A1 Exam Preparation 2026
All 8 A1 exams from Goethe, OSD and telc – practice online for free with AI evaluation.
8 exam formats · 3 providers · Free entry test
A1 Exam Preparation: All 8 Exam Formats
There are 8 different A1 exams: Goethe A1 Start Deutsch 1, Goethe A1 Fit in Deutsch 1, OSD A1, OSD A1 (Austria), OSD KID A1, telc A1, telc A1 for immigrants and telc A1 Junior. Find the right provider here.
All exams follow the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) level A1.
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Practice nowGoethe-Zertifikat A1: Start Deutsch 1
The Goethe-Zertifikat A1 is the most well-known A1 exam and is offered worldwide at Goethe-Instituts. The exam consists of 4 modules.
| Module | Points | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | 25 | 25 Min. |
| Listening | 25 | 20 Min. |
| Writing | 25 | 20 Min. |
| Speaking | 25 | 15 Min. |
| Total | 100 | ~80 Min. |
telc Deutsch A1 for Immigrants
The telc A1 exam for immigrants is specifically designed for people who want to move to Germany. It is recognized for spouse reunification visas.
Visa Recognition
Accepted for spouse and family reunification to Germany.
Everyday Topics
Focus on everyday situations: shopping, authorities, housing, doctor visits.
Difference from telc A1
More practical tasks and greater focus on oral communication.
Costs & Dates
Approx. 100–130 €. Exam dates are available almost monthly at telc centers.
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Practice nowA1 Exam for Family Reunification
For family reunification to Germany (§ 30 AufenthG), spouses must prove basic German skills at A1 level. The following exams are accepted:
- ✓Goethe-Zertifikat A1: Start Deutsch 1
- ✓telc Deutsch A1 for immigrants
- ✓OSD Zertifikat A1
Important: The certificate must not be older than 1 year when applying for a visa. Check with the responsible embassy in advance.
Guide: A1 for family reunification & visa →German A1 Vocabulary: The 500 Most Important Words
For the A1 exam you need about 500 words. Here are the most important topic areas:
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Practice nowA1 Grammar: The Basics
Present Tense
ich gehe, du gehst, er/sie geht – regular and irregular verbs
Articles & Nouns
der, die, das – gender, singular and plural, definite and indefinite articles
W-Questions
Wer? Was? Wo? Woher? Wie? Wann? – question words and question sentences
Sentence Structure
Subject-Verb-Object, verb position 2, simple subordinate clauses with 'weil' and 'dass'
A1 Listening: Strategies for All 3 Parts
Part 1: Short everyday conversations
Listen for key words like numbers, places and times. Read the tasks beforehand.
Part 2: Announcements
Pay attention to information about place, time and instructions. Announcements are played twice.
Part 3: Phone messages
Note names, phone numbers and appointments. Focus on the main message.
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Practice nowA1 Writing: Form & Short Message
Part 1: Fill in a form
- →Name, first name
- →Date of birth, place of birth
- →Address, phone number
- →Email, occupation
Part 2: Short message
Example structure:
Dear ...,
I am writing because ... (reason)
The address is ... (information)
Best regards, ...
A1 Speaking: Introducing Yourself, Questions & Requests
Part 1: Introduce yourself
- →„My name is ..."
- →„I come from ... / I live in ..."
- →„I am a ... (profession) / I work at ..."
- →„My hobbies are ... / I speak ..."
Part 2: Ask & answer questions
- →„Where do you live?"
- →„What is your profession?"
- →„Do you have children?"
- →„What do you enjoy doing in your free time?"
Part 3: Making requests
- →„Can you please help me?"
- →„I would like ... / I would like to have ..."
- →„How much does ... cost?"
- →„Where is ...? / How do I get to ...?"
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Other Levels
Frequently Asked Questions about the A1 Exam
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Weiterführende Ressourcen
Prüfungsvergleiche auf A1-Niveau
Nächstes Niveau
Bereit für A2? → A2-GuideGrammatik & Wortschatz
ZertifikatDeutsch is not an official test center. Goethe-Institut, OSD and telc are registered trademarks of their respective organizations. Our practice tests are for preparation and do not replace an official exam.