The first German certificate required for family reunification in Germany. Same format as Goethe A1; get exam-day ready with mock exams in the real format.
telc Deutsch A1 is the first step of the European framework (CEFR). It tests whether you can understand and use the most basic everyday expressions, introduce yourself and answer simple questions. The exam is produced by telc gGmbH and recognised by German authorities.
Most people who take it are joining a spouse in Germany: the visa application requires proof of 'basic German', and an A1 certificate is that proof. One detail matters: some German missions accept only certain providers for A1 certificates issued locally (in Turkey, for example, only Goethe-Institut 'Start Deutsch 1' and ÖSD), so check your embassy's list before you book. For preparation it makes no difference: at A1, 'Start Deutsch 1' is one exam developed jointly by the Goethe-Institut and telc, with identical sections, timing, item counts and scoring, so these mock exams prepare you for Goethe A1 just as well. The exam covers all four skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking. In the real exam the speaking part is done in a group; on Level Exams your partner is an AI.
The points most often lost at A1 are in listening and speaking: the recording plays once or twice and cannot be paused, and speaking has fixed tasks such as introducing yourself, spelling your name and saying a number. These are habits rather than knowledge, and mock exams are exactly how you build them.
Who needs it
Family reunification (Ehegattennachzug)
The visa to join a spouse in Germany requires an A1 certificate. Check which providers your embassy accepts; telc A1 and Goethe A1 share one format, and these mock exams prepare for both.
Au pair and some visa types
Accepted as proof of basic German for au pair placements and some long-stay visas.
Beginners
The first official certificate gives you a real starting point for the next levels.
Exam structure
The table below is the structure of the A1 mock exams on Level Exams, verified against the official telc Übungstest. Sections run in this order, one way only.
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
You pass by reaching a set percentage of the total; there is no minimum per section. A loss in listening can be made up in reading, but a balanced profile is the safest route on exam day.
Hören · Listening
Three listening parts: short dialogues with picture questions, announcements (true/false) and phone messages (multiple choice). The recording runs by itself and cannot be paused.
Lesen · Reading
Short emails and notes, adverts and signs. The answers are stated in the text; this part is about speed and attention.
Schreiben · Writing
One form-completion task (taking details such as name, date of birth and address from a given text) and a short message covering three points. Covering all three points earns more than writing beautifully.
Sprechen · Speaking
Introduce yourself, spell your name and say a number; then ask and answer questions with cards; finally make a request and respond to one. There is no preparation time.
telc 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 telc A1 practice test (PDF)
Level Exams — sample telc 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.
Three bodies certify A1. Two of them are in fact the same exam and one is a different format — and which one you sit decides whether your certificate is accepted in a visa application.
telc Deutsch A1
We simulate this format
Four sections in one sitting: listening, reading, writing, speaking. The table above shows this format's real values.
Every A1 mock exam here is built on this format.
Goethe-Zertifikat A1: Start Deutsch 1
We simulate this format
A single exam developed jointly by the Goethe-Institut and telc: sections, timings, item counts and scoring are identical. Only the logo on the certificate and the way points are presented differ.
Because it is the same exam, our A1 mocks prepare you for Goethe A1 exactly; no separate preparation is needed.
ÖSD Zertifikat A1: Grundstufe Deutsch 1
We simulate this format
A different format: two modules, written (reading + listening + writing) and oral. The modules can be taken and certified separately, and the subtests carry their own minimums — none of which applies to Start Deutsch 1.
We have separate mock exams in this format: the ÖSD A1 mocks follow ÖSD's own section order, scoring and module rules. Choose ÖSD as the exam type in your dashboard and on the pricing page.
Important: for a spousal visa applied for from Turkey, among A1 certificates issued in Turkey only Goethe-Institut 'Start Deutsch 1' and ÖSD 'Grundstufe Deutsch 1' are accepted; a telc A1 taken in Turkey does not count for that application. Preparation is unaffected — Goethe A1 and telc A1 are the same exam, so you can practise here and sit the exam at the Goethe-Institut.
What Level Exams offers at this level
✔40 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
We do not hand you practice questions; we put you through the exam. Our A1 mock exams were checked section by section against the official telc Übungstest: timing, order, number of items, points and the pass rule are the same as on exam day. Nothing should surprise you there.
Real timing, locked order
Sections open in the real exam order and there is no going back. The clock runs on the server, so closing the browser does not pause it. You get a warning five minutes before the end, and the answer sheet saves every ten seconds.
Recordings were produced with natural German voices and distinct speakers. They play exactly as many times as in the exam, cannot be paused, and the instructions and answer pauses are inside the audio, including the 'Nummer eins' announcements.
Your text and your recorded answers are scored by AI against the criteria telc uses at this level; you get a score per criterion, corrections and an explanation in your language. Each text is scored twice and averaged, so there is no random grading.
After the exam you see points per section, whether you passed, and which topics cost you points. Weaknesses that repeat across attempts are flagged separately, so what to study next is a measurement, not a guess.
In the lesson portal every topic is taught as vocabulary, reading, writing, listening and speaking in that order; vocabulary cards have pictures and pronunciation. Going back to the lesson behind a weak topic is one click.
Everything in German, help in your language
Exam content and instructions are in German, as in the real exam; the interface, explanations and feedback are in English or Turkish. You will not see the instructions for the first time on exam day.
How to prepare for A1
1
Practise listening without rewinding
Even at home, never rewind; you cannot in the exam. The mock exams behave exactly like the real recording for this reason.
2
Memorise spelling
Spelling your name and surname with the German alphabet is a fixed speaking task; two minutes a day is enough.
3
Tick the three points in the message
Write each of the three given points (Leitpunkte) explicitly; most of the score comes from coverage, not length.
4
Automate numbers and times
Dates, times, prices and phone numbers appear in every section and are the items most often missed in listening.
5
Last two weeks: mock exams only
Once the material is known, spend the remaining time on full mock exams; time pressure is only learned under time.
Frequently asked questions
›How long does the telc A1 exam take?
The written parts (listening, reading, writing) run back to back; speaking is a separate session. The exact section timings are in the table above.
›What is the pass mark?
A set percentage of the total points, with no minimum per section. The exact figure is shown in the table; the Level Exams result report applies the same rule.
›How many times does the audio play?
Once or twice depending on the part; the table shows it for each part. Mock exams play it the same number of times and cannot be paused.
›Do I get a certificate from Level Exams?
No. Level Exams is a preparation platform, not an exam centre; results are presented as a result report (Ergebnisbericht). For the official certificate you register at a licensed telc exam centre.
›Goethe or telc for family reunification?
It depends on where the certificate is issued: German missions in Turkey, for example, accept only Goethe-Institut (Start Deutsch 1) and ÖSD for A1 certificates issued in Turkey, while telc A1 issued in Germany or elsewhere is on the general list. For preparation there is no difference: at A1 telc and Goethe use the same 'Start Deutsch 1' exam, and the format is identical.
›I know no German at all. Where do I start?
The A1 lessons start from zero: alphabet and pronunciation, numbers, introductions, simple sentences. Move on to mock exams as you finish them.
›How long does the telc A1 exam take, and what is the exam pattern?
The written sections run back to back in one sitting; speaking is a separate session, with preparation time at some levels. The order and timing of the sections are in the table above with their real values, and the 'Exam flow and timing' page shows all levels side by side.
›How much does the telc A1 exam cost?
The fee is set by the exam centre and varies by city and country; centres in Turkey advertise roughly €190 for A1 in 2026, higher levels somewhat more, and centres in Germany vary widely. Check the centre's own page for the current figure. Level Exams mock exams are separate from that fee, and the first one is free.
›How long is a telc certificate valid?
The certificate itself does not expire. Visa authorities, however, usually require a certificate whose exam date is not older than one year; check the current requirement of the office you are applying to.
›Where can I find a telc A1 sample paper (PDF)?
The official practice exam (Übungstest) can be downloaded free from telc's website as a PDF with audio files. This page also has a free A1 sample PDF made by Level Exams (with answer sheet and answer key) and sample questions with solutions. With a PDF you have to keep time, resist pausing and mark it yourself. The A1 mock exams on Level Exams put the same exam pattern in your browser with real timing, uninterrupted audio and automatic scoring; the first one is free.
Take the free mock exam first
Sign up, take the first mock exam at this level for free, see your result, then decide.