Goethe-Zertifikat (German) Requirements & Prerequisites
Everything you need to know before registering for the Goethe-Zertifikat (German), eligibility, cost, format, and what to expect on exam day.
Cost
$150-$350
Provider
Goethe-Institut
Validity
Lifetime
Available
Global
Education
Check official exam requirements
Experience
Varies, check official requirements
Specific Requirements
- There are none. The Goethe-Institut states that its exams are open to everyone regardless of age and nationality, that participation requires neither prior attendance at a language school or preparation course nor a certificate at a lower level, and that you may register for any level directly. What the exam regulations do give is a set of recommended minimum ages: 10 and over for Goethe-Zertifikat A1: Fit in Deutsch 1; 12 and over for A2: Fit in Deutsch and for the young learners' B1; 15 and over for the young learners' B2; 16 and over for the adult versions of A1: Start Deutsch 1, A2, B1, B2 and C1; and 18 and over for C2: Grosses Deutsches Sprachdiplom. These are recommendations rather than bars. You must present an official, valid photo identity document at the exam, and the exam centre decides which document types it accepts, so confirm that at registration. For the modular levels B1 to C2 you may register for a single module rather than the full exam, which changes the fee. A doctor's attestation is required if you are requesting accommodations for a chronic illness or a disability, and it must be submitted at registration rather than on exam day.
Number of Questions
66 scored tasks at B1: 30 Reading items across 5 parts, 30 Listening items across 4 parts, 3 Writing tasks across 3 parts, and 3 Speaking tasks across 3 parts. Item counts differ at other levels and the Goethe-Institut publishes them in each level's Durchfuehrungsbestimmungen.
Duration
180 minutes at Goethe-Zertifikat B1, the level required for German naturalisation: Reading 65 minutes, Listening about 40 minutes, Writing 60 minutes and Speaking about 15 minutes as a paired exam, with 15 minutes of preparation before the speaking module. Other levels differ: A1 Start Deutsch 1 runs about 80 minutes, A2 about 105 minutes, B2 195 minutes, C1 200 minutes and C2 210 minutes.
Question Format
Multiple choice and matching items in Lesen (reading), True/false and multiple choice items in Hoeren (listening), with some audio played once and some twice, Guided writing tasks in Schreiben: informal message, formal message, and an opinion post at B1, Paired speaking tasks in Sprechen: joint planning with a partner, a short presentation, and questions on the partner's presentation, Form completion and short written answers at A1 and A2, Text rewriting and a letter to the editor or book review at C2
Passing Requirement
60 points (60 percent) per module at B1, B2, C1 and C2. 60 points out of 100 overall at A1: Start Deutsch 1. 60 points out of 100 at A2, plus a separate minimum of 45 written points and 15 oral points, failure of either of which fails the whole exam. 30 points out of 60 (50 percent) at A1: Fit in Deutsch 1.
How It Is Delivered
Sat in person at a Goethe-Institut or at a licensed partner examination centre. The written modules are invigilated in an exam room, and the speaking module is a live examination with examiners present, normally paired with another candidate at A2 through C1 and individual at C2.
Languages Offered
German (the exam is entirely in German; there is no other test language)
Visit the official Goethe-Institut certification page
Create an account and select your exam
Choose a test center or online proctoring option
Pay the exam fee and schedule your date
Score Scale
0 to 100 points per module at B1, B2, C1 and C2, with the four modules scored and certified separately; 0 to 100 points overall at A1: Start Deutsch 1 and A2, split 75 written and 25 oral; 0 to 60 points at A1: Fit in Deutsch 1, split 42 written and 18 oral
Score You Need
60 points (60 percent) per module at B1, B2, C1 and C2. 60 points out of 100 overall at A1: Start Deutsch 1. 60 points out of 100 at A2, plus a separate minimum of 45 written points and 15 oral points, failure of either of which fails the whole exam. 30 points out of 60 (50 percent) at A1: Fit in Deutsch 1.
How It Is Calculated
Criterion-referenced against the CEFR descriptors for the level, not norm-referenced against other candidates, so your result does not depend on how the rest of the room performed. Reading and listening items are marked objectively with no penalty for wrong answers. Writing and speaking are marked by trained examiners against published criteria covering task fulfilment, coherence, vocabulary and accuracy. Scoring is compensatory inside a module but conjunctive across modules at B1 to C2, where each module must reach 60 on its own, and conjunctive across written and oral parts at A2.
When You Get Results
About two weeks from the exam date for results and the downloadable certificate if you sat the exam at a Goethe-Institut, and up to six weeks at an external examination centre. Results and the certificate appear in your Mein.Goethe.de account. There is no on-screen unofficial score, because the writing and speaking modules are human-marked.
In raw terms: At B1 the raw item counts are 30 reading items and 30 listening items, each module then reported on the 0 to 100 point scale; the Goethe-Institut does not publish an item-by-item raw-to-scaled conversion table, so the number of items you can afford to miss is not officially fixed.
- Two forms of valid ID (one government-issued with photo)
- Appointment confirmation email
- For online proctoring: webcam, microphone, clean desk, stable internet
What are the prerequisites for the Goethe-Zertifikat (German)?
There are none. The Goethe-Institut states that its exams are open to everyone regardless of age and nationality, that participation requires neither prior attendance at a language school or preparation course nor a certificate at a lower level, and that you may register for any level directly. What the exam regulations do give is a set of recommended minimum ages: 10 and over for Goethe-Zertifikat A1: Fit in Deutsch 1; 12 and over for A2: Fit in Deutsch and for the young learners' B1; 15 and over for the young learners' B2; 16 and over for the adult versions of A1: Start Deutsch 1, A2, B1, B2 and C1; and 18 and over for C2: Grosses Deutsches Sprachdiplom. These are recommendations rather than bars. You must present an official, valid photo identity document at the exam, and the exam centre decides which document types it accepts, so confirm that at registration. For the modular levels B1 to C2 you may register for a single module rather than the full exam, which changes the fee. A doctor's attestation is required if you are requesting accommodations for a chronic illness or a disability, and it must be submitted at registration rather than on exam day..
How much does the Goethe-Zertifikat (German) cost?
The Goethe-Zertifikat (German) exam costs $150-$350. This includes the exam fee only, study materials are additional.
How do I register for the Goethe-Zertifikat (German)?
Visit the official Goethe-Institut certification page → Create an account and select your exam → Choose a test center or online proctoring option → Pay the exam fee and schedule your date
What should I bring to the Goethe-Zertifikat (German)?
Two forms of valid ID (one government-issued with photo). Appointment confirmation email. For online proctoring: webcam, microphone, clean desk, stable internet.
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