Goethe B1 listening: the four parts and exercises with answers
The listening module of Goethe and ÖSD B1 takes about 40 minutes; you answer 30 items in four parts. Below you will find what you hear in each part, how often it is played and worked examples.
By Olcay Sari, founder of Level Exams
Last updated: 2026-11-12
Goethe-Zertifikat B1 and ÖSD Zertifikat B1 are the same exam. Listening is a module of its own: it is marked out of 100 points and passed with at least 60.
Two of the four parts are played twice and two only once. Before each part you get time to read the items; in the parts played once, using that time well is essential.
The four parts at a glance
| Part | What you hear | Items | Plays |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teil 1 | Five short texts (announcement, voicemail message, radio notice): one true/false and one multiple-choice question on each | 10 | 2 |
| Teil 2 | One person speaking (guided tour, information talk): three-option questions | 5 | 1 |
| Teil 3 | An everyday conversation between two people: are the statements true or false | 7 | 1 |
| Teil 4 | A radio discussion with three speakers: who says what | 8 | 2 |
Teil 1: Short texts
You hear five short texts and answer two items on each: first a true/false statement, then a three-option question. The first item asks about the text as a whole, the second about a detail.
Each text is played twice. Settle the true/false item on the first play and the detail question on the second. These texts mention several places, times or options; the question targets one of them.
Worked example: Hören Teil 1
Task: Sie hören eine Durchsage im Kaufhaus zweimal. Lösen Sie die Aufgaben 1 und 2.
Sie hören: „Liebe Kundinnen und Kunden, wegen Bauarbeiten ist der Aufzug im Haupteingang heute außer Betrieb. Bitte benutzen Sie die Rolltreppen oder den Aufzug neben der Buchabteilung. Unser Restaurant im vierten Stock bleibt wie gewohnt bis 19 Uhr geöffnet.“ 1. Im Kaufhaus funktioniert heute kein Aufzug. (richtig / falsch) 2. Das Restaurant … a) ist heute geschlossen. b) hat normal geöffnet. c) zieht in den vierten Stock um.
- Item 1: falsch. Only the lift at the main entrance is out of order; the lift next to the book department can be used.
- Item 2: b. “bleibt wie gewohnt … geöffnet” → open as usual. “vierten Stock” appears as bait in option c.
- With sweeping statements such as “kein Aufzug”, look for the exception in the text.
Teil 2: One person speaking
You hear a guide, an official or a presenter speaking to an audience: programme, rules, times. The questions follow the order of the talk.
This part is played only once. Use the reading time to mark the keywords of the questions; if you miss a question during the talk, move straight on to the next.
Teil 3: Everyday conversation
You hear an everyday conversation between two people as if from the next table and decide whether the statements are true or false; the statements follow the order of the conversation.
This part is also played once. Pay attention to who does what: the trap is usually a piece of information moved to the other speaker or to another time.
Worked example: Hören Teil 3
Task: Sie sitzen im Bus und hören, wie sich zwei Bekannte unterhalten. Sie hören das Gespräch einmal. Sind die Aussagen 1 und 2 richtig oder falsch?
Mira: Hallo Jonas! Dich habe ich ja lange nicht gesehen. Arbeitest du noch im Krankenhaus? Jonas: Ja, aber nur noch drei Tage pro Woche. An den anderen Tagen studiere ich wieder. Mira: Wirklich? Was denn? Jonas: Gesundheitsmanagement. Die Abendkurse waren mir zu anstrengend, deshalb habe ich die Stunden reduziert. Mira: Und reicht das Geld? Jonas: Es ist knapp, aber meine Frau verdient ja auch. 1. Jonas hat seine Stelle im Krankenhaus aufgegeben. 2. Jonas arbeitet weniger, um studieren zu können.
- Statement 1: falsch. Jonas still works at the hospital: “nur noch drei Tage pro Woche”.
- Statement 2: richtig. The evening classes were too tiring, so he reduced his working hours; on the other days he studies.
- Small differences in meaning such as “aufgegeben” versus “reduziert” are the typical trap of this part.
Teil 4: Radio discussion
A presenter and two guests discuss a topic. For each statement you mark who says it: the presenter, the first guest or the second guest. The discussion is played twice and is the longest recording of the module.
Use the reading time to read the statements and note the guests' names. On the first play, work out who is on which side; most statements then fall into place. The presenter gets statements too: the presenter is the one who asks and sums up.
Worked example: Hören Teil 4
Task: Sie hören eine Diskussion im Radio zweimal. Wer sagt was? Ordnen Sie die Aussagen 1–3 zu: a) Moderatorin, b) Frau Lang, c) Herr Demir.
Moderatorin: Unser Thema heute: Sollen Kinder Geld für gute Noten bekommen? Frau Lang, Sie sind Lehrerin. Was meinen Sie? Frau Lang: Davon halte ich wenig. Kinder sollen lernen, weil sie etwas verstehen wollen, und nicht, weil es Geld dafür gibt. Herr Demir: Da bin ich anderer Meinung. Erwachsene bekommen für ihre Arbeit ja auch Geld. Bei meinem Sohn hat eine kleine Belohnung jedenfalls geholfen. Moderatorin: Aber was passiert, wenn die Belohnung einmal ausbleibt? Frau Lang: Genau das ist das Problem. Dann hört die Motivation oft sofort auf. 1. Eine Belohnung hat dem eigenen Kind beim Lernen geholfen. 2. Kinder sollen aus Interesse lernen. 3. Es ist die Frage, was ohne Belohnung geschieht.
- Statement 1: c, Herr Demir. “Bei meinem Sohn hat eine kleine Belohnung jedenfalls geholfen.”
- Statement 2: b, Frau Lang. “Kinder sollen lernen, weil sie etwas verstehen wollen.” The statement sums this up as “aus Interesse”.
- Statement 3: a, Moderatorin. She is the one who asks what happens when the reward stops; remember that the presenter gets statements too.
Habits that help while listening
- Use the reading time to mark the keywords of the items; in the parts played once, this time takes the place of a second play.
- Do not miss negations and limiting words: nicht, kein, nur, erst, außer.
- Let a missed item go and move on to the next.
- In the fourth part, note the speaker's initial next to each statement and make the final decision on the second play.
- Leave no item blank: a wrong answer costs no points.
How is it scored?
All items count the same. Your number of correct answers is converted to a scale of 100 points, and you need at least 60 to pass the module; that means getting at least 60% of the items right.
The first part has the most items (10); because the short texts are played twice, it is the safest source of points in the module.
Common mistakes
- Not using the reading time.
- Trying to solve both items on the first play in Teil 1 and missing both.
- Waiting for a second play in Teil 2 and Teil 3: there is none.
- Mixing up the guests in Teil 4: note their names and sides at the start.
- Marking an option because it contains a word you heard.
- Leaving an item blank.
Sample question paper (PDF) and mock exam
More practice: the Goethe B1 and ÖSD B1 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 Goethe B1 listening, and how many questions are there?
About 40 minutes and 30 items in four parts.
›How often are the texts played?
Number of plays: part one 2, part two 1, part three 1, part four 2.
›Is the listening part the same in Goethe B1 and ÖSD B1?
Yes. The Zertifikat B1 is a joint exam of the two institutions; parts, item counts and scoring are identical.
›Can I retake the listening module on its own?
Yes. At B1 the four modules are independent; you retake only the one you did not pass.
›How does it differ from telc B1 listening?
telc B1 has three parts and all items are true/false. Goethe and ÖSD B1 have four parts; besides true/false there are multiple-choice questions and matching statements to speakers.
›Is there a PDF or sample exam for Goethe B1 listening?
Yes. The Goethe B1 and ÖSD B1 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 module as in the exam
The free ÖSD B1 mock exam is the same exam as Goethe B1: the listening module plays as in the exam, with reading time and repeats inside the recording.