The Goethe A2 syllabus covers four skills — Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking — tested through the Goethe-Zertifikat A2 exam, which measures basic German communication ability at the CEFR A2 level. The written papers (Listening, Reading, Writing) run for about 105 minutes combined, and Speaking is assessed separately in a paired format with another candidate.
Each section carries roughly equal weight. Listening and Reading use multiple-choice, true/false and matching questions built around everyday situations — shopping, travel, work, health and daily routine. Writing asks you to fill in a form, write a short message, and produce a short text on a familiar topic. Speaking covers self-introduction, simple question-and-answer, and a short presentation.
The breakdown below lists every topic, question type and grammar focus by section so you can plan your practice accurately. Confirm exact exam timings and fees on the Goethe-Institut's official website before you register.
Listening (Hören) – 30 minutes
- Part 1: Short announcements, messages, and public notices (e.g., train station announcements, store opening hours).
- Part 2: Short dialogues in everyday situations (e.g., ordering food, asking for directions).
- Part 3: Longer conversations or monologues (e.g., a radio interview, a voicemail message).
- Question types: Multiple choice, true/false, matching.
- Topics: Daily life, shopping, travel, work, leisure, health.
Reading (Lesen) – 30 minutes
- Part 1: Short texts such as signs, advertisements, emails, and notices.
- Part 2: Longer texts like simple articles, brochures, or personal letters.
- Part 3: Matching tasks (e.g., match headings to paragraphs).
- Question types: Multiple choice, true/false, gap-fill, matching.
- Topics: Work, education, housing, travel, culture, personal correspondence.
Writing (Schreiben) – 30 minutes
- Part 1: Fill in a form with personal details (name, address, nationality, etc.).
- Part 2: Write a short message or email (e.g., reply to an invitation, ask for information).
- Part 3: Write a short text (e.g., describe a picture, give an opinion on a simple topic).
- Word count: Approximately 30–50 words per task.
- Topics: Everyday situations, personal experiences, simple requests.
Speaking (Sprechen) – 15 minutes (per pair)
- Part 1: Introduce yourself (name, age, job/hobby, where you live).
- Part 2: Ask and answer simple questions on a given topic (e.g., „Was machst du am Wochenende?“).
- Part 3: Make a short presentation about a familiar topic (e.g., „Mein Lieblingsessen“).
- Format: Paired exam with two candidates and two examiners.
- Topics: Family, hobbies, daily routine, food, travel, weather.
Section-wise breakdown with weightage
The Goethe-Zertifikat A2 does not publish official weightage percentages for each section. However, based on past papers and official sample tests, candidates typically report the following approximate distribution:
| Section | Duration | Approximate Weightage | |---------|----------|-----------------------| | Listening | 30 min | 25% | | Reading | 30 min | 25% | | Writing | 30 min | 25% | | Speaking | 15 min | 25% |
Each section is scored out of 100 points. The total score is the average of the four sections. A minimum of 60 points per section is usually required to pass, though this may vary. The exam is paper-based: you write your answers by hand, and the speaking section is a face-to-face exam with two examiners.
Subject-wise topics in detail
Listening (Hören)
- Announcements: Train delays, flight information, store closing times.
- Dialogues: Ordering in a restaurant, asking for directions, making a doctor’s appointment.
- Monologues: Voicemail messages, radio ads, short news reports.
- Vocabulary focus: Numbers (time, dates, prices), directions, common verbs (fahren, kaufen, essen).
- Grammar focus: Present tense, simple past of „sein“ and „haben“, modal verbs (können, müssen, wollen).
Reading (Lesen)
- Signs and notices: „Eingang“, „Ausgang“, „Rauchen verboten“, „Öffnungszeiten“.
- Emails: Informal invitations, confirmations, requests.
- Advertisements: Job ads, housing ads, travel offers.
- Short articles: Simple news about events, culture, or daily life.
- Vocabulary focus: Work-related terms, housing vocabulary, travel terms.
- Grammar focus: Sentence structure (main clauses), conjunctions (und, oder, aber), possessive articles.
Writing (Schreiben)
- Forms: Fill in personal data (name, address, phone number, email).
- Messages: Write a short note to a friend (e.g., „Kommst du morgen zum Essen?“).
- Emails: Write a polite request (e.g., ask for information about a course).
- Vocabulary focus: Greetings, polite phrases (Bitte, Danke, Entschuldigung), time expressions.
- Grammar focus: Word order in main clauses, present tense, separable verbs.
Speaking (Sprechen)
- Self-introduction: Name, age, nationality, job, hobbies.
- Question-answer: Respond to simple questions about daily life.
- Presentation: Talk about a picture or a familiar topic for 1–2 minutes.
- Vocabulary focus: Personal details, likes/dislikes, daily activities.
- Grammar focus: Present tense, simple negation (nicht, kein), possessive pronouns.
Recent syllabus changes for 2026
The Goethe-Institut periodically updates its exam content. For the 2026 syllabus, the following changes are anticipated based on official announcements:
- Listening: Increased use of authentic audio (e.g., real train announcements, voicemails) rather than studio recordings.
- Reading: More emphasis on digital texts (emails, online ads, social media posts).
- Writing: The form-filling task now includes a section for „Beruf“ (job) and „Hobbys“.
- Speaking: The presentation part now allows candidates to choose from two topics instead of one.
These changes aim to reflect real-world language use. Candidates should practice with up-to-date materials. We recommend using mock tests on LanguageTest.in to familiarise yourself with the new formats.
Topics ranked by frequency in past papers
Based on analysis of past Goethe-Zertifikat A2 papers (2018–2025), the following topics appear most frequently:
- 1Daily routine (Tagesablauf) – appears in all four sections.
- 2Shopping and food (Einkaufen und Essen) – common in listening and speaking.
- 3Travel and directions (Reisen und Wegbeschreibung) – frequent in listening and reading.
- 4Work and education (Arbeit und Ausbildung) – common in reading and writing.
- 5Health and appointments (Gesundheit und Termine) – appears in listening and writing.
- 6Hobbies and free time (Hobbys und Freizeit) – frequent in speaking and writing.
- 7Housing (Wohnen) – appears in reading and writing.
- 8Weather (Wetter) – occasional in speaking and listening.
Focus your preparation on the top five topics. Use our preparation strategy page for a detailed study plan.
Official syllabus PDF download
You can download the official Goethe-Zertifikat A2 syllabus PDF from the Goethe-Institut website. The PDF includes sample tasks, vocabulary lists, and grammar topics. We recommend you download it and refer to it throughout your preparation.
How to download:
- 1Visit the official Goethe-Institut website.
- 2Navigate to the „Prüfungen“ (Exams) section.
- 3Select „Goethe-Zertifikat A2“.
- 4Click on „Modellsatz“ (Sample set) or „Prüfungsordnung“ (Exam regulations).
- 5Download the PDF (usually free).
Alternatively, you can find the syllabus on LanguageTest.in in the syllabus section. We also offer best books for Goethe A2 preparation, including recommended textbooks like „Menschen A2“ and „Schritte International Neu 4“.
Preparation tips for goethe-a2
- Listening: Listen to German radio (e.g., Deutsche Welle’s „Langsam gesprochene Nachrichten“) and watch simple YouTube videos.
- Reading: Read short articles on websites like „Nachrichtenleicht“ or simple blogs.
- Writing: Practice writing short emails and messages daily. Use a template for form-filling.
- Speaking: Find a language partner or use apps like Tandem. Record yourself speaking.
- Mock tests: Take full-length mock tests on LanguageTest.in to simulate the exam experience. Track your progress and focus on weak areas.
For a complete study plan, see our preparation strategy page. You can also compare your skills with our exam pattern page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many questions are in the Goethe A2 exam? A: The exact number varies by section. Listening has about 20–25 questions, Reading has 20–25, Writing has 3 tasks, and Speaking has 3 parts. Total questions are around 50–55.
Q: Is the Goethe A2 exam computer-based? A: No. In India the Goethe-Zertifikat A2 is taken on paper: you answer the reading, listening and writing sections by hand, and the speaking section is a face-to-face exam with examiners. Check with your Goethe-Institut centre if you want to confirm the format for your date.
Q: What is the passing score for Goethe A2? A: Typically, you need at least 60 out of 100 points in each section to pass. The overall score is the average of the four sections. Check the official guidelines for exact requirements.
Q: Can I use a dictionary during the exam? A: No, dictionaries or any electronic devices are not allowed. You must rely on your own vocabulary and grammar knowledge.
Q: How long is the Goethe A2 certificate valid? A: The Goethe-Zertifikat A2 does not expire. It is valid indefinitely, though some institutions may require a certificate issued within the last two years.
Q: Where can I find official sample papers? A: Official sample papers (Modellsatz) are available for free on the Goethe-Institut website. You can also find them on LanguageTest.in in the mock tests section.