Goethe-Zertifikat A1: Start Deutsch 1

Ein junger Mann und eine junge Frau sitzen mit dem Tablet vor einem Café. © Goethe-Institut, Getty Images

Ideal if you'd like to ...

  • apply for a position as an au pair in Germany
  • obtain evidence of the language skills required to be granted a visa to join your husband or wife in Germany
  • prove that you have successfully reached level A1
  • be issued with an official and internationally recognized certificate

The Goethe-Zertifikat A1: Start Deutsch 1 is a German exam for adults. It certifies that candidates have acquired very basic language skills and corresponds to the first level (A1) on the six-level scale of competence laid down in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Passing the exam demonstrates that you can ...

  • communicate in a simple manner if the person you are speaking to talks slowly and clearly,
  • understand and use familiar, everyday and common expressions and simple sentences (e.g. information about yourself and your family or about shopping, work and your immediate surroundings),
  • introduce yourself and others, as well as ask others about themselves, e.g. where they live, who they know and what they own.

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*) The cheaper price displayed applies if you have already participated in a German language course at the Goethe Institute in the past six months. The six months refer to the period between when the language course ended and the date of the German language exam. In this case, the price will change automatically during the booking procedure. If not, please contact the course office.

Enrolment

Goethe-Institut's web shop can be used again. In addition to that, we have decided that you are able to enroll in person for exams at our premises. For the time being, this is limited to the period June 5 until August 31,2023.

Please bring an identification document and one copy with you to enroll. Enrollment in the customer office by third parties, even with an appropriate declaration of consent, is not permitted. Please consider the opening hours.

Important announcement for Syrian citizens: You may submit the German certificates required for the visa process to the German Embassy later. Please use your personal appointment at the visa section in Beirut to enroll at the Goethe-Institut.

We do not work with brokers or external institutions - the registration process is the same for all customers. Please familiarize yourself with the registration process.

Exam Fees

On our website, you can buy our exams on account only. Please make sure that you pay your fees immediately and no later than 6 working days before the exam date (End of the Online Registration eriod) in cash during the opening hours of the Goethe-Institut. Only then is your booking confirmed and you can take part in the exams for levels A1 to B2.

Preparation

Practice materials

Accessible and interactive sample papers and practice exercises to help you prepare online are available here.

Further information

The requirements, contents of the exam and further information on the Goethe-Zertifikat A1: Start Deutsch 1 exam are available here: