Goethe-Zertifikat A2: the exam parts

Schreiben

30 minutes, two short texts: a text message to a friend (20 to 30 words) and an email in a semi-official situation, for example to your course teacher or your landlord (30 to 40 words). Each text has three points you write about. Two criteria are marked: task fulfilment (every point, the right tone) and language (coherence, vocabulary, structures). Important: if a text has fewer than half the required words or misses the topic, it scores zero. How to build a formal message: The formal email.

Duration, points, passing

Each of the four parts gives a maximum of 25 points, 100 in total. To pass you need three things: at least 60 points overall, at least 45 of 75 in reading, listening and writing together — and at least 15 of 25 in speaking. Anyone who scores under 15 in speaking fails the whole exam, even with excellent reading. The exam is not modular.

What A2 asks of you

At A2 you can communicate in simple, everyday situations: you understand short conversations and announcements, read adverts and short texts, write short messages and talk about yourself and your daily life.

• Hören: you hear Teil 1 and Teil 4 twice, Teil 2 and Teil 3 once. In Teil 2 and Teil 3 you work with pictures; in Teil 4 you decide yes or no for statements from a conversation.
• Lesen: four parts with five items each — newspaper texts, information boards, emails, adverts.
• Sprechen: in Teil 1 you ask each other questions with the help of cards. In Teil 2 you tell the examiner about your life, with follow-up questions. In Teil 3 you plan something together, for example finding a time that suits you both. Pronunciation counts across the whole exam.

Goethe A2 and Start Deutsch 2

The Goethe-Zertifikat A2 replaced the former Start Deutsch 2 exam. At telc the A2 exam is still called Start Deutsch 2 and is built differently — with three instead of four parts in reading and listening and 60 instead of 100 points. More on the telc Deutsch A2 page.

What you need the certificate for

A2 confirms basic German for everyday life and simple work situations. Whether and for what an authority or employer requires A2 varies a great deal — check with whoever wants to see the proof.