Goethe-Zertifikat A2 Exam Preparation - A2

The Goethe-Zertifikat A2 tests whether you can handle simple everyday situations in German. This page gives an overview of the exam, example tasks for each skill, and test-taking strategies. Formats are updated from time to time, so always check the latest model test (Modellsatz) on the Goethe-Institut website before your exam.

Exam Format (Prüfungsformat) #

• Reading, listening and writing are done together as the written exam. Speaking is usually done in pairs, often on the same day.
• To pass, you need 60% of the total points.

Lesen (Reading) #

Typical texts: short newspaper articles, information boards in a store or office, emails, and small ads.

Typical tasks: multiple choice (a, b, c), richtig/falsch, matching ads to people.

Strategies #

1. Read the questions first, then look for the answers in the text
2. You don’t need to understand every word. Look for key words (names, numbers, times)
3. Be careful with words that change the meaning: nicht, kein, nur, schon, noch nicht
4. For matching tasks, cross out ads you have already used

Hören (Listening) #

Typical texts: announcements at the station or airport, phone messages, radio, short everyday conversations, interviews.

Strategies #

1. Use the time before each recording to read the questions and underline key words
2. Many texts are played twice. Answer the first time, check the second time
3. Listen for numbers, days and times. They are often the answer
4. Watch out for changes: Der Termin ist am Montag – nein, doch am Dienstag. The last information counts

Schreiben (Writing) #

Part 1: Short Message (about 20-30 words) #

You write a short message (e.g. SMS) to a friend and answer three points.

Task: You are late for a meeting with your friend Jonas. Write: why you are late, when you will arrive, where you can meet.

Example answer:

Hallo Jonas, es tut mir leid, mein Bus hat Verspätung. Ich bin um halb sieben da. Wollen wir uns direkt vor dem Kino treffen? Bis gleich! Ravi

Hi Jonas, I’m sorry, my bus is delayed. I’ll be there at half past six. Shall we meet directly in front of the cinema? See you soon! Ravi
हाय जोनास, माफ़ करना, मेरी बस लेट है। मैं साढ़े छह बजे तक पहुँच जाऊँगा। क्या हम सीधे सिनेमा के सामने मिलें? जल्द मिलते हैं! रवि

Part 2: Email (about 30-40 words) #

You write an email, often more formal (e.g. to a teacher or a landlord), and answer three points.

Task: Your German course teacher, Frau Becker, invited the class to a party. You can’t come. Thank her, say why you can’t come, and suggest something else.

Example answer:

Liebe Frau Becker, vielen Dank für die Einladung zur Party. Leider kann ich am Samstag nicht kommen, weil meine Eltern aus Indien zu Besuch sind. Vielleicht können wir nach dem Kurs zusammen einen Kaffee trinken? Viele Grüße Ravi Kumar

Dear Ms. Becker, thank you very much for the invitation to the party. Unfortunately I can’t come on Saturday because my parents are visiting from India. Maybe we can have a coffee together after the course? Best regards, Ravi Kumar
प्रिय श्रीमती बेकर, पार्टी के निमंत्रण के लिए बहुत धन्यवाद। अफ़सोस, मैं शनिवार को नहीं आ सकता क्योंकि मेरे माता-पिता भारत से मिलने आए हैं। शायद हम कोर्स के बाद साथ में कॉफ़ी पी सकते हैं? शुभकामनाओं सहित, रवि कुमार

Useful Phrases for Writing #

Strategies #

1. Answer all three points. Each one gives points
2. Use connectors: und, aber, denn, weil, deshalb
3. Check du or Sie and keep it the same in the whole text
4. Check verb position, capital letters for nouns, and the greeting and ending

Sprechen (Speaking) #

Part 1: Asking and Answering Questions #

You get cards with topic words (e.g. Geburtstag, Wohnort, Hobby) and ask your partner questions.

• Card: Wohnort → Wo wohnst du? – Ich wohne in Berlin, in Kreuzberg.
• Card: Wochenende → Was machst du am Wochenende? – Am Wochenende treffe ich meine Freunde.

Part 2: Talking About Your Life #

You get a topic card (e.g. “What do you eat on a normal day?”) and talk for about a minute.

• Zum Frühstück esse ich meistens ein Brötchen und trinke Tee. Mittags esse ich in der Kantine. Abends koche ich gern indisches Essen, zum Beispiel Dal und Reis. (For breakfast I usually eat a roll and drink tea. At lunch I eat in the canteen. In the evening I like to cook Indian food, for example dal and rice.) हिंदी: नाश्ते में मैं आमतौर पर एक ब्रेड रोल खाता हूँ और चाय पीता हूँ। दोपहर में मैं कैंटीन में खाता हूँ। शाम को मुझे भारतीय खाना बनाना पसंद है, जैसे दाल-चावल।

Part 3: Planning Something Together #

You and your partner each have a calendar with appointments and must find a free time to do something together.

• Hast du am Samstag um zehn Uhr Zeit? – Nein, da kann ich leider nicht, da habe ich Deutschkurs. Wie wäre es um zwei Uhr? – Ja, das passt mir gut!

Strategies #

1. If you don’t understand, ask: Können Sie das bitte wiederholen? / Wie bitte?
2. Speak in full sentences and add one extra detail (weil …, zum Beispiel …)
3. In Part 3, react to your partner: Gute Idee! / Leider kann ich nicht. / Und du?
4. It’s fine to make small mistakes. Communication is more important

Official Practice Materials (Übungsmaterialien) #

The best way to practice all four skills is with the official model tests from the exam providers. They have reading texts, listening audio, writing tasks and speaking cards in the real exam format.

• Note: Goethe and telc are two different exam providers. Both certificates are at level A2, but the task formats are not exactly the same. Practice with the materials of the exam you are going to take.

General Test-Taking Strategies #

1. Do at least two full model tests (Modellsätze) under time pressure before the exam
2. Never leave an answer empty. A guess can still be right
3. Transfer your answers to the answer sheet (Antwortbogen). Only that counts
4. Learn the Redemittel for apologizing, inviting, suggesting and agreeing by heart
5. Review the grammar that A2 tasks use most: Perfekt, modal verbs, weil/dass/wenn, dative and accusative, two-way prepositions

Viel Erfolg bei der Prüfung! (Good luck with the exam!) हिंदी: परीक्षा के लिए शुभकामनाएँ!