Goethe A2 study guide
Goethe A2 · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Goethe-Zertifikat A2, historically also known as Start Deutsch 2, is a beginner-level German certificate issued by the Goethe-Institut. It certifies that you can handle everyday situations in simple, routine German: shopping, travel, workday small talk, short messages, and basic personal information. Candidates typically take it after roughly 250–350 hours of study, though prior language experience and learning speed vary widely. It suits adults and older teenagers who need documented elementary German for immigration-related procedures, employer or school requirements, or personal proof of progress toward B1. The Goethe A2 study guide has 4 sections and about 1,697 words.
01Lesen - 30 Minuten, vier Teile: kurze Alltagstexte verstehen
The Lesen module checks whether you can pull concrete information out of short, everyday German texts: personal emails, notices on a door, classified ads, simple newspaper or website articles. You have 30 minutes for four parts and no dictionary.
441 words, about 2 min02Hören - ca. 30 Minuten, vier Teile: Ansagen und Gespräche
Hören tests listening comprehension in realistic A2 situations: announcements at a station or in a shop, messages on an answering machine, short conversations between friends, colleagues or shop staff. You hear four parts, and - this is the key structural fact - each recording is played twice .
386 words, about 2 min03Schreiben - 30 Minuten, zwei kurze Texte mit drei Inhaltspunkten
Schreiben at A2 is short and highly predictable: two tasks in 30 minutes, each around 30 words, each with three Inhaltspunkte you must cover. You are not writing an essay.
399 words, about 2 min04Sprechen - ca. 15 Minuten in Partnerprüfung, drei Teile
Sprechen is a pair exam of roughly 15 minutes with two examiners, and you get preparation time beforehand to look at the task sheets. The three parts move from controlled to free: giving personal information, speaking about a topic for about two minutes, and planning something together with your partner.
471 words, about 2 min