Goethe B2 reading: the five parts and exercises with answers
The reading module of the Goethe-Zertifikat B2 takes 65 minutes; you answer 30 items in five parts, each with a different task type. Below you will find what each part asks for, how to solve it, the suggested time split and worked examples.
By Olcay Sari, founder of Level Exams
Last updated: 2026-11-12
At Goethe B2, reading is a module of its own: it is marked out of 100 points and passed with at least 60. The module can be taken on its own and retaken on its own.
Four of the five parts are matching tasks: you match opinions to people, sentences to gaps, and headings to texts and paragraphs. The real skill in B2 reading is therefore following the logic of a text; knowing the individual words is not enough.
The five parts at a glance
| Part | Text and task | Items | Suggested time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lesen Teil 1 | Four people's opinions in a forum: you match each statement to the person who says it | 9 | About eighteen minutes |
| Lesen Teil 2 | Magazine article: you put the right sentences into the gaps; two sentences are extra | 6 | About twelve minutes |
| Lesen Teil 3 | Newspaper article: three-option questions | 6 | About twelve minutes |
| Lesen Teil 4 | Short opinion pieces on one topic: you match the headings to the right pieces | 6 | About twelve minutes |
| Lesen Teil 5 | Regulations or terms of use: you choose the right heading for each paragraph | 3 | About six minutes |
Lesen Teil 1: Opinions in a forum
Four people write their opinion on the same topic in a forum. You get 9 statements and find the person who says each; the same person can be chosen more than once.
The statements sum up the opinions in other words. First sum up each of the four texts in one sentence (who argues what), then match the statements to these summaries. If two people say something similar, look for the difference in their reasons.
Worked example: Lesen Teil 1
Task: Sie lesen in einem Forum, was Menschen über freien Eintritt in Museen denken. Welche Aussage passt zu welcher Person? Die Personen können mehrmals gewählt werden.
a) Jonas: Freier Eintritt klingt gut, löst aber das eigentliche Problem nicht. Wer sich nicht für Kunst interessiert, kommt auch dann nicht, wenn es nichts kostet. Das Geld wäre in Schulprojekten besser angelegt. b) Meryem: Seit unser Stadtmuseum sonntags keinen Eintritt mehr verlangt, gehe ich öfter hin, manchmal nur für eine halbe Stunde. Bei zwölf Euro hätte ich mir das nie erlaubt. c) Henrik: Museen haben hohe Kosten. Wenn die Einnahmen fehlen, müssen am Ende alle Steuerzahler dafür aufkommen, auch die, die nie ein Museum betreten. 1. Kostenloser Eintritt verändert, wie man ein Museum nutzt. 2. Die Finanzierung würde auch Unbeteiligte belasten. 3. Der Preis ist nicht der Grund, warum manche Menschen wegbleiben.
- Statement 1: b, Meryem. Free entry has changed how she uses the museum: more frequent and shorter visits.
- Statement 2: c, Henrik. If the income is missing, “alle Steuerzahler” pay, including those who never go.
- Statement 3: a, Jonas. People who are not interested do not come even when it is free; the price is not the issue.
Lesen Teil 2: Sentence gaps
Sentences have been removed from a magazine article. You put the right sentences into the gaps; two of the sentences given fit no gap.
The answer comes from the links, not the content: pronouns (das, diese, sie), connectors (deshalb, dagegen, außerdem) and repeated words. At each gap, look at the end of the sentence before and the start of the sentence after; the sentence you insert must link to both.
Worked example: Lesen Teil 2
Task: Sie lesen in einer Zeitschrift einen Artikel. Welche Sätze passen in die Lücken 1 und 2? Ein Satz passt nicht.
Wer eine Fremdsprache lernt, vergisst einen großen Teil der neuen Wörter schon nach wenigen Tagen. (1) ___ Entscheidend ist deshalb nicht, wie lange man an einem Stück lernt, sondern in welchen Abständen man wiederholt. (2) ___ Wer dagegen erst kurz vor der Prüfung alles auf einmal lernt, behält den Stoff meist nur bis zum Prüfungstag. a) Kurze Wiederholungen, über mehrere Wochen verteilt, verankern den Wortschatz dauerhaft. b) Das ist kein Zeichen mangelnder Begabung, sondern ein normaler Vorgang im Gedächtnis. c) Viele Sprachschulen haben deshalb ihre Preise erhöht.
- (1) b. “Das” refers back to the forgetting in the sentence before; the sentence after draws a conclusion from it with “deshalb”.
- (2) a. “dagegen” in the next sentence needs a contrast: spaced repetition versus cramming just before the exam.
- c looks close to the topic but links to no sentence in the text: it is the extra sentence.
Lesen Teil 3: Newspaper article, multiple choice
You read a newspaper or magazine article and answer three-option questions. The questions follow the order of the text and ask what the writer says, what an example shows or what someone's attitude is.
Wrong options use words from the text but change the relationship: they turn a cause into a result or an exception into a rule. Before you mark an option, find the sentence in the text that supports it.
Lesen Teil 4: Opinions and headings
You get short opinion pieces on one topic and a set of headings; you match each heading to the right piece. One of the pieces fits no heading.
The headings sum up the main attitude of a piece. For each piece, note in one word why the person thinks so (money, health, habit); the headings usually differ by exactly this reason.
Worked example: Lesen Teil 4
Task: Sie lesen in einer Zeitschrift Meinungen zum Thema „Arbeiten im Ruhestand“. Welche Überschrift passt zu welchem Text? Ein Text passt nicht.
a) Mit 67 habe ich aufgehört, nach einem halben Jahr aber wieder angefangen, zwei Tage pro Woche in meinem alten Betrieb. Das Geld brauche ich nicht. Mir fehlten die Kollegen und das Gefühl, gebraucht zu werden. b) Meine Rente reicht gerade für Miete und Essen. Deshalb trage ich morgens Zeitungen aus. Freiwillig würde ich das in meinem Alter nicht mehr tun. c) Ich habe vierzig Jahre gearbeitet, das reicht. Jetzt kümmere ich mich um den Garten und die Enkel und vermisse das Büro keinen Tag. 1. Arbeit aus finanzieller Not 2. Arbeit als Mittel gegen Einsamkeit
- Heading 1: b. “Meine Rente reicht gerade für Miete und Essen”: the reason for working is money.
- Heading 2: a. He does not need the money; he missed his colleagues and the feeling of being needed.
- Text c fits no heading: the person does not work and does not miss it. In the exam, too, one text is left over.
Lesen Teil 5: Regulations
You read rules of use, exam regulations or workplace rules. For a few paragraphs of the text you choose the right heading from a table of contents; most of the headings are not used.
This is the shortest part and gives quick points. Name the topic of the paragraph in one word (shoes, closing, fees), then look for that topic among the headings. Do not let the formal language put you off: you are only looking for the topic.
Worked example: Lesen Teil 5
Task: Sie lesen die Nutzungsordnung einer Sporthalle. Welche Überschrift aus dem Inhaltsverzeichnis passt zu welchem Paragrafen? Zwei Überschriften passen nicht.
§ 1 Die Halle darf nur mit sauberen Hallenschuhen betreten werden. Straßenschuhe bleiben in der Umkleide. § 2 Wer die Halle als Letzter verlässt, schaltet das Licht aus und meldet Schäden noch am selben Tag der Verwaltung. a) Anmeldung und Gebühren b) Kleidung und Schuhe c) Pflichten beim Verlassen d) Haftung bei Unfällen
- § 1: b. The paragraph is about indoor shoes: “Kleidung und Schuhe”.
- § 2: c. What the last person to leave has to do: switch off the light, report damage.
- a and d are not used; in the exam, too, most headings are left over.
How should I divide the time?
- The times in the table are the exam's suggestion; you may start with any part.
- The first part has the most items, but the fifth gives the quickest points. If you are short of time, do parts five and four first.
- If you get stuck on a gap in the second part, move on; filling the later gaps leaves fewer options.
- In the paper exam, leave time to transfer your answers to the answer sheet. In the Level Exams mock exam answers are saved as soon as you mark them.
- 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 result of the reading module is independent of the other modules; you retake only the module you did not pass.
Common mistakes
- Choosing a person in Teil 1 because a word from the statement appears in their text: look at the direction of the opinion.
- Placing a sentence in Teil 2 by the sentence before only, without checking the sentence after.
- Answering from your own knowledge instead of the text in Teil 3.
- Forgetting that one text is left over in Teil 4 and looking for a heading for every text.
- Trying to decode a paragraph word by word in Teil 5 and losing time.
- Using up the time in the first two parts.
Sample question paper (PDF) and mock exam
More practice: the Goethe B2 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 B2 reading, and how many questions are there?
65 minutes and 30 items in five parts.
›Which part of Goethe B2 reading is the hardest?
For most candidates it is the second part with the sentence gaps: the answer comes from the links between sentences, not from vocabulary. The quickest points come from the fifth part with the regulations.
›Can I do the parts in any order?
Yes. The suggested times are only a guide; you can start with the part you find easiest.
›How many correct answers do I need to pass reading?
The module is marked out of 100 points and you need at least 60; that is, at least 60% of the items right.
›How does it differ from telc B2 reading?
telc B2 has three reading tasks plus Sprachbausteine. Goethe B2 has five reading parts, no Sprachbausteine, and reading is passed as a module of its own.
›Is there a PDF or sample exam for Goethe B2 reading?
Yes. The Goethe B2 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 reading module under time
In the free Goethe B2 mock exam you do the reading module with the real timing; the result shows the correct answer and an explanation for every item.