Goethe-Zertifikat A1: Start Deutsch 1 exam and online mock test
One of the A1 certificates accepted for a spouse visa when the exam is taken in Turkey. Try the same format with real timing, non-stop audio and automatic scoring before your exam day at the Goethe-Institut.
Start Deutsch 1 is the lowest step among the Goethe-Institut's certificate exams. The level it tests is A1 of the European framework (CEFR): understanding familiar everyday expressions, briefly introducing yourself and others, asking and answering simple questions. The Goethe-Institut did not develop this exam alone but together with telc, so one and the same exam is certified under two logos: Goethe-Zertifikat A1 and telc Deutsch A1.
Most visitors to this page need an A1 certificate to join a spouse in Germany, and here the issuing institution is what counts. The German missions in Turkey accept, of the A1 certificates issued in Turkey, only the Goethe-Institut's 'Start Deutsch 1' and ÖSD's 'Grundstufe Deutsch 1'; a telc A1 taken in Turkey does not count for that application. If you have been studying for telc A1, none of it is wasted, because the exam is the same; the only thing that changes is where you register.
Level Exams has no separate Goethe A1 mock set, and that is a deliberate choice: at A1 there is no 'Goethe-style' exam of its own. When you choose Goethe A1 in your dashboard, the mock exams you get are the telc A1 mocks, with Start Deutsch 1's section order, timing, item counts, audio repeats and scoring. The difference only shows on exam day, on the certificate you receive: the institution's name and the logo.
Who needs it
Spouse visa applicants in Turkey
Goethe 'Start Deutsch 1' is one of the A1 certificates issued in Turkey that the German missions accept. If the exam dates at the Goethe-Institut near you fit your visa timeline, build your preparation around this exam.
People who took telc A1 in Turkey and need a new certificate
telc A1 and Start Deutsch 1 are the same exam, so you do not need to study again; this time you simply need the certificate from the Goethe-Institut. A few full mocks are enough to get your timing back.
Au pairs and other visa applicants
Some au pair placements and long-stay visas ask for proof of basic German. Check with the mission handling your application which institutions' certificates it accepts.
Exam structure
The table shows the structure of the Start Deutsch 1 mock exams on Level Exams. We verified it part by part against the official Übungstest that telc publishes for this same exam. At the Goethe-Institut the exam follows the same pattern: listening, reading and writing back to back in one sitting, speaking in a separate session with no preparation time.
Section
Time
Points
Tasks
Hören
Listening
length of the recording
15 pts
Part 1 · Gespräche · 6 items · picture multiple choice · played 2 times
Part 2 · Durchsagen · 4 items · true / false · played once
Part 3 · Telefonansagen · 5 items · multiple choice · played 2 times
Lesen
Reading
25 min
15 pts
Part 1 · Kurze Texte · 5 items · true / false
Part 2 · Anzeigen · 5 items · matching
Part 3 · Schilder und Aushänge · 5 items · true / false
Schreiben
Writing
20 min
15 pts
Part 1 · Formular ausfüllen · 5 items · form completion
Part 3 · Bitten formulieren und darauf reagieren · speaking turn
60 points in totalPass mark: 60% of the total
In Start Deutsch 1 the pass decision rests on one total: the sections have no minimums of their own, and the modular structure of Goethe's B1 and higher exams does not apply at this level. The pass rule is the same as at telc, because it is the same exam. The Level Exams results report applies it and shows section by section how a loss in listening is offset by reading.
Hören · Listening
Picture options for short everyday conversations, true/false decisions on public announcements and multiple-choice questions on phone messages. The table shows how many times each part plays; the recording sets the length of the section and cannot be paused or rewound.
Lesen · Reading
True/false statements on short e-mails and notes, choosing the advert that fits a given situation, and true/false decisions on signs and notices. In the advert task every option looks on topic; a single detail such as the day, time or price tells the right one apart.
Schreiben · Writing
First you transfer details from a text into a form, and each field counts as right or wrong. Then you write a short message (Kurze Mitteilung): the score depends on covering each requested point and on communicative form such as greeting and closing. The official marking sheet has no separate grammar criterion; mistakes cost nothing extra unless they get in the way of the message.
Sprechen · Speaking
In the real exam speaking is done with several candidates together, and there is no preparation time. First you introduce yourself with a keyword card (Name, Alter, Land, Wohnort, Sprachen, Beruf, Hobby), spell your name and say a number; then you ask and answer questions with topic cards; finally you make a request with a picture card and react to someone else's. On Level Exams an AI partner takes the place of the other candidates.
Goethe A1 sample questions with answers
One sample from each section, no sign-up needed: instructions in German as in the real exam, solutions in English. Enough to see the format; to feel the time pressure and get scored, take a full mock exam.
These samples follow the telc Deutsch A1 format, which is identical to the Goethe-Institut's 'Start Deutsch 1'. The ÖSD A1 format is different. The questions were written by Level Exams, are not taken from any official exam and do not appear in our mock exams.
Listening (Hören)
Part 3
Kreuzen Sie an: a, b oder c. Sie hören jeden Text zweimal.
Sie hören eine Nachricht auf dem Anrufbeantworter.
In the real exam the recording plays twice on its own and cannot be paused; here you can replay it as often as you like.
Transcript
Praxis: Guten Tag, Frau Demir. Hier ist die Praxis Doktor Lang. Sie haben morgen um neun Uhr einen Termin. Leider ist der Doktor morgen erst ab zehn Uhr da. Können Sie um halb elf kommen? Bitte rufen Sie uns kurz zurück. Unsere Nummer ist null zwei zwei eins, sechs vier, acht drei. Vielen Dank und auf Wiederhören!
1. Wann soll Frau Demir morgen in die Praxis kommen?
a) Um 9.00 Uhr.
b) Um 10.00 Uhr.
c) Um 10.30 Uhr.
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: c) Um 10.30 Uhr. — Three times are mentioned: the old appointment (9:00), when the doctor arrives (10:00) and the new appointment. The new time is 'halb elf', which in German means half an hour before eleven, i.e. 10:30, not 11:30. In the real exam you hear each message twice: listen for the question the first time and for the detail the second time.
Lesen Sie den Text. Sind die Sätze 1 bis 3 Richtig oder Falsch?
E-Mail
Von: Jonas
An: Aylin
Betreff: Samstag
Liebe Aylin,
am Samstag habe ich Geburtstag. Ich mache eine kleine Party im Garten. Sie beginnt um drei Uhr.
Kommst du auch? Bitte bring keinen Kuchen mit. Meine Mutter backt zwei Kuchen. Aber kannst du Musik mitbringen? Du hast so viele gute Lieder.
Ich wohne jetzt im Rosenweg 12. Du nimmst am besten den Bus Nummer 5. Die Haltestelle heißt „Rosenweg“.
Viele Grüße
Jonas
1. Die Party beginnt am Nachmittag.Richtig / Falsch
2. Aylin soll einen Kuchen mitbringen.Richtig / Falsch
3. Aylin kann mit dem Bus zu Jonas fahren.Richtig / Falsch
Answer and explanation
1. Richtig — 'Sie beginnt um drei Uhr': three o'clock in the afternoon. The text never says 'Nachmittag'; at A1 the answer is often phrased with different words.
2. Falsch — 'Bitte bring keinen Kuchen mit': 'keinen' means no cake. His mother is baking two. Aylin is asked to bring music.
3. Richtig — 'Du nimmst am besten den Bus Nummer 5': he recommends bus number 5 and even names the stop.
Ihr Freund Tarek Yilmaz möchte einen Deutschkurs machen. Er hat keine Zeit. Helfen Sie ihm. Lesen Sie den Text und füllen Sie das Formular aus. Schreiben Sie die fünf fehlenden Informationen (1 bis 5).
Tarek Yilmaz ist 27 Jahre alt. Er kommt aus der Türkei und wohnt jetzt in Köln.
Tarek ist Koch von Beruf. Er arbeitet am Vormittag und am Nachmittag in einem Restaurant.
Er kann nur am Abend lernen. Er bezahlt den Kurs bar.
Form: Anmeldung · Deutschkurs A1
Vorname
Tarek
Straße, Hausnummer
Domstraße 8
PLZ, Wohnort
50667 Köln
Bezahlung (bar / Überweisung)
bar
Familienname
(1) ______________
Alter
(2) ______________
Herkunftsland
(3) ______________
Beruf
(4) ______________
Kurszeit (Vormittag / Abend)
(5) ______________
Answer and explanation · Correctly completed
(1) Familienname
Yilmaz
Surname: Yilmaz.
(2) Alter
27
'ist 27 Jahre alt' → write just the number.
(3) Herkunftsland
Türkei
Country of origin: 'aus der Türkei' → Türkei.
(4) Beruf
Koch
'Koch von Beruf' → Koch (cook).
(5) Kurszeit (Vormittag / Abend)
Abend
Trap: 'Vormittag' also appears, but that is when he works. 'nur am Abend lernen' → Abend.
Write only the information asked for; no full sentences. Each correct field is worth 1 point. Copying from the text is fine; the real skill is spotting the distractor (here 'Vormittag'). On Level Exams small spelling variants (Türkei/Tuerkei) are accepted.
Stellen Sie sich vor. Danach buchstabieren Sie Ihren Namen und nennen eine Zahl.
Name?Alter?Land?Wohnort?Sprachen?Beruf?Hobby?
Sample answer
Name?„Ich heiße Elif Kaya.“— If asked for your surname: 'Mein Familienname ist Kaya.'
Alter?„Ich bin 29 Jahre alt.“— The full pattern with 'Jahre alt' is the safe choice.
Land?„Ich komme aus der Türkei.“— Türkei takes an article: 'aus der Türkei'. Most countries don't: 'aus Deutschland'.
Wohnort?„Ich wohne in Ankara.“— 'wohnen in' + city.
Sprachen?„Ich spreche Türkisch, Englisch und ein bisschen Deutsch.“— 'ein bisschen' is an honest, natural A1 answer.
Beruf?„Ich arbeite als Verkäuferin.“— No 'ein' before a job: 'Ich bin Verkäuferin.'
Hobby?„Mein Hobby ist Kochen.“— Alternative: 'Ich koche gern.'
Buchstabieren Sie Ihren Familiennamen.„Kaya: K – A – Y – A.“— Say the German letter names: K 'kah', Y 'üpsilon', J 'yot', V 'fow', W 'veh'. Practise the letters of your own name.
Nennen Sie eine Telefonnummer.„Meine Nummer ist null fünf drei zwei, eins zwei drei, vier fünf, sechs sieben.“— Say the digits one by one or in pairs. On the phone Germans often say 'zwo' so it is not confused with 'drei'.
In the real exam this part is done in a group: you introduce yourself using the keyword cards, then the examiner asks you to spell your name and say a number. One short, complete sentence per card is enough. On Level Exams an AI partner plays the other role and your answer is scored against the official criteria for this level.
The first mock exam is free: real timing, uninterrupted audio and automatic scoring.
Download a free Goethe A1 practice test (PDF)
Level Exams — sample Goethe A1 practice test and answer sheet (Antwortbogen). The samples from this page, a blank answer sheet and the answer key on the last page. Print it and solve it with a pen.
At A1, Goethe and telc certify the same exam under two logos, while ÖSD stands apart with its own format. The exam decides what you study; the institution and the country you sit it in decide whether the certificate is accepted.
Goethe-Zertifikat A1: Start Deutsch 1
We simulate this format
A joint exam with telc: listening, reading and writing in one sitting, speaking in a separate group session. One total score, no section minimums. The table above shows the real values of this exam.
The mock exams on this page come from the pool shared with telc A1; because the exam is the same, they prepare you for Goethe A1 one to one.
telc Deutsch A1
We simulate this format
The telc-branded certificate for Start Deutsch 1: tasks, timing and scoring are the same as for Goethe A1.
The mocks are shared. Acceptance is not: for a spouse visa, a telc A1 taken in Turkey does not count, while one taken in Germany or another country is on the general list.
A separate format: the written module (reading, listening, writing) and the oral module are assessed separately, and reading and listening have their own minimums. Section order and task types differ as well.
The other A1 certificate accepted, alongside Goethe, for a spouse visa applied for from Turkey. We have separate ÖSD A1 mock exams for this format; choose ÖSD as the exam type in your dashboard.
Sitting the exam in Turkey for a spouse visa? Choose the institution carefully: the German missions accept, of the A1 certificates issued in Turkey, only the Goethe-Institut's 'Start Deutsch 1' and ÖSD's 'Grundstufe Deutsch 1', not a telc A1 taken in Turkey. If you chose Goethe, the mock exams on this page (shared with telc A1, same exam) prepare you one to one; if you chose ÖSD, switch to the ÖSD A1 mocks.
Goethe A1 mock exam: what Level Exams offers
✔20 full mock exams, each matching the official format exactly
✔The first mock exam is free, just sign up
✔25 lessons: vocabulary, reading, writing, listening, speaking in that order
The mock exam you take for Goethe A1 follows the same pattern you will meet at the Goethe-Institut on exam day. We built it against the official telc Übungstest for Start Deutsch 1: section order, timing, item counts, audio repeats and scoring are as in the exam.
The flow of the exam room
When a section ends it closes, and the next one opens in Start Deutsch 1's order. The server, not your browser, keeps the time; you get a warning near the end, and your answers are saved without you doing anything.
Different speakers read the listening texts in natural German voices. Each part plays exactly as often as in Start Deutsch 1; there is no pause button, and instructions and answer gaps are part of the recording.
In the real exam the questions come from other candidates. Here an AI partner with pre-recorded lines takes that role: it puts its own questions and requests to you and waits for your answer, while your questions and requests are recorded and scored too. There are no retakes.
Your short message and your speaking recording are assessed by AI. Maximum points and criteria follow Start Deutsch 1's official marking sheets: in the message each point and the communicative form, in speaking each sub-task earns its own points.
The results report applies Start Deutsch 1's rule: one total, no section minimums. You also see your points section by section and the topics where you lost the most.
The A1 topics in the lesson portal and the vocabulary cards with pictures and audio are the same whichever institution you sit with; Goethe, telc and ÖSD candidates work with the same material. If you are starting from zero, move on to the mocks after the lessons.
How to prepare for Goethe A1
1
Plan backwards from your visa timeline
Missions usually want a certificate not older than one year, while Goethe-Institut exam dates are less frequent and fill up early. Book a suitable date early and plan your preparation around it.
2
Get used to listening and answering in a group
In speaking, understanding another candidate's question and answering it briefly earns points of its own, not just asking. In the mocks, listen closely to the partner's question; one clear sentence is enough.
3
Copy the form details exactly
Each field in the form task is either right or wrong. Take names, dates and numbers letter for letter from the source text; do not interpret or guess.
4
Frame the message with a greeting and a closing
Communicative form is a criterion of its own: a suitable greeting, a closing and the same form of address (du or Sie) throughout. And give every requested point at least one sentence.
5
Find the condition first in the advert task
Mark the real condition in the situation (day, time, price, place) first, then look only for that in the adverts. The adverts share a topic; that detail is what separates the right one.
Frequently asked questions
›Are Goethe A1 and telc A1 the same exam?
Yes. Start Deutsch 1 is a single exam developed jointly by the Goethe-Institut and telc: tasks, timing, item counts and scoring are identical. What differs is the institution's name and logo on the certificate. That is also why the Goethe A1 and telc A1 mock exams on Level Exams are the same.
›What score do I need to pass Goethe A1?
At least 36 of 60 raw points (60% of the total). There is no minimum per section, so a weaker section can be balanced by the others. The Level Exams results report says 'passed' or 'failed' by the same rule.
›How long does the Goethe A1 exam take?
About 80 minutes in total, with no preparation time. Listening, reading and writing run back to back in one sitting: listening lasts as long as the recording, reading 25 and writing 20 minutes. Speaking is a separate session of about 15 minutes.
›Is the Goethe A1 certificate valid for a spouse visa?
If you apply from Turkey, yes. The German missions in Turkey accept, of the A1 certificates issued in Turkey, only the Goethe-Institut's 'Start Deutsch 1' and ÖSD's 'Grundstufe Deutsch 1'; the telc-branded certificate for the same exam does not count if it was taken in Turkey. The certificate's age matters too: most missions want one not older than one year, so confirm the current requirement on your mission's website.
›I took telc A1 in Turkey. Do I need to study again for Goethe?
No. What you studied already was Start Deutsch 1; for the visa file you only need the certificate from the Goethe-Institut (or from ÖSD). Keep your timing sharp with a few full mocks until exam day. If you choose ÖSD, its format is different, so switch to the ÖSD A1 mocks.
›Where can I take the Goethe A1 exam?
Goethe-Zertifikat exams are held at Goethe-Instituts and at exam centres authorised by the Goethe-Institut. For current locations, dates and fees in Turkey, see the exam page on goethe.de. Level Exams is only for preparation: you cannot sit the exam here, and no certificate is issued.
›Where can I find a Goethe A1 sample exam?
Because Start Deutsch 1 is a joint exam, the official Übungstest that telc publishes free of charge on its website (PDF and audio) is a valid sample for Goethe A1 as well; we verified the structure of our mock exams against it. Also check the exam page on goethe.de. On paper you manage the clock and the scoring yourself; in the mocks here both are automatic. This page also has a free Goethe A1 sample PDF by Level Exams (with answer sheet and answer key) and worked sample questions.
›Goethe A1 or ÖSD A1?
Both are accepted for a spouse visa applied for from Turkey, and the choice often comes down to the dates of the centre near you. Preparation differs, though: in ÖSD A1 the written and oral modules are passed separately, with their own minimums in reading and listening, while Start Deutsch 1 only needs the total. Once you have decided, practise only in that format.
Start with the Goethe A1 mock exams
Create a free account, choose Goethe as the exam type and A1 as the level in your dashboard; you get mock exams in the Start Deutsch 1 format, shared with telc A1.