Goethe A1 exam preparation and telc B1 practice – free
Free Goethe A1 exam preparation that takes you all the way to telc B1 exam preparation: 49 practice tests in the official task formats, 4 timed mock exams, 763 exam words, and speaking and writing practice. No sign-up, on your phone or laptop.
The exams at a glance
The Goethe-Institut and telc both offer exams at every CEFR level. Both test four skills: Lesen (reading), Hören (listening), Schreiben (writing) and Sprechen (speaking).
| Exam | Level | Parts | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goethe-Zertifikat A1: Start Deutsch 1 | A1 | Lesen, Hören, Schreiben, Sprechen – taken on one day; speaking is usually in a small group | First certificate; often asked for in family reunion visa applications |
| telc Deutsch A1 | A1 | Written exam (Hören, Lesen, Schreiben) plus an oral exam | Same uses as Goethe A1 |
| Goethe-Zertifikat A2 / telc Deutsch A2 | A2 | Lesen, Hören, Schreiben, Sprechen | Proof of basic German for everyday life, some jobs and courses |
| Goethe-Zertifikat B1 | B1 | Modular: four modules (Lesen, Hören, Schreiben, Sprechen) – take them together or one by one | Work, vocational training, residence and citizenship applications |
| telc Deutsch B1 (Zertifikat Deutsch) | B1 | Written exam: Leseverstehen, Sprachbausteine, Hörverstehen, Schriftlicher Ausdruck; oral exam usually in pairs | Same uses as Goethe B1 |
Formats, fees and accepted certificates can change. Always check the current details on goethe.de and telc.net, and ask the embassy, authority or employer which exam they accept. The DTZ (Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer) is the telc exam at the end of the integration course in Germany; we practise the same skills but do not simulate it.
What each part tests – and how to train it
Lesen – reading
Short notices, emails, ads and, at B1, longer articles and opinions. Train with 38 graded texts in the reading room and the reading tasks in exam prep.
Hören – listening
Announcements, phone messages and conversations. Most marks are lost on numbers, times and names – drill exactly those in the listening gym, plus 84 everyday audio clips.
Schreiben – writing
A1: fill in a form and write a short message. B1: emails and a short opinion text or letter. The writing studio checks your text and gives an exam-style score.
Sprechen – speaking
Introduce yourself, ask and answer questions, and at B1 plan something with a partner and talk about a topic. Practise out loud with 12 exam speaking simulations.
Looking for a Goethe A1, A2 or B1 practice test for free, or a telc Deutsch model test? Our 49 practice tests follow the official task formats, and the 4 timed mock exams let you sit a full test online. The Goethe-Institut and telc also publish official model tests on their websites – use them as well, especially in the last weeks.
The 12-week roadmap: A1 → B1
This is the roadmap from our exam section. It is intensive and assumes you study every day. If you have less time, stretch each block – or let the personal study plan fit it to your exam date.
| Weeks | Level | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 1–4 | A1 | The 30-day course: sounds, numbers, introducing yourself, articles, present tense, questions. Start Deutsch 1 tasks: forms and short messages. End with an A1 mock exam. |
| 5–8 | A2 | Perfect tense, dative, modal and separable verbs, weil/dass. Everyday conversations and real-life scenes. A2 practice tests. |
| 9–12 | B1 | Subordinate clauses, simple past, polite forms with würde/könnte, giving opinions. B1 emails, presentations and planning tasks. Timed mock exams. |
Speaking exam tips with sample phrases
- Prepare a one-minute self-introduction: name, country, city, job, languages, hobbies.
- Answer in full sentences and add one detail. “Ja.” earns little; “Ja, ich spiele am Wochenende Fußball.” earns more.
- React to your partner. In the planning task, agree, disagree politely and make suggestions.
- Asking for repetition is fine. It is a normal part of a conversation.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Ich heiße Sara. Ich komme aus Pakistan und wohne jetzt in Köln. | My name is Sara. I come from Pakistan and now live in Cologne. |
| Können Sie das bitte wiederholen? | Could you repeat that, please? |
| Was machst du gern in deiner Freizeit? | What do you like doing in your free time? |
| Kannst du bitte das Fenster aufmachen? | Can you open the window, please? |
| Wie wäre es mit Samstagnachmittag? | How about Saturday afternoon? |
| Das ist eine gute Idee, aber am Samstag habe ich leider keine Zeit. | That's a good idea, but unfortunately I don't have time on Saturday. |
| Ich schlage vor, dass wir zusammen einen Kuchen backen. | I suggest that we bake a cake together. |
| Meiner Meinung nach ist das sehr wichtig, weil … | In my opinion, that is very important because … |
| In meinem Heimatland ist das anders. | It's different in my home country. |
| Ich komme jetzt zum Schluss. Vielen Dank fürs Zuhören! | I'm coming to the end now. Thank you for listening! |
Writing tips and a model message
- Cover every point in the task. In a Schreiben B1 letter or email, a missing point costs marks, even if your German is good.
- Use the right greeting and closing. Informal: Liebe Sara, … Viele Grüße. Formal: Sehr geehrte Frau Weber, … Mit freundlichen Grüßen.
- Link your sentences with weil, deshalb, außerdem, aber, trotzdem.
- Check the verb position: verb second in main clauses, verb at the end after weil and dass.
- Keep an eye on the word count given in the task.
Model message (B1, informal) – task: reply to a friend's party invitation, say when you can come, offer to bring something and ask a question.
Liebe Sara,
vielen Dank für deine Einladung zu deiner Geburtstagsparty am Samstag! Ich komme sehr gern. Leider kann ich erst um 20 Uhr da sein, weil ich bis 19 Uhr arbeiten muss. Soll ich etwas mitbringen? Ich kann zum Beispiel einen Kartoffelsalat machen. Außerdem habe ich eine Frage: Darf ich meinen Bruder mitbringen? Er ist gerade bei mir zu Besuch und kennt in der Stadt noch niemanden.
Ich freue mich schon sehr auf die Party!
Viele Grüße
Ali
Test-day checklist
- Valid photo ID (passport or ID card) – the name must match your registration.
- Your registration confirmation or invitation letter, and the exact address and room.
- Arrive early; late arrivals may not be admitted.
- Pens as allowed in your invitation letter.
- Phone switched off and handed in – electronic devices are not allowed.
- Transfer your answers to the answer sheet in time; only the answer sheet counts.
- Sleep well the night before and do one short warm-up, not a new mock exam.
Take your first practice test today
Free, no sign-up – find out where you stand before you book the real exam.
Start exam practiceExam preparation FAQ
Is Deutsch30 an official Goethe or telc course?
No. Deutsch30 is a free, independent website and is not affiliated with the Goethe-Institut or telc. It prepares you for their A1, A2 and B1 exams with practice in the same task formats, but it does not issue certificates. You take the real exam at an official exam centre.
Are the practice tests really free?
Yes. All 49 practice tests, the 4 timed mock exams, the 763 exam words and the speaking simulations are free. There is no sign-up and no paid upgrade.
How long does Goethe A1 exam preparation take?
It depends on how much time you have. Our roadmap covers A1 in about four weeks of daily study, which is intensive. Many learners need longer. Take a timed mock exam, and book the real exam when you pass it comfortably.
What is the difference between Goethe B1 and telc B1?
Both test the same CEFR level B1 in reading, listening, writing and speaking. The Goethe-Zertifikat B1 is modular, so you can take the four modules together or separately. The telc Deutsch B1 exam has a written part that also includes a language elements section (Sprachbausteine), plus an oral exam. Ask the authority, employer or university which certificate they accept.
Can I practise the speaking part online?
Yes. The speaking section has 12 exam speaking simulations and 30 everyday conversations. You answer with your microphone and the browser's speech recognition shows what it understood. Speech recognition support depends on your browser.
Does Deutsch30 prepare me for the DTZ?
Partly. The DTZ (Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer) is the exam at the end of the integration course in Germany, run by telc. We practise A1 to B1 task types in telc and Goethe formats, which builds the same skills, but we do not offer an official DTZ simulation.