The Lesen (Reading) module of the Goethe-Zertifikat A2 is a step up from A1 — the texts are slightly longer, the vocabulary slightly more varied, and the tasks require you to process meaning more actively. At A2, you work with short articles, notices, advertisements, and personal messages. You are expected to identify specific facts, understand the purpose of a short text, and distinguish between similar options. This guide explains all five task types, the strategies that work for each, and how to build the vocabulary base that makes A2 reading manageable.
Goethe A2 Lesen – Module Overview
| Feature | Details |
| Duration | Approximately 30 minutes |
| Number of tasks | 5 |
| Total marks | Assessed as part of the combined written exam score |
| Pass mark | 60 out of 100 across all written modules combined |
| Text types | Notices, short articles, advertisements, emails, timetables, instructions |
| Text length | 20–120 words per text; no long passages at A2 |
Task-by-Task Breakdown
| Task | Text Type | Format | Items |
| Task 1 | 5 short notices or signs in public spaces (shops, offices, transport, buildings) | Richtig / Falsch: is the statement about the notice correct? | 5 |
| Task 2 | A longer informational text (80–120 words) about a topic of general interest — a community announcement, a short article | 4 True / False questions about the content | 4 |
| Task 3 | A short personal email or message (60–90 words) from one person to another | 3 True / False questions about what the writer says or intends | 3 |
| Task 4 | 5 short classified advertisements (things for sale, accommodation, services, events) | Match each advertisement to the person who needs it — 8 options (3 distractors) | 5 |
| Task 5 | A short informational text with 5 vocabulary gaps | Fill each gap by choosing from 3 options (A, B, or C) | 5 |
Task 1 – Public Signs and Notices
Five short signs or notices — similar to A1 but requiring slightly more inference. The Richtig/Falsch statement may paraphrase the notice rather than repeat it word for word. The key skill is recognising when a paraphrase correctly represents the meaning.
| Sign Type | Common Richtig/Falsch Trap |
| Opening or closing time notice | Statement may change the day or time by one unit — read carefully: “ab 18 Uhr” vs. “bis 18 Uhr” |
| Prohibition or requirement notice | Statement may say “you must” when the sign says “you may not” — opposite meanings, same words |
| Price or offer notice | Statement may describe the discount correctly but change the condition — “kaufe 2, bekomme 1 gratis” vs. “alles gratis” |
Task 2 – Short Informational Text
A text of 80–120 words presenting factual information (a local event, an organisation, a service, a cultural tradition). The 4 True/False questions ask about specific facts — a number, a date, a condition, or a description. Read the questions before reading the text so you know which facts to look for.
Task 3 – Personal Email or Message
A short message between two people — a friend, a colleague, or a host family member. The 3 questions typically ask: (1) what the writer wants or is asking for, (2) a specific fact mentioned in the message, and (3) the writer’s opinion or feeling about something.
| Question Type | What to Look For in the Text |
| What the writer wants / is requesting | Look for modal verbs: “ich mochte… / kannst du… / ich brauche… / bitte…” |
| A specific fact (time, place, name) | Scan for numbers, names, and location words; match to the question statement precisely |
| The writer’s opinion or feeling | Look for evaluative words: “toll, schon, leider, interessant, nicht so gut, schade” |
Task 4 – Advertisement Matching
Five advertisements are matched to a list of 8 needs (3 are distractors). Read all 5 advertisements first and note the core topic of each. Then read all 8 needs and eliminate any that clearly match nothing. Match the remaining 5 to the advertisements.
| Advertisement Topic | Key Vocabulary to Spot |
| Item for sale | zu verkaufen / kostet / Euro / gebraucht / neu / in gutem Zustand |
| Accommodation (room / flat to rent) | Zimmer / Wohnung / zu vermieten / Miete / frei ab / Nebenkosten inklusive |
| Service offered (lessons, repairs, cleaning) | biete / suche / helfe / Unterricht / Nachhilfe / Reparatur / gunstig |
| Event or activity announcement | findet statt / Einladung / Veranstaltung / kostenlos / Eintritt frei / um … Uhr |
Task 5 – Gap Fill with Vocabulary Choice
A short text (60–80 words) with 5 gaps. For each gap, you choose from three options (A, B, C). The task tests A2 vocabulary: common verbs, prepositions, connectors, and everyday nouns. The three options are always the same part of speech — three verbs, or three prepositions — which makes the task a precise vocabulary test, not a grammar test.
| Gap Type | Strategy |
| Verb gap (3 different verbs as options) | Read the full sentence; identify the subject and object; choose the verb that fits the meaning logically (not just grammatically) |
| Preposition gap (3 prepositions) | Check which preposition collocates with the verb or noun it follows — these are fixed expressions at A2 |
| Connector / discourse marker gap (weil, aber, und, denn…) | Read both clauses; determine the logical relationship (addition? contrast? cause?) and choose the matching connector |
A2 Vocabulary to Prioritise for Reading
| Topic Group | Key Words |
| Housing and accommodation | Zimmer, Wohnung, Miete, Nebenkosten, Keller, Balkon, Einzug, Umzug, mieten, vermieten |
| Shopping and services | kaufen, verkaufen, kosten, Preis, Angebot, Rabatt, gunstig, teuer, Rechnung, bezahlen |
| Daily life and routine | Fruhstuck, Mittagessen, Abendessen, schlafen, aufstehen, arbeiten, kochen, einkaufen, spazieren |
| Time and schedule | Termin, Uhrzeit, Datum, pünktlich, verschieben, absagen, stattfinden, offnen, schliessen |
Goethe A2 reading preparation should focus on regular short reading practice — 15–20 minutes daily using German language learning materials at A2 level, simple German news for beginners (Deutsche Welle “Langsam gesprochene Nachrichten”), and structured mock test practice using languagetest.in Goethe A2 reading tasks. Consistent exposure to A2 text types builds the word recognition speed that all five tasks require.
References: Goethe-Institut A2 reading samples: goethe.de/en/spr/kup/prf/a2.html | languagetest.in Goethe A2 reading practice
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