Rilke
Rilke
What the exam contains, part by part — number of tasks, timing and, for listening, how often each recording is played. The figures come from the institutes' sample papers.
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RilkeOn every device:
| Part | Task type | Tasks | Text (words) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teil 1 | True/false | 5 | approx. 60 |
| Teil 2 | Multiple choice a/b/c | 5 | approx. 80 |
| Teil 3 | True/false | 5 | approx. 60 |
| Part | Task type | Tasks | Plays | Reading time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teil 1 | Multiple choice a/b/c | 6 | 2× | — |
| Teil 2 | True/false | 4 | 1× | — |
| Teil 3 | Multiple choice a/b/c | 5 | 2× | — |
| Part | Task type | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Teil 1 | Introducing yourself — then questions from the examiners | approx. 3 min |
| Teil 2 | Asking for information | approx. 4 min |
| Teil 3 | Making requests | approx. 4 min |
About 20 minutes, two parts: you fill in a form — five details, all of them in a short text — and write a short message of about 30 words on three points, with a greeting and a sign-off. For the message there are up to 3 points per content point and one point for the right form, so content counts for almost everything. Examples and a model answer: Writing at Start Deutsch 1.
| Part | Duration |
|---|---|
| Hören (listening) | approx. 20 minutes |
| Lesen (reading) | approx. 25 minutes |
| Schreiben (writing) | approx. 20 minutes |
| Sprechen (speaking) | approx. 15 minutes, in a group |
The written exam gives a maximum of 75 points, the oral exam 25 — 100 in total. You pass with 60 points overall: a strong listening score can make up for weaker reading. You do have to sit every part, though; unlike from B1 upwards, the exam is not divided into separate modules.
| Points | Grade |
|---|---|
| 90–100 | sehr gut (very good) |
| 80–89 | gut (good) |
| 70–79 | befriedigend (satisfactory) |
| 60–69 | ausreichend (sufficient) |
Start Deutsch 1 was developed jointly by the Goethe-Institut and telc. The telc Deutsch A1 exam is therefore built the same way — you can choose either centre, depending on where there is a date.
A1 is the first level: you understand short, simple questions and announcements, read short messages and signs, can give numbers, prices and times, fill in a form and introduce yourself.
A1 is required, for example, to join a spouse or family member in Germany. Which certificates the German mission abroad or the authority accepts is up to them — check with them before you register.
It is fixed for each part: Teil 1: 2×; Teil 2: 1×; Teil 3: 2×. No recording is played more often than that.
25 minutes for 3 parts with 15 tasks in total.
The speaking exam is taken in pairs or groups. In Rilke the app plays your partner, so you can practise the dialogue parts on your own as well.
Goethe A1 · Goethe A2 · Goethe B1 · Goethe B2 · Goethe C1 · telc A1 · telc A2 · telc B1 · telc B2 · telc C1 · ÖSD A1 · ÖSD A2 · ÖSD B1 · ÖSD B2 · ÖSD C1 · DTZ A2–B1 · TestDaF
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GOETHE · TELC · ÖSD · DTZ · TESTDAF
Rilke is an independent product and is not affiliated with the Goethe-Institut, telc, ÖSD, g.a.s.t., the TestDaF-Institut or the BAMF. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.