The Sprechen (Speaking) module of the Goethe-Zertifikat A1 is worth 25 points and takes approximately 15 minutes in a pair format. You and another candidate complete three short tasks together with two examiners: introducing yourselves, asking for and giving information, and making a request. At A1, the standard is communicative — you do not need grammatically perfect sentences, but you must successfully communicate simple, everyday messages in German. This guide explains all three tasks with model language and the strategies that lead to a pass.
Goethe A1 Sprechen – Module Overview
| Feature | Details |
| Duration | Approximately 15 minutes (both candidates) |
| Number of tasks | 3 |
| Format | Pair exam — you and one other candidate; 2 examiners (one interacts, one assesses) |
| Preparation time | None — tasks begin directly in the exam room |
| Pass mark | 60% (15 out of 25); overall exam pass is 60 out of 100 |
Task 1 – Self-Introduction (3–4 Minutes)
Each candidate introduces themselves to the other candidate and the examiners. You will be asked about: your name, where you are from, where you live, your job or studies, your family, your hobbies, and your language learning. Simple answers are expected — you do not need to give speeches, but each answer should be a complete sentence.
| Topic | Model Answer (A1 level) |
| Name | Mein Name ist Priya Sharma. / Ich heiße Priya. |
| Origin / nationality | Ich komme aus Indien. / Ich bin Inderin. |
| Current location | Ich wohne in Mumbai. / Ich lebe jetzt in Deutschland. |
| Job or studies | Ich bin Ingenieurin. / Ich studiere Informatik. / Ich arbeite bei einer Firma. |
| Family | Ich bin verheiratet. / Ich habe zwei Kinder. / Ich bin ledig. |
| Hobbies | Ich lese gern. / Ich spiele Badminton. / Ich koche gern. |
| Why you are learning German | Ich lerne Deutsch fur meinen Beruf. / Mein Mann wohnt in Deutschland. / Ich mochte in Deutschland studieren. |
Task 2 – Asking for and Giving Information (5–6 Minutes)
You are each given a card with 4–5 topics. For each topic, you ask your partner a question and then answer your partner’s question about the same topic. Topics are everyday: food, sport, music, travel, work, family, daily routines. The task tests whether you can ask and answer simple questions using A1 structures.
| Topic Area | Question to Ask | Answer Model |
| Food | Was isst du gern? / Magst du…? | Ich esse gern Pizza. / Ich mag kein Fleisch. Und du? |
| Sport | Machst du Sport? / Welchen Sport magst du? | Ja, ich spiele Tennis. / Nein, ich mache keinen Sport. |
| Music | Welche Musik magst du? | Ich hore gern Popmusik. / Ich mag klassische Musik. |
| Daily routine | Wann stehst du auf? / Was machst du am Morgen? | Ich stehe um sieben Uhr auf. / Ich fruhs tücke und fahre dann zur Arbeit. |
| Travel | Wohin fahrtst du gern? / Warst du schon in Europa? | Ich fahre gern ans Meer. / Ja, ich war in Paris. |
Task 3 – Making a Request with a Visual Prompt (4–5 Minutes)
Each candidate receives a card with a picture — everyday objects or situations such as a shop, a train station, a menu, or a map. You use the picture to make a request or ask for something. Your partner responds. The examiner may also participate. This task tests whether you can use A1 request structures and respond appropriately.
| Situation | Request Phrase (A1) | Response Phrase (A1) |
| At a shop | Ich mochte bitte… / Haben Sie…? / Was kostet…? | Das kostet… / Ja, gerne. / Tut mir leid, das haben wir nicht. |
| At a train station | Wann fahrt der Zug nach…? / Ein Ticket nach… bitte. | Der Zug fahrt um… / Das macht… Euro. |
| At a restaurant | Ich mochte… bestellen. / Was empfehlen Sie? | Gerne! / Ich empfehle… |
| Asking for directions | Wo ist die…? / Wie komme ich zum/zur…? | Gehen Sie geradeaus. / Links/rechts abbiegen. |
Goethe A1 speaking is the component that most candidates find most stressful — but it is also the most predictable. All three tasks use fixed question types and familiar vocabulary. Practise each task type every day in the week before your exam: introduce yourself out loud (time yourself to 2–3 minutes), practise question-and-answer exchanges on the 5 topic cards, and role-play the request scenarios. languagetest.in provides Goethe A1 speaking mock task cards for all three task types to support structured oral preparation and exam confidence.
References: Goethe-Institut A1 speaking guide: goethe.de/en/spr/kup/prf/a1.html | languagetest.in Goethe A1 speaking preparation
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