Goethe A2 exam-day guide
Goethe A2 · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Bring your valid ID document (passport or national ID)
You must present the same ID document you registered with. The name must match your registration exactly. Confirm with your exam centre which ID types they accept and whether a copy is sufficient - some centres only accept original documents, so carry the original.
Bring your registration confirmation / admission letter
Print or download the confirmation you received after registering, and check the exact start time and room. The letter is often checked together with your ID at the door. If you did not receive one, contact your centre before exam day.
Bring several pens and pencils
Bring at least two black or blue ballpoint pens that you have tested, plus a pencil and eraser for any answer sheet where the centre asks you to fill in boxes or mark answers. Do not bring correcting fluid or erasable pens unless your centre explicitly permits them.
Bring a printed or offline copy of your registration details
Keep the centre address, phone number and your candidate number on paper or saved offline, so you can find the room and contact the centre if you are delayed without relying on mobile data.
Leave phones and smart devices switched off and stored
Mobile phones, smartwatches and other electronic devices must be switched off and put away as instructed, usually outside the exam room. Do not keep them in your pocket. Confirm with the provider whether bags can be stored on site.
Check the arrival time, not just the start time
Centres usually ask candidates to arrive well before the written part begins so that ID checks and seating can be completed. Confirm the recommended arrival time for your centre, as it can differ from the published exam start time.
Plan your route and travel time
Do a route check the day before, including any public transport changes. Aim to arrive early enough to absorb delays. If you are late, contact the centre immediately; whether late entry is allowed depends on the centre's rules.
Know the module order and timing for your session
The A2 exam is modular: reading, listening, writing and speaking. Written modules are usually taken together and speaking may be on the same day or a separate slot. Confirm the exact order and timing for your session with the provider, since it varies by centre.
Prepare for the speaking module in pairs or small groups
The speaking part is typically conducted with other candidates, and you may not know your partner in advance. Practise short exchanges, asking and answering simple questions, and reacting to a partner's answers. Confirm the format with your provider.
Decide on food and water in advance
Eat a normal meal before you arrive and bring a small water bottle only if the centre allows drinks at the desk. Rules on food and drink vary, so check with the provider rather than assuming.
Bring reading glasses, hearing aids or other aids you normally use
If you use glasses or a hearing aid, bring them. If you need special arrangements such as extra time or a separate room, these must normally be requested and approved well before exam day - contact the centre as early as possible.
Wear a watch or keep track of time without your phone
Since phones are stored away, bring a simple wristwatch if you rely on one. Check with the centre whether watches are permitted in the exam room, as rules differ.
Plan the day
Confirm the practical details: exact address, room, arrival time, module order and ID requirements. Re-read the confirmation email and, if anything is unclear, contact the centre now rather than on the day. Check that your ID is valid and not expired and that the name matches your registration.
Do one full timed practice run under exam conditions: complete a reading and listening set without pausing, then write one short message within the time limit. Use the result to spot your weakest area rather than to learn new material. Review the task types you find hardest, such as matching headings, short notices or form completion.
Revise high-frequency everyday language: telling the time, dates, prices, directions, appointments, shopping, travel and simple messages. For writing, rehearse a short informal message or email with a greeting, a reason for writing, the key information and a closing. For speaking, practise introducing yourself, asking simple questions and responding to a partner.
Stop intensive study. Do a light review of your own notes, common phrases and any mistakes you repeatedly make. Prepare your bag: ID, confirmation letter, pens, pencil, eraser and watch. Lay out clothes and check the weather and transport timetable.
Check the journey once more, set two alarms and go to bed at a reasonable time. Avoid learning large amounts of new vocabulary the night before, as it rarely helps and can increase anxiety. If you are taking the speaking module with a partner, you do not need to prepare with them in advance - the examiner will guide the interaction.
Eat a proper breakfast, leave earlier than you think necessary and arrive at the centre with time to spare. Switch your phone off before entering the building or as instructed. Have your ID and confirmation ready at the door and go to the toilet before the session starts, since breaks may be limited.
Once seated, read the instructions on the answer sheet carefully and check that your name and candidate number are correct. Listen to the invigilator's instructions about timing, filling in answers and what to do if you need to leave the room.
Work at a steady pace and keep an eye on the clock. Do not spend too long on one item: if a question is difficult, mark it, move on and return if time allows. For listening, read the questions before each recording starts and write your answer as you listen, since recordings are usually played once or twice according to the provider's format.
Read the task fully and note what each bullet point requires. Write a short, clear message that covers every point, use simple sentences you can control, and leave a few minutes to check word order, verb forms, capital letters and punctuation. Aim for clarity rather than complexity.
Greet the examiner and your partner clearly, speak at a natural but manageable pace, and ask for repetition politely if you did not understand. Cover the task points, respond to your partner's answers, and keep going even after a mistake - fluency and communication matter more than perfection.
Rules to check
Bring the ID document you registered with and present it when asked. The name on the ID must match your registration. If your ID has changed or your name differs, contact the provider before exam day to confirm what to do.
Follow all instructions from the invigilator. Do not start before you are told to start and stop immediately when time is called. If you continue writing after the end of a module, the centre may treat this as misconduct.
Electronic devices such as phones and smartwatches must be switched off and stored as instructed. Do not keep them on your person during the exam. Confirm with the provider where bags and devices should be left.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the written modules. In the speaking module, interaction with your partner is part of the task, but follow the examiner's guidance on what is allowed.
Whether you may leave the room during a module, and whether there are breaks between modules, depends on the centre. Ask before the exam starts and confirm the provider's policy rather than assuming.
If you need to leave for an emergency, raise your hand and wait for the invigilator. Do not simply walk out, and be aware that lost time is generally not made up.
Scoring: each module is assessed separately, and results are reported per module. Confirm with the provider how the modules combine, what counts as a pass, and how long results take and how they are issued.
If you believe there was a problem during the exam, such as noise, a faulty recording or an irregularity, tell the invigilator immediately and follow the provider's procedure for reporting it afterwards.