Reading Comprehension (Leseverstehen)
What is tested
The reading section measures how well you understand written German across everyday texts: notices, emails, advertisements, short articles, and instructions. Tasks typically require matching headings to paragraphs, deciding whether statements are true or false, or choosing the option that best reflects the text.
Concepts to master
Build skimming (finding the topic of a passage in seconds) and scanning (locating a name, date, or figure). Recognise text-type conventions: a Kleinanzeige is compressed and abbreviation-heavy; an official letter uses formal address (Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren) and passive constructions; a personal email is informal (Hallo, du, contractions).
Understand cohesive devices, because questions often hinge on them: deshalb, trotzdem, dennoch, zwar … aber, einerseits … andererseits. A concessive zwar … aber signals that the real point comes after aber.
Typical traps
- True statements that are not in the text: an option may be factually plausible but unsupported.
- Scope words: alle, immer, nur, meistens. A text saying viele does not support alle.
- Contrast reversals: the passage says a measure was rejected, the option says approved.
- Matching a word instead of a meaning: the correct answer usually paraphrases.
- Time shifts: a plan described as geplant is not yet beschlossen.
Rule of thumb
Read the question stem first, then the passage. For each option, find the one sentence in the text that decides it and mark it. If you cannot point to evidence, the option is probably wrong.
Worked example
Text: Das Museum ist montags geschlossen, an Feiertagen jedoch von 10 bis 18 Uhr geöffnet. Question: is the museum open on a Monday public holiday? The contrast word jedoch overrides the Monday closure, so yes - 10:00 to 18:00.