- What comes after “sondern” is the correct information.
Teil 3: Phone messages
You hear a short message left on voicemail and mark the right one of three options. The question usually asks for a time, a day, a place or something to do.
The messages mention several times or days. Read the question beforehand: which time does it ask for? The film or the meeting?
Worked example: Hören Teil 3
Task: Sie hören eine Nachricht am Telefon zweimal. Was ist richtig: a, b oder c?
Sie hören: „Hallo Sabine, hier ist Karin. Der Film beginnt nicht um sieben, sondern erst um acht Uhr. Wir treffen uns um halb acht vor dem Kino. Bis dann!“ Wann treffen sich Karin und Sabine? a) Um sieben Uhr b) Um halb acht c) Um acht Uhr
- Answer: b. They meet “um halb acht”; the film starts at eight, and seven is the old time.
- All three options are mentioned in the message; the question asks only for the meeting time.
- “halb acht” is half past seven, not half past eight.
Habits that help while listening
- Read the question and the options before the recording; know what you are listening for.
- Practise numbers and times: “halb acht”, “Viertel nach”, and the difference between “fünfzehn” and “fünfzig”.
- Prick up your ears when you hear “nicht”, “kein” and “sondern”.
- If you miss a question, let it go and get ready for the next.
- Leave no item blank: a wrong answer costs no points.
How is it scored?
Each item is worth 1 point: Teil 1 6, Teil 2 4, Teil 3 5; the total is 15 points.
To pass the exam you need at least 36 of the 60 points across the four parts. The Goethe-Institut reports the result of the same exam on a scale of 100; the ratio is the same.
Common mistakes
- Starting to listen without reading the question.
- Marking the first number or object you hear.
- Waiting for a second play in the second part: there is none.
- Misunderstanding times such as “halb acht”.
- Leaving an item blank.
Sample question paper (PDF) and mock exam
More practice: the telc A1 page has sample questions with answers that you can do without signing in, and a sample exam (question paper with answers) as a PDF; both are free.
Frequently asked questions
›How long is the A1 listening part?
About twenty minutes. The recording sets the time; when it ends, the part ends.
›How often are the texts played?
Number of plays: part one 2, part two 1, part three 2.
›How many questions are there in A1 listening?
15 items in total: 6 in Teil 1, 4 in Teil 2 and 5 in Teil 3.
›Is the listening part the same in telc A1 and Goethe A1?
Yes. Both are the “Start Deutsch 1” exam. The ÖSD A1 exam has a different format.
›Can I pause the audio?
No. As in the real exam, the recording in the Level Exams mock exam plays without a break.
›Is there a PDF or sample exam for German A1 listening?
Yes. The telc A1 page has free sample questions with answers and a sample exam as a PDF. For the full exam routine, use the free online mock exam.
Do the listening part as in the exam
In the free A1 mock exam the listening part plays as in the exam: repeats and answer pauses are part of the recording. The result shows the correct answer for every item.