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 | 5 | 2× | — |
| Teil 2 | True/false | 5 | 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 |
telc Deutsch A1 is the Start Deutsch 1 exam, run jointly by telc and the Goethe-Institut. Structure and tasks are the same as for the Goethe-Zertifikat A1; telc calls the parts Tests and combines reading and writing into one block.
| Section | Duration | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Formalities | 10 minutes | — |
| Test 1: Hören (listening) | approx. 20 minutes | 15 |
| Tests 2 and 3: Lesen und Schreiben (reading and writing) | 45 minutes | 15 + 15 |
| Transferring answers to the answer sheet | 10 minutes | — |
| Test 4: Sprechen (speaking), in a group of up to four | approx. 15 minutes | 15 |
You have 45 minutes for reading and writing together — how you split them is up to you. About 25 minutes are meant for reading and about 20 for writing. The ten minutes for transferring come afterwards; use them only to mark your answers neatly.
There are 60 points in all: 15 each for listening, reading, writing and speaking. The total is multiplied by 1.66, so the result is on a scale up to 100:
| Result | Grade |
|---|---|
| 90–100 | sehr gut (very good) |
| 80–89 | gut (good) |
| 70–79 | befriedigend (satisfactory) |
| 60–69 | ausreichend (sufficient) |
| below 60 | teilgenommen (participated) |
From 60 you have passed. Below that, the certificate says teilgenommen.
In Schreiben you fill in a form with five details and write a short message of about 30 words on three points. Each content point earns up to 3 points, the greeting and sign-off one — more in Writing at Start Deutsch 1.
In Sprechen you introduce yourself (about 3 minutes), ask and answer questions about word cards (about 4 minutes) and make requests with picture cards (about 4 minutes). Then the examiners confer. Examples: Speaking at Start Deutsch 1.
If a question doesn't come
If someone in the group can't form a question for their word card, the examiner helps out in speaking part 2. No reason to panic — but a reason to practise questions with Wie?, Wo?, Wann? and Was kostet …? beforehand.
A1 is required, for example, to join a spouse or family member in Germany. Whether a telc or a Goethe-Institut certificate is required — or both count — is decided by the office responsible. 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.