Reading is often the section where A2 candidates can collect the most points, as long as they manage their time and know the tricks of each task. This guide explains Goethe A2 Lesen and telc A2 Lesen (Start Deutsch 2) part by part: what you read, how to approach each task, and the traps that cost easy points. You also get A2 reading vocabulary, a short practice set with answer key, common mistakes and a weekly plan. If you are looking for A2 reading practice or simple German A2 reading exam tips, this page is for you; afterwards, test yourself in our mock exams.
What the exam looks like
| Goethe-Zertifikat A2 | telc Deutsch A2 (Start Deutsch 2) | |
|---|---|---|
| Time | 30 min | part of a 50-minute block together with Schreiben |
| Parts and items | 4 Teile, 20 items | 3 Teile, 15 items |
| Teil 1 | 1 newspaper text (short report), multiple choice a/b/c | 1 information list or directory plus 5 situations, multiple choice a/b/c |
| Teil 2 | 1 information board or directory (e.g. a department-store guide), multiple choice a/b/c, options include “another floor” | 1 short newspaper-type article, richtig (+) / falsch (–) |
| Teil 3 | 1 personal e-mail, multiple choice a/b/c (no example) | 8 short ads (a–h), match to 5 situations; one situation has no ad → “x” |
| Teil 4 | 6 short ads (a–f), match to 5 persons; one person has no ad → “x” | – |
| Points | 20 items, converted to 25 points (× 1.25) | 15 points (1 per item) |
At Goethe, Lesen is the first part of the 90-minute written exam. At telc you decide yourself how to split the 50 minutes between Lesen and Schreiben. A good rule is about 25–30 minutes for Lesen, so you have enough time left for the letter.
Strategy for each part: Goethe A2 Lesen
Teil 1: Newspaper text
- Read the headline and the example first. They tell you the topic.
- Read questions 1–5, then the text. The answers usually come in the order of the text.
- For each question, find the matching sentence and compare it word by word with the options.
Typical trap: the option repeats words from the text but changes the meaning. Text: „Der Kurs ist kostenlos, nur das Material muss man bezahlen.“ Option: „Der Kurs kostet Geld.“ That is wrong: the course is free, only the materials cost money.
Teil 2: Information board or directory
- Read the situation and decide which category you need: Ich brauche eine neue Lampe → Haushalt / Lampen.
- Scan the board for that category. Do not read everything.
- If the item is not listed exactly, think of the general word. If it is really not there, choose the “other floor” option.
Typical trap: a similar word on the wrong floor. Sportbekleidung (sports clothes) and Sportgeräte (sports equipment) may be on different floors. If someone wants a tennis racket, they need Sportgeräte.
Teil 3: Personal e-mail
- Find out who writes to whom and why (first two lines).
- Read the questions and look for the paragraph that answers each one.
- Pay attention to time words: früher, jetzt, bald, letzte Woche, nächsten Monat.
Typical trap: past vs. present. „Früher habe ich in Hamburg gewohnt, seit März wohne ich in Leipzig.“ If the question asks where she lives now, the answer is Leipzig.
Teil 4: Ads and persons
- Read the five persons first and underline the key need of each: price, time, place, age group.
- Then read the ads and find a match for each person. Cross out the ad used in the example.
- One person has no matching ad. Do not force a match: if one detail does not fit, write “x”.
Typical trap: the person wants a course am Abend, the ad fits perfectly but offers vormittags. One wrong detail means it is not the answer.
Strategy for each part: telc A2 Lesen
Teil 1: Directory and situations
This works like a guide or index: you read a situation and find the right entry, for example in a list of departments, services or programme items. Underline the key need in the situation, translate it into a category, and scan. Do not read the whole list in detail. If two options seem possible, read the situation again for a limiting detail (day, age, price).
Teil 2: Newspaper article, richtig/falsch
- Read the statements 6–10 first. They follow the order of the article.
- Find the place in the text and decide: does the text say exactly this? Mark + or –.
- Watch numbers, negations and words like alle, nur, immer, nie.
Typical trap: statement „Alle Besucher bekommen ein Geschenk.“ – text: „Die ersten 50 Besucher bekommen ein kleines Geschenk.“ → falsch.
Teil 3: Ads and situations
Eight ads, five situations, and one situation without a match. Since there are more ads than situations, several ads are distractors. Underline the important details in each situation, then check each ad against all of them. Write “x” for the situation where no ad fits every detail.
Useful vocabulary for A2 reading
| German | English | Typical text type |
|---|---|---|
| Erdgeschoss (EG), Untergeschoss (UG), 1. Stock / 1. Etage | ground floor, basement, first floor | Information boards |
| Öffnungszeiten, geschlossen, Feiertag | opening hours, closed, public holiday | Notices |
| Anmeldung, sich anmelden, Teilnehmer | registration, to register, participant | Courses, events |
| kostenlos / gratis, Ermäßigung, Gebühr | free, discount, fee | Ads |
| zu verkaufen, zu vermieten, gesucht | for sale, for rent, wanted | Small ads |
| möbliert, Nebenkosten, Warmmiete | furnished, additional costs, rent incl. heating | Flat ads |
| nur, erst, schon, noch nicht, nicht mehr | only, not until, already, not yet, no longer | Small words that change the meaning |
| Liebe Grüße, Bis bald, Ich freue mich auf … | Best wishes, See you soon, I’m looking forward to … | Personal e-mails |
Practice: short A2 reading exercise
Part A – e-mail. Read the e-mail and answer questions 1–3.
Liebe Sara,
danke für deine Nachricht! Ja, ich wohne jetzt in Freiburg. Die Wohnung ist klein, aber sehr hell, und ich habe einen Balkon. Die Arbeit im Hotel macht mir Spaß, aber ich muss oft am Wochenende arbeiten. Nächsten Monat habe ich eine Woche Urlaub. Möchtest du mich besuchen? Du kannst bei mir schlafen, ich habe ein Gästebett. Das Bett ist nicht sehr groß, aber bequem.
Liebe Grüße
Tom
- Toms Wohnung ist … a) groß und hell. b) klein und hell. c) klein und dunkel.
- Tom arbeitet … a) nie am Wochenende. b) oft am Wochenende. c) nur am Wochenende.
- Sara kann … a) in einem Hotel schlafen. b) bei Tom schlafen. c) nicht kommen, weil Tom keinen Platz hat.
Part B – ads. Which ad (a–d) fits each person? If none fits, write x.
- a) Gitarrenkurs für Anfänger, dienstags 19–20 Uhr, 8 Termine, 60 €.
- b) Fahrrad zu verkaufen, 3 Jahre alt, sehr guter Zustand, 120 €. Nur Abholung.
- c) Schwimmkurs für Kinder (6–10 Jahre), samstags 10 Uhr, Hallenbad Mitte.
- d) Kinderfahrrad zu verschenken, für Kinder ab 5 Jahren.
- Lukas arbeitet bis 18 Uhr und möchte abends ein Instrument lernen.
- Frau Ahmadi sucht einen Kurs am Wochenende für ihre achtjährige Tochter.
- Herr Klein möchte ein Fahrrad für sich kaufen, aber er hat kein Auto und möchte es nach Hause liefern lassen.
- Mira sucht einen Sprachkurs am Abend.
Answer key
- b: klein, aber sehr hell.
- b: ich muss oft am Wochenende arbeiten.
- b: Du kannst bei mir schlafen. He works in a hotel, but that is not where Sara sleeps.
- a: guitar course on Tuesday evenings at 19:00.
- c: Saturday, children aged 6–10.
- x: ad b is “Nur Abholung” (collection only), and ad d is a children’s bike. Neither fits.
- x: there is no language course. (In the real exam only one person has no match; here we practise the “x” logic twice.)
Common mistakes in A2 Lesen
- Reading every word. Correction: read the questions first and look for the relevant part. You do not need to understand everything.
- Matching by single words. The same word in the text and in an option does not make it correct. Check the whole meaning.
- Ignoring nur, erst, schon, nicht mehr. „Das Geschäft öffnet erst um 10 Uhr“ means not before 10.
- Forcing a match in the ads task. Correction: one person or situation always has no ad. Use “x” when one important detail does not fit.
- Confusing floors. In German, 1. Stock is the floor above the ground floor (Erdgeschoss).
- Spending too long on Lesen at telc. Correction: set a time limit so you have at least 20 minutes for Schreiben.
- Leaving gaps. There is no minus point for a wrong answer, so always mark something.
Weekly practice plan
- Monday: read one short German news text for learners and write down five new words.
- Tuesday: scanning practice: a real menu, timetable or shop directory. Find three pieces of information in two minutes.
- Wednesday: one full Lesen section of a mock exam under time pressure.
- Thursday: analyse your mistakes: which word or detail did you miss?
- Friday: read small ads (flats, courses, items for sale) and summarise each in one English sentence.
- Weekend: write a short reply to an e-mail you have read; this also trains Schreiben.
Next steps
- Do a complete reading section in our German mock exams.
- Practise under real time limits in the exam simulator.
- Strengthen grammar and vocabulary with the German A2 course.
- Continue with the other A2 guides: A2 Hören, A2 Schreiben, A2 Sprechen.
FAQ
How many points do I need to pass Goethe A2 Lesen?
Goethe A2 has no separate pass mark for Lesen. You need at least 45 of 75 points in the whole written part (Lesen, Hören, Schreiben), at least 15 of 25 in Sprechen, and at least 60 of 100 overall. Lesen gives up to 25 points (20 items × 1.25).
How much time do I have for telc A2 Lesen?
Lesen and Schreiben share one 50-minute block at telc A2. You manage the time yourself, so plan about 25–30 minutes for the three reading parts.
What is the difference between Goethe A2 Lesen and telc A2 Lesen?
Goethe A2 has four parts with 20 items in 30 minutes, mostly multiple choice plus one matching task. telc A2 has three parts with 15 items (multiple choice, richtig/falsch and matching), and shares its time with Schreiben. Rules about permitted aids can change, so check them with your exam centre.
What is the best way to practise A2 reading?
Read short real-life texts (ads, notices, e-mails) every day and do timed mock exams. Always read the questions first, then the text.