Lesen (Reading): Finding the Fact, Not Every Word
What A1 reading really tests
A1 reading is about scanning short, everyday texts - notices, emails, adverts, forms, SMS - for one specific piece of information. You do not need to understand everything; you need to locate the relevant line and match it to the question.
The concepts you must control: question words (wer, was, wo, wann, wie viel, wie lange), time and date expressions (am Montag, um 15 Uhr, von…bis…), prices and opening hours, negation (nicht, kein, geschlossen), and common text types (Aushang/notice, Anzeige/ad, Einladung/invitation, E-Mail). You also need to recognise formal vs. informal address (Sie vs. du) because it signals who a text is for.
Traps to expect
- Word-matching is not meaning-matching: an option repeats a word from the text but answers a different question. Match the whole idea, not the shared word.
- Closed/negative info: "Am Sonntag geschlossen" - a question asking if it's open Sunday is answered no.
- Time ranges: "von 9 bis 12" does not include 13:00.
- Two similar options: only one is fully supported by the text; the other adds a detail that isn't there.
- Numbers in different formats: "8.00 €" vs. "acht Euro".
Rule of thumb
Read the question first, then hunt for the keyword in the text. Underline the one sentence that answers it. If no sentence clearly supports an option, that option is wrong.
Worked example: Notice: "Schwimmbad: Mo–Fr 10–18 Uhr, Sa 10–14 Uhr. Sonntag geschlossen." Question: Can you swim on Sunday at 11:00? The text says Sunday is closed → answer No, even though 11:00 falls inside the weekday hours.