Preparing for Goethe A2? This guide on a2.goetheprep.com explains the official A2 structure. The certificate proves elementary German for everyday situations, jobs that need basic communication, some visa pathways, and the step up to B1.
What the A2 exam tests
The Goethe-Zertifikat A2 covers four skills. The written part runs about 90 minutes; speaking is a separate paired session of around 15 minutes.
| Module | Time | Parts | What you do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lesen | ~30 min | 4 | Read short emails, ads, notices, and simple articles |
| Hören | ~30 min | 4 | Follow short announcements, conversations, and radio clips |
| Schreiben | ~30 min | 2 | Write a short message and a personal note (everyday topics) |
| Sprechen | ~15 min | 3 | Introduce yourself, ask and answer questions, plan something together |
Topics stay close to daily life: family, work, shopping, travel, health, and free time. You will use the past tense (Perfekt) and simple connectors, not complex argumentation.
Scoring
The exam is scored out of 100 points and you need 60 to pass. The four skills carry equal weight, so a weak module pulls your total down fast. See our passing score guide for the full breakdown.
Prepare with the app
GoethePrep includes seven A2-format practice exams with audio, writing review, and stats — download on the App Store.
Studying a different level? Visit goetheprep.com for A1–C2.