The Lesen (Reading) module of the Goethe-Zertifikat A1 is the first written component of the exam and tests your ability to understand very short, simple German texts in familiar everyday contexts. At A1, texts are brief (notices, signs, short messages, labels) and vocabulary is restricted to the most common everyday words. You are not expected to understand every word — you are expected to find the key information. This guide explains all three tasks, the strategies that work, and how to build the A1 reading vocabulary you need.
Goethe A1 Lesen – Module Overview
| Feature | Details |
| Duration | Approximately 20 minutes |
| Number of tasks | 3 |
| Total marks | 100 points (this module contributes to the overall pass/fail) |
| Pass mark | 60 out of 100 across all written modules combined |
| Text types | Short notices, signs, advertisements, short messages, labels, timetables |
| Text length | Each text is 15–60 words; no long paragraphs at A1 |
Task-by-Task Breakdown
| Task | Text Type | Format | Items |
| Task 1 | 5 short public signs or notices (shop signs, notices on doors, warning labels, transport information) | Match each sign to its meaning: choose Richtig (correct) or Falsch (wrong) for a given statement about the sign | 5 |
| Task 2 | A short email, text message, or note between two people (40–60 words) | Answer 3 True/False questions about the content of the message | 3 |
| Task 3 | 5 short advertisements or announcements (e.g. for sale notices, event announcements, short ads) | Match each advertisement to the correct category or person who needs it (choose from 8 options — 3 are distractors) | 5 |
Task 1 – Public Signs: Richtig / Falsch
Each sign is a very short piece of German text — a notice on a shop door, a sign in a park, an announcement in a building. The statement you are given is a paraphrase of the sign’s message. Your job is to decide if the statement correctly represents what the sign says.
| Sign Type | Strategy |
| Prohibition signs (Verboten, Nicht erlaubt, Kein…) | Identify the negation word; check the statement includes the prohibition — “You may not…” statements are common |
| Opening hours (Offnungszeiten) | Extract the specific times; check the statement matches the exact day and time mentioned |
| Price or offer notices | Note the specific number; check whether the statement accurately represents the price or condition |
| Warning or instruction signs | Identify the key imperative or warning word; check the statement paraphrases the instruction correctly |
Task 2 – Short Email or Message
You read a brief message (often an email from a friend, a text from a family member, or a short note from a colleague) and answer 3 True/False questions. The message involves everyday communication: making plans, asking for help, describing what happened, giving information about an event.
Key strategies: Read the questions first before reading the message. This tells you exactly what information you are looking for. The three questions almost always ask about: (1) a specific fact mentioned (a time, a place, or a name), (2) someone’s intention or plan, and (3) a request or instruction.
| Question Type | How to Identify the Answer |
| Specific fact (time / place / name) | Scan the message for numbers, names, and location words; match to the statement |
| Intention or plan | Look for “ich mochte… / ich werde… / ich plane…” — these signal what someone intends to do |
| Request or instruction | Look for “Kannst du… / Bitte… / Konntest du…” — these signal what is being asked of the reader |
Task 3 – Advertisement Matching
Five short advertisements (Anzeigen) are matched to a list of 8 situations or people. Three of the 8 are distractors that do not match any advertisement. Each advertisement relates to everyday A1 topics: buying or selling items, looking for accommodation, offering services, announcing events.
Elimination strategy: Read all 5 advertisements first and identify the core topic of each (e.g. selling a bicycle, offering German lessons, renting a room). Then read the 8 situations and eliminate the 3 that clearly match nothing. Match the remaining 5 to the advertisements.
| Common Advertisement Topic | Key Words to Find |
| Selling an item | zu verkaufen, Preis, Euro, gebraucht, neu, VB (Verhandlungsbasis) |
| Accommodation (room / flat) | Zimmer, Wohnung, Miete, frei ab, ruhig, zentral, Nebenkosten |
| Services offered | suche, biete, helfen, Unterricht, Nachhilfe, Reinigung, Reparatur |
| Events and activities | Einladung, Veranstaltung, stattfinden, Eintritt frei, Datum, Uhrzeit |
A1 Reading Vocabulary – Essential Groups
| Topic | Essential Words |
| Time and schedule | heute, morgen, gestern, jetzt, um, von…bis, am Montag, offen, geschlossen, ab, bis |
| Places | Bahnhof, Supermarkt, Apotheke, Post, Schule, Arzt, Krankenhaus, hier, dort, oben, unten |
| People and relationships | Familie, Freund, Kollege, Kind, Frau, Mann, Herr, Frau (title) |
| Numbers and money | eins to zwanzig; dreissig, funfzig, hundert; Euro, Cent, kostet, Preis, gratis |
| Instructions and signs | bitte, nicht, verboten, kein(e), Achtung, Vorsicht, offen, geschlossen, Eingang, Ausgang |
Goethe A1 reading preparation should focus on two things: learning the 300–400 most common A1 German words, and practising the three task types under timed conditions. Fifteen minutes of daily reading practice using simple German materials (signs, short messages, notices) combined with regular mock test practice using languagetest.in Goethe A1 reading tasks will build the word recognition and scanning skills needed to pass this module with confidence.
References: Goethe-Institut A1 exam information: goethe.de/en/spr/kup/prf/a1.html | languagetest.in Goethe A1 reading practice
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