Welcome to the website of the Goethe-Institut!
This is the website of the Goethe-Institut.
The Goethe-Institut is concerned with the German language.
The Goethe-Institut promotes the German language abroad.
The Goethe-Institut promotes the German language abroad.
This means:
In countries other than Germany.
People abroad want to learn German.These people may have to take a German exam.
They go to the Goethe-Institut.
The Goethe-Institut exists in many countries.
The Goethe-Institut is also concerned with culture.
Language and culture connect people all over the world.
The Goethe-Institut connects people all over the world.
On this website, you will find a lot of information
on our German exams.
A lot of information is also available in plain language.
Many people can understand plain language better.
You can find this information on the Internet page
In this text, we describe to you:
- What info can you find on the Internet page.
- Where to find this info.
In the description, we often talk about links.
Links lead to other places on our website.
Or to other websites.
Links can be recognised like this:
When you go to a link with the mouse,
then the mouse pointer changes.
The mouse pointer changes from an arrow to a hand.
This description has 6 parts:
- Header
- Start page for the German exams
- Our German exams
- Accessible practice exercises
- Spouse immigration
- Frequently asked questions
1. Header
The header line is at the top of the page.
There are several links in the header line.
The links are called:
- Home
- German language
- Culture
- About us
- Locations
We will now take a closer look at the German exams.
To do this, click on the link in the header line:
German language.
Then this page opens.
Click on:
German exams.
Then this page opens.
This is the start page for the German exams.
2. Start page for the German exams
Here, you can see several links.
You can see these links:
- Our German exams
- Spouse immigration
- Quality standards
- Test your German
- Accessible practice exercises
- Locations: Exam venues worldwide
Is German your native language?
Did you learn German at school?
Or on a course?
You can take an exam with us.
If you know a little German.
Or if you already know a lot of German.
By taking the exam, you get a certificate.
With this certificate, you will show:
That’s how well I know German.
Maybe you need such a form of proof.
You can find more information in the page menu.
Under the menu item:
Our German exams.
Spouse immigration
Does your husband or wife already live in Germany?
Would you like to move to Germany?
Then you must be able to speak German.
You have to prove that.
You have to take an exam for this.
This examination is called a language certificate.
You can take this exam at the Goethe-Institut.
You can take this exam at the Goethe-Institut.
Accessible practice exercises
You may have a visual impairment.
Or a hearing impairment.
Or a motor disability.
That means:
You cannot move well.
You may have a reading disability.You cannot move well.
Or a weakness regarding spelling.
You may have difficulty concentrating.
Then you need special exercises.
These exercises are barrier-free.
This means:
There are no barriers.
You can do these exercises on the computer.There are no barriers.
Or on a mobile phone.
Important:
The mobile phone must be connected to the Internet.
There are 2 more links.
The links are called:
- Quality standards
- Test your German
Examination venues worldwide
You can take your German exam anywhere.
This means:
You can take your German exam anywhere in the world.
At Goethe-Instituts in Germany.You can take your German exam anywhere in the world.
Or at Goethe-Instituts in other countries.
Or with partners from the Goethe-Institut.
You can search for exam venues in the search box.
This is the search box:
First, select a country.
To do this, click on the arrow.
You will see a list with many countries.
Select a country.
Then a new page opens.
There you will see several cities.
You can take an exam in these cities.
You can click on the city.
Then see more info about the exams.
And on the Goethe-Institut in this city.
Do you have any questions?
Then call this Goethe-Institut.
You can also write an e-mail.
3. Our German exams
Here you can see our German exams.
Our German exams are called: Goethe-Zertifikat.
A certificate is a credential.
A certificate means: you have passed the exam.
Our German exams vary in difficulty.
There are 6 language levels.
These 6 language levels go from easy to difficult.
The steps are called:
- A1
- A2
- B1
- B2
- C1
- C2
A1 is for beginners.
C2 is the most difficult level.
We have exams for young people.
And we have exams for adults.
At the Goethe-Institut, adults can
take the C1 and C2 exams with us.
Maybe you will take an exam.
Maybe you will pass this exam.
Then you get a certificate.
This certificate shows:
That’s how good you are at German.
4. Accessible practice exercises
You may have a visual impairment.
Or a hearing impairment.
Or a motor disability.
That means:
You cannot move well.
You may have a reading disability.You cannot move well.
Or a weakness regarding spelling.
You may have difficulty concentrating.
Then you need special exercises.
These exercises are barrier-free.
This means:
There are no barriers.
You can do these exercises on the computer.There are no barriers.
Or on a mobile phone.
Important:
The mobile phone must be connected to the Internet.
You can do these exercises.
After that, you will see the result.
The exercises are available for different language levels.
There are also exercises for young people.
5. Spouse immigration
Does your husband or wife already live in Germany?
Would you like to move to Germany?
Then you must be able to speak a little German.
You have to prove that.
You have to take an exam for this.
This test is known as “proof” (in German: “Nachweis”).
You can take this exam at the Goethe-Institut.
You need the Goethe-Zertifikat A1.You can take this exam at the Goethe-Institut.
This is what you have to do:
You are taking a course at level A1.
Then take an exam for level A1.
Then you will get the certificate for level A1.
Then you can apply for a residence permit.
You can enter Germany with this residence permit.
6. Frequently asked questions
You can read here:
Many people have asked the same questions.
And we have answered these questions.
Question:
I have a disability.
Can I take an exam?
Response:
You can take an exam with us.
However, you must give us information about your disability.
You give us this info when you register for the exam.
We also need a certificate from your doctor.
That means:
Your doctor writes a report.
Your doctor writes a report.
In this report, your doctor writes about your disability.
If you know:I am taking the exam at this examination centre.
Then write to this examination centre.
You can explain the following
- What disability do you have?
- What do you need?
- How can we help you?
We protect your data.
You can find more information here:
Question:
Can I leave the room during the exam?
Response:
You can leave.
But only briefly.
For example:
They go to the toilet.
The examiner notes down that you are leaving.
Question:
I would like to enter Germany.
The Office said:
You need a basic knowledge of German for this.
How can I prove that I have a basic knowledge of German?
Response:
You take the A1 exam.
This is the simplest test.
The Office confirmed:
We recognise the A1 exam from the Goethe-Institut.
You can also take a more difficult exam.
The Office also recognises more difficult exams.
Question:
What does simple German mean?
What do I have to be able to do?
Response:
Basic German skills include:
- I can understand short and simple questions.
- I can understand short and simple statements.
This includes information about the person.
For example:
- Where is a person born?
- What is this person’s profession?
- Does this person have children?
- Is this person married? - I can also respond to these statements.
- I can introduce myself.
- I can introduce other people.
- I can ask other people simple questions.
My conversation partner must speak slowly.
And my conversation partner must speak clearly.
Basic German skills also include:
- I can understand short written messages.
For example:
Signs.
For example, one sign reads:
Exit. - I can understand numbers.
- I can say numbers myself.
- I can understand quantities.
- I can say quantities myself.
- I can understand times on a clock.
- I can tell times myself.
- I can understand prices.
- I can say prices myself.
- I can fill in simple forms.
For example:
- With my name
- With my place of residence
- With my age - I can write short messages.
These 6 levels go from easy to difficult.
You need knowledge of the first level.
This level is called A1.
This level is the easiest level.
There is an exam for adults.
This exam is called: Start Deutsch 1.
And there is a test for young people.
This exam is called: Fit in Deutsch 1.
You can take any exam.
We recommend:
Start with the first level.
You do not have to do a course with us beforehand.
But we think:
A course will help you with the exam.
A course prepares you well for the exam.
You can attend these courses on site.
But you can also do these courses online.
This means:
You do the course on the computer.
You can be at home.
Or somewhere else.
You do the course on the computer.
You can be at home.
Or somewhere else.
That is also possible:
You can combine these 2 types of courses.
This means:
You take part in a course on site.
And you do exercises on the computer to do this.
You take part in a course on site.
And you do exercises on the computer to do this.
Question:
I cannot take an exam.
I can’t prove:
That’s how well I know German.
Is there perhaps an exception for me?
Response:
There are exceptions.
Ask at the German missions (in German: “Auslandsvertretung”).
A German mission can perhaps be an embassy.
Or a consulate.
Here is a list.
This list includes embassies and consulates.
You can ask at these embassies and consulates.
German missions abroad
Question:
Where can I take the exam?
Response:
You can take the exam here:
- at a Goethe-Institut in Germany
- at a Goethe-Institut in another country
- with a partner of the Goethe-Institut in Germany
- with a Goethe-Institut partner in another country
And would you like to take the exam in Germany?
Then you need a visa.
Question:
When are the dates for courses?
When are the dates for exams?
Response:
Each Goethe-Institut has different dates.
Each partner also has different deadlines.
You have chosen a Goethe-Institut.
Or a partner from the Goethe-Institut.
Check with this Goethe-Institut.
Or with this partner.
Question:
How much do the courses and exams cost?
Response:
Every Goethe-Institut has different prices.
Each partner also has different prices.
You have chosen a Goethe-Institut.
Or a partner from the Goethe-Institut.
Check with this Goethe-Institut.
Or with this partner.
Question:
I would like to earn the Goethe-Zertifikat A1.
How long do I prepare for the exam?
Response:
You need 160 lesson units.
One lesson unit lasts 45 minutes.
Perhaps you have no prior knowledge.
This means:
You have not learned German before.
Then it can also take a little longer.
You have not learned German before.
Then it can also take a little longer.
Perhaps you have prior knowledge.
This means:
You have learned a little German before.
Then it can also go a little faster.
You have learned a little German before.
Then it can also go a little faster.
Question:
I would like to take an exam at the Goethe-Institut.
Do I have to take a course at the Goethe-Institut beforehand?
Response:
No.
You can choose:
Where do you want to learn German?
And how will you learn German?
Question:
There is no Goethe-Institut near me.
How can I get a language certificate?
Response:
You can prepare in different ways.
For example:
- At another institute
- With a teacher
- Alone
And without a partner from the Goethe-Institut.
You can then ask at the German mission.
A German mission can perhaps be an embassy.
Or a consulate.
Here is a list.
This list includes embassies and consulates.
You can ask at these embassies and consulates.
German missions abroad
Question
What is the exam for the Goethe-Zertifikat A1 like?
Response:
This exam has 2 parts.
Part of the exam is written.
This part lasts 65 minutes.
Another part of the exam is oral.
This part lasts 15 minutes.
Here you will find an example of an exam.
Start Deutsch 1
Question:
I would like to prepare for the exam.
Is there any documentation for this?
Response:
You can do exercises online.
This means:
You can do exercises on the Internet.
You can do exercises on the Internet.
These exercises are free of charge.
You do not have to pay anything.
You can do listening comprehension exercises.
You do not have to pay anything.
You can do listening comprehension exercises.
This means:
You download exercises.
You can listen to these exercises.
On the computer, on the laptop, on the mobile phone.
You download exercises.
You can listen to these exercises.
On the computer, on the laptop, on the mobile phone.
Then you can solve tasks.
However, these tasks are only examples.
These tasks do not appear in the exam.
Question:
Can I only take the oral exam?
Response:
No.
You have to take the oral exam.
And you also have to take the written exam.
You need both exams.
Only with these two exams will you get your certificate.
Question:
I am not from Germany.
I come from another country
In Germany, people use the Latin script.
In my country, we have a different script.
I don’t know the Latin script.
Can I still take the exam?
Response:
No.
You must know the Latin script.
You may be able to use a different script.
For example:
The Arabic script.
However, these tasks are only examples.
These tasks do not appear in the exam.
Question:
Can I only take the oral exam?
Response:
No.
You have to take the oral exam.
And you also have to take the written exam.
You need both exams.
Only with these two exams will you get your certificate.
Question:
I am not from Germany.
I come from another country
In Germany, people use the Latin script.
In my country, we have a different script.
I don’t know the Latin script.
Can I still take the exam?
Response:
No.
You must know the Latin script.
You may be able to use a different script.
For example:
The Arabic script.
You can see the Arabic script here:
It says: Good day.
It says: Good day.
Or the Cyrillic script.
You can see the Cyrillic script here:
It also says: Good day.
It also says: Good day.
But you must know the Latin script.
Question:
You can take the exams in different countries.
Are the exams easier in some countries?
Are the exams more difficult in some countries?
Response:
No.
The tasks are done at our head office in Munich.
Exam candidates do these tasks.
We find out:
Do these tasks match the language level?
Then these tasks go to the different countries.
The tasks in the exam are the same in every country.
That’s why the exams are equally difficult everywhere.
Question:
How long is the exam valid?
Response:
The Office must recognise the examination.
After the exam, you will receive a certificate.
The Office decides:
The certificate is valid for that long.
Please ask at the German mission.
Question:
You can take the exams in different countries.
Are the exams easier in some countries?
Are the exams more difficult in some countries?
Response:
No.
The tasks are done at our head office in Munich.
Exam candidates do these tasks.
We find out:
Do these tasks match the language level?
Then these tasks go to the different countries.
The tasks in the exam are the same in every country.
That’s why the exams are equally difficult everywhere.
Question:
How long is the exam valid?
Response:
The Office must recognise the examination.
After the exam, you will receive a certificate.
The Office decides:
The certificate is valid for that long.
Please ask at the German mission.
The German missions are embassies.
Or consulates.
Information for examination participants.Or consulates.
Here you will find information for examination participants.
This means:
People want to take an exam.
These people take part in the examination.
These people are then examination participants.
These people take part in the examination.
These people are then examination participants.
This information is for those taking exams with specific needs.
This means:
These examination participants disability.
These examination participants need help.
These examination participants need help.
These examination participants need support.
These examination participants have various disabilities.
That is why these examination participants need
different types of assistance.
We offer various forms of support.
Here you can find information about this support:
That is why these examination participants need
different types of assistance.
We offer various forms of support.
Here you can find information about this support:
© Lebenshilfe für Menschen mit geistiger Behinderung Bremen e.V., Illustrator Stefan Albers, Atelier Fleetinsel, 2013. |
Der Leichte Sprache Text wurde geprüft durch das Büro für Leichte Sprache Iserlohn – Diakonie Mark-Ruhr Teilhabe und Wohnen gGmbH.
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