German A1 speaking exam: the three parts and sample answers
The A1 speaking exam takes about 15 minutes and has three parts: you introduce yourself, you ask and answer questions, and you make and respond to requests. Below: an example for each part, useful phrases and the scoring.
By Olcay Sari, founder of Level Exams
Last updated: 2026-11-12
The A1 exam is 'Start Deutsch 1', a single exam developed jointly by telc and the Goethe-Institut. So whether you sit telc A1 or Goethe A1, the speaking section is the same. It is taken in a small group, and there is no preparation time.
The speaking section is worth 15 points; the whole exam has 60 points and you need at least 36 to pass. At A1 there is no minimum per section, but speaking is a quarter of the total: points collected here make up for gaps in the written part.
The three parts at a glance
The exam takes about 15 minutes. There is no preparation time; you receive the cards during the exam.
| Part | What you do | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Teil 1: Introducing yourself (Sich vorstellen) | You introduce yourself using the seven keywords on the card; then you spell a word and say a number. | 3 |
| Teil 2: Asking for and giving information | With a card showing a topic and a word you ask a question, and you answer the question you are asked. | 6 |
| Teil 3: Making and responding to requests | With a picture card you make a request, and you respond to the request made to you. | 6 |
Teil 1: Introducing yourself
The card has seven keywords: name, age, country, where you live, languages, job and hobby. One sentence for each is enough, in the order on the card.
After the introduction the examiner asks for two small things: to spell a word (usually your first name or surname) and to say a number (telephone, house number, postcode). Practise the alphabet and numbers aloud; these are the easiest points.
Example: Teil 1, introducing yourself
Task: Stellen Sie sich vor. Sprechen Sie über: Name, Alter, Land, Wohnort, Sprachen, Beruf, Hobby. Danach buchstabieren Sie ein Wort und nennen eine Zahl.
A: Ich heiße Aylin Demir. Ich bin neunundzwanzig Jahre alt. Ich komme aus der Türkei und wohne in Ankara. Ich spreche Türkisch und ein bisschen Deutsch. Ich bin Friseurin von Beruf. Mein Hobby ist Schwimmen. Prüferin: Danke. Wie schreibt man Ihren Familiennamen? Buchstabieren Sie bitte. A: D, E, M, I, R. Prüferin: Und wie ist Ihre Hausnummer? A: Meine Hausnummer ist siebenundvierzig.
- Each of the seven keywords is covered by one sentence; long sentences are not needed.
- The spelling is letter by letter and slow; the number is given in a full sentence („Meine Hausnummer ist …“).
- If you have no job: „Ich bin Hausfrau.“ / „Ich arbeite im Moment nicht.“ / „Ich bin Student.“
Teil 2: Asking and answering questions
There are two topics, and you draw one card for each. The card shows the topic and one word. Your task is to ask a question with that word; your partner answers and then asks you a question.
The question must relate to the word and be understandable. Two types of question are all you need: with a question word („Was …?“, „Wann …?“, „Wie oft …?“) and a yes-no question starting with the verb („Machst du gern Sport?“). Answer in a short sentence, not a single word.
Example: Teil 2, question and answer
Task: Thema: Freizeit. Sie bekommen eine Karte mit einem Wort. Stellen Sie eine Frage zu diesem Wort. Ihre Partnerin oder Ihr Partner antwortet. Danach antworten Sie auf eine Frage.
A (Karte: Wochenende): Was machst du am Wochenende? B: Am Samstag gehe ich einkaufen. Am Sonntag besuche ich meine Eltern. B (Karte: Sport): Machst du gern Sport? A: Ja, ich gehe zweimal in der Woche schwimmen. A (Karte: Kino): Wie oft gehst du ins Kino? B: Nicht oft. Vielleicht einmal im Monat. B (Karte: Musik): Welche Musik hörst du gern? A: Ich höre gern türkische Popmusik.
- Every question contains the word on the card or clearly connects to it.
- In questions with a question word the verb comes second („Was machst du …?“); in yes-no questions it comes first („Machst du …?“).
- The answers are short but complete: „Nicht oft. Vielleicht einmal im Monat.“
Teil 3: Making a request and responding
The card shows a picture: a pen, a window, a glass of water. You make a request about it; your partner agrees or politely declines. Then you swap roles.
The request must be polite: do not forget „bitte“. The pattern „Können Sie mir bitte …?“ fits almost any picture. When you respond, do not just say „Ja“; say „Ja, gern.“ or „Tut mir leid, …“.
Example: Teil 3, request and response
Task: Sie bekommen eine Karte mit einem Bild. Formulieren Sie eine Bitte. Ihre Partnerin oder Ihr Partner reagiert darauf. Danach reagieren Sie auf eine Bitte.
A (Bild: Stift): Entschuldigung, können Sie mir bitte einen Stift geben? B: Ja, gern. Hier, bitte. B (Bild: Fenster): Machen Sie bitte das Fenster zu. Mir ist kalt. A: Ja, natürlich. Einen Moment, bitte. A (Bild: Glas Wasser): Ich habe Durst. Kann ich bitte ein Glas Wasser haben? B: Ja, sofort. Bitte schön. B (Bild: Buch): Geben Sie mir bitte das Buch. A: Tut mir leid, das Buch brauche ich gerade selbst.
- There are three forms of request: a question („Können Sie mir bitte …?“), asking permission („Kann ich bitte … haben?“) and the imperative („Machen Sie bitte …“).
- Both agreeing and declining are shown; a short reason keeps a refusal polite.
- If you do not know the German word for the object, point and ask: „Können Sie mir das bitte geben?“
Useful phrases
| Purpose | Phrase |
|---|---|
| Introducing yourself | Ich heiße … / Ich komme aus … / Ich wohne in … / Ich bin … von Beruf. |
| Asking a question | Was machst du …? / Wie oft …? / Wann …? / Wo …? / Hast du …? |
| Answering | Ja, … / Nein, … / Am Samstag … / Ich … gern. |
| Making a request | Können Sie mir bitte … geben? / Kann ich bitte … haben? / Machen Sie bitte … |
| Agreeing | Ja, gern. / Ja, natürlich. / Hier, bitte. |
| Declining politely | Tut mir leid, das geht nicht. / Leider nicht. |
| When you did not understand | Wie bitte? / Können Sie das bitte wiederholen? / Langsamer, bitte. |
How is it scored?
The speaking section is worth 15 points: Teil 1 3, Teil 2 6, Teil 3 6. In Teil 1 the introduction, the spelling and the number are scored separately. In Teil 2 and Teil 3 the question or request you produce is worth more than the answer you give.
What is measured is not flawless grammar but being understood: does what you say fit the task, and does the other person understand it. Small mistakes do not cost points as long as the meaning is clear.
The Goethe-Institut shows the result of the same exam out of 100 points; the proportion is the same. In the Level Exams mock exams your partner is an AI: it asks, waits for your answer and answers your question.
Common mistakes
- Skipping keywords in the introduction: say all seven.
- Spelling with the letter names of your own language: learn the German alphabet (especially E, I, J, V, W, Y, Z).
- Asking a question in Teil 2 that has nothing to do with the word on the card.
- Making a statement instead of a question: watch the position of the verb.
- Forgetting „bitte“ in a request, or answering with „Ja“ only.
- Falling silent when you did not understand: saying „Wie bitte?“ costs nothing.
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 speaking exam?
About 15 minutes. It is taken in a group, and there is no preparation time.
›What is asked in the A1 speaking exam?
Three things: you introduce yourself (name, age, country, where you live, languages, job, hobby), you ask and answer questions with the words on cards, and you make and respond to requests with picture cards.
›If I fail speaking, do I fail the exam?
At A1 there is no minimum per section; you need at least 36 of the 60 points overall. But speaking carries 15 points, so passing with a speaking score near zero is very hard.
›Is the speaking section of telc A1 and Goethe A1 the same?
Yes. Both are 'Start Deutsch 1'; the parts and tasks are identical. The ÖSD A1 exam is a different format.
›Which A1 exam should I take for family reunification?
Check the list of the German mission in your country. For applications from Turkey, among certificates issued in Turkey only Goethe-Institut and ÖSD are accepted. Preparation is the same: Goethe A1 and telc A1 are the same exam.
›Is there a PDF or sample exam for German A1 speaking?
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.
Try the speaking section
In the free A1 mock exam you do the speaking section with an AI partner: introduction, question cards and requests, with a score and feedback for each step.