Goethe-Zertifikat syllabus

Listening (Hören)

Short everyday recordings · About 20 minutes

Raw points in this part are multiplied by 1.66 when the total out of 100 is calculated.

• Short conversations, phone messages and public announcements

Reading (Lesen)

Short everyday texts · 25 minutes

Raw points in this part are multiplied by 1.66 when the total out of 100 is calculated.

• Notes, small ads, signs and notices

Writing (Schreiben)

Short messages · 20 minutes

Raw points in this part are multiplied by 1.66 when the total out of 100 is calculated.

• Writing about immediate everyday matters

Speaking (Sprechen)

Three parts, in a group of up to four · 15 minutes

No preparation time. Two examiners mark independently. Raw points are multiplied by 1.66.

• The mark sheet allows 3 points in part 1 and 6 points each in parts 2 and 3, 15 raw points in all

Listening (Hören)

Everyday recordings · 30 minutes

• Conversations, announcements, radio interviews, phone messages and public announcements

Reading (Lesen)

Short everyday texts · 30 minutes

• Short newspaper texts, emails, ads and public notices

Writing (Schreiben)

Short messages · 30 minutes

• Messages about the writer's immediate daily life

Speaking (Sprechen)

Pair exam · 15 minutes

• Questions about yourself, telling something about your life, and planning something with a partner

Reading (Lesen)

30 items in five parts · 65 minutes

You may start with any part. One point per item. On paper, about five minutes of the 65 are for copying answers onto the answer sheet. In the digital exam you enter answers on the screen and that copying step does not exist.

• Part 1: a letter or email, true or false
• Part 2: press texts, one answer out of three
• Part 3: match situations to notices; one situation may match nothing
• Part 4: short comments, yes or no
• Part 5: rules or instructions, one answer out of three

Listening (Hören)

30 items in four parts · About 40 minutes

One point per item. The 40 minutes include the recordings and, on paper, about five minutes to copy answers. You read the questions before each recording.

• Part 1: five short announcements, each heard twice; one true or false item and one three-option item per text
• Part 2: one longer talk, heard once, five three-option items
• Part 3: one conversation, heard once, seven true or false items
• Part 4: a discussion, heard twice; eight items asking who says what

Writing (Schreiben)

Three tasks · 60 minutes

You may start with any task. The whole module is one hour; the minutes above are the suggested split. Two examiners mark independently. Only the listed point values are used, not scores in between. If task fulfilment is given no points, that task scores nothing. A third marking is used when one examiner is under 60, the other is at 60 or above, and the average is under 60.

• Task 1, about 20 minutes: an email of about 80 words that covers three points (for example describe, give a reason, make a suggestion), with a greeting and a close
• Task 2, about 25 minutes: your opinion on a discussion topic, about 80 words
• Task 3, about 15 minutes: a short email of about 40 words, for example an apology or a request, with a greeting and a close

Speaking (Sprechen)

Three tasks · About 15 minutes (about 10 if you are examined alone), after 15 minutes to prepare

Usually a pair exam; alone, one examiner takes the partner's role in task 1 and only the examiner asks in task 3. The short introduction is not marked. Two examiners mark independently and the average is rounded to a whole point (0.5 and above rounds up). Notes from the preparation may be used; you are expected to speak freely.

• Task 1: plan something together, using four guiding points (about 2–3 minutes for the pair)
• Task 2: present one of two topics, following five prompts (about 3–4 minutes for each candidate)
• Task 3: comment on the presentation you heard, ask a question, and answer a question (about 1–2 minutes for each candidate)

Reading (Lesen)

Several texts · 65 minutes

• Forum posts, newspaper and magazine articles, comments and regulations

Listening (Hören)

Interviews, talks, conversations and radio items · About 40 minutes

• Main ideas and important details

Writing (Schreiben)

Two tasks · 75 minutes

• An opinion for a forum on a social topic, and a formal message in a work context

Speaking (Sprechen)

Two parts · About 15 minutes in pairs (about 10 alone), after 15 minutes to prepare

• A short presentation and a discussion of it; then an exchange of arguments. Part 1 is about 4 minutes per candidate and part 2 about 5 minutes for the pair.

Reading (Lesen)

Longer texts · 65 minutes

• Demanding texts, including implied meaning

Listening (Hören)

Talks and discussions · About 40 minutes

• Listening in public, academic and professional contexts

Writing (Schreiben)

Writing tasks marked by examiners · 75 minutes

The task types inside the 75 minutes were not read in the C1 administration rules.

• Structured writing for a reader, in a register that fits the task

Speaking (Sprechen)

Two parts · About 20 minutes in pairs (about 15 alone), after 20 minutes to prepare

• Part 1 is about 7 minutes per candidate. Part 2 is about 5 minutes for the pair.

Reading (Lesen)

Four parts · 80 minutes

One point or zero per answer, added across the four parts, up to 100.

• Non-fiction, comments, reports and ads, including implied meaning

Listening (Hören)

Three parts · About 35 minutes

One point or zero per answer, added across the three parts, up to 100. On paper, three minutes of the time are for copying answers.

• Complex monologues and dialogues from the media

Writing (Schreiben)

Two parts · 80 minutes

The literature topics are written with Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München and change with the reading list.

• Rewriting parts of a short presentation
• One text, as a letter to the editor or a book review, on one of four choices: two general topics or one topic on each of two set books

Speaking (Sprechen)

Two tasks, individual exam · About 15 minutes, after 15 minutes to prepare both tasks

The introduction, about 2–3 minutes, is not marked. You choose one of two topics in each part.

• A presentation of about 5 minutes on a complex topic, then about 2–3 minutes of questions
• A discussion of about 5 minutes in which you defend a position