The speaking test is the last part of Start Deutsch 1, and for many learners it is the most nerve-racking. In fact, the Goethe A1 Sprechen and telc A1 Sprechen tests are very structured. You speak in a small group, follow cards and keywords, and use short, simple sentences. There is no preparation time, so the key is to know the three parts and their patterns. This guide gives you a method for each Teil, model answers, phrases and a practice set. Use it for your A1 speaking practice and as a list of German A1 speaking exam tips you can review the day before.
What the exam looks like
Both exams use the same three-part group format. It takes about 15 minutes, has two examiners and gives a maximum of 15 points.
| Teil | Goethe-Zertifikat A1: Start Deutsch 1 | telc Deutsch A1 | Max. points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Format | Group of up to 4 candidates, 2 examiners, no preparation time. Online exams: individually or in pairs. | Usually 4 candidates in a group, 2 examiners, no preparation time. | 15 |
| 1: Introducing yourself (Sich vorstellen) | Keyword sheet visible to all. You may be asked to spell something or give a number. Approx. 5 min. | Introduce yourself from a list of keywords, then spell something and give a number. Approx. 3 min. | 3 |
| 2: Asking for and giving information | Two topics. Each candidate draws one word card per topic, asks the neighbour a question, and the neighbour answers. Approx. 5 min. | Word cards on two everyday topics; ask and answer questions in turn. Approx. 4 min. | 6 |
| 3: Making requests and reacting | Each candidate draws 2 cards, makes a request, and the partner reacts. Approx. 5 min. | Picture or word cards; make requests and respond in turn. Approx. 4 min. | 6 |
At Goethe, each contribution receives full, half or zero points. Note also that Goethe candidates with fewer than 35 points in the written part are not admitted to Sprechen.
Strategy for each part
Teil 1: introduce yourself
You see a sheet with keywords. You talk about yourself using each one. Then the examiner asks you to spell a word (for example your name or town) and to say a number (for example your phone number or house number).
- Go through the keywords in order, one simple sentence each. This is easy to prepare at home because the keywords are always similar.
- Speak slowly and clearly. Short correct sentences are better than long broken ones.
- Practise the alphabet, especially the letters that sound different in German: A, E, I, J, R, U, V, W, Y, Z, and also ä, ö, ü, ß.
Model introduction:
„Ich heiße Carlos Mendes. Ich bin 31 Jahre alt. Ich komme aus Brasilien. Jetzt wohne ich in Köln. Ich spreche Portugiesisch, Englisch und ein bisschen Deutsch. Ich bin Koch von Beruf. Meine Hobbys sind Fußball und Kochen.“
Trap: spelling E and I the English way. In German, E sounds like “ay” and I sounds like “ee”.
Teil 2: ask for and give information
The topic might be Essen und Trinken or Freizeit. You draw a card with one word on it, such as Frühstück, and turn it into a question to your neighbour. They answer, then ask the next person a question with their own card.
- Build a W-question or a yes/no question with the card word. Keep it short.
- When you answer, give a full sentence, not just “Ja”. Add one small extra detail if you can.
- If you don’t understand, ask. „Wie bitte? Können Sie das bitte wiederholen?“ is perfectly fine.
| Card (topic: Freizeit) | Question | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| Sport | Machst du gern Sport? | Ja, ich gehe zweimal pro Woche schwimmen. |
| Wochenende | Was machst du am Wochenende? | Am Samstag besuche ich meine Freunde. |
| Kino | Gehst du oft ins Kino? | Nein, nicht oft. Ich sehe lieber zu Hause Filme. |
| Musik | Welche Musik hörst du gern? | Ich höre gern Jazz. |
Trap: making a statement instead of a question. „Sport ist gut.“ is not a question, so it doesn’t fulfil the task. The verb must come first (Machst du …?), or a question word must come before it (Wann machst du …?).
Teil 3: make requests and react
You draw cards that show an object or an action, for example a window, a pen or a glass of water. You make a polite request. Your partner reacts, by agreeing, giving it or politely declining.
- Use a polite frame: Können Sie / Kannst du … bitte …? or Ich möchte bitte … or Gib mir bitte …
- React naturally: „Ja, gern. Hier, bitte.“ or „Nein, tut mir leid, ich habe keinen Stift.“
- Look at the picture’s main idea. A picture of an open window can mean „Machen Sie bitte das Fenster zu?“ Choose the simplest interpretation.
Trap: the verb at the end in separable verbs. Say „Kannst du bitte das Fenster aufmachen?“ but „Mach bitte das Fenster auf!“.
Time management in a group: you only speak for a short time each round, so use the time while others are speaking. Listen to their questions, because you might have to answer next. And prepare your own question in your head.
Useful phrases (Redemittel)
| Situation | German | English |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Ich heiße … / Mein Name ist … | My name is … |
| Age | Ich bin … Jahre alt. | I am … years old. |
| Origin / home | Ich komme aus … / Ich wohne in … | I come from … / I live in … |
| Job | Ich bin … von Beruf. / Ich arbeite als … | I am a … / I work as a … |
| Languages | Ich spreche … | I speak … |
| Hobbies | Ich … gern. / Mein Hobby ist … | I like to … / My hobby is … |
| Not understanding | Wie bitte? / Noch einmal, bitte. | Pardon? / Once more, please. |
| Spelling | Das schreibt man: M-E-N-D-E-S. | That’s spelled: M-E-N-D-E-S. |
| Request | Können Sie mir bitte … geben? | Could you give me … please? |
| Agreeing | Ja, gern. / Natürlich. / Kein Problem. | Yes, gladly. / Of course. / No problem. |
| Declining politely | Tut mir leid, das geht leider nicht. | Sorry, that’s not possible. |
| Thanking | Danke schön! – Bitte schön! | Thank you! – You’re welcome! |
Practice set
A. Teil 1: introduce yourself out loud with these keywords, and record yourself: Name – Alter – Land – Wohnort – Sprachen – Beruf – Hobby. Then spell your surname and say your phone number digit by digit.
B. Teil 2: make a question and an answer for each card. The topic is Essen und Trinken.
- Frühstück
- Lieblingsessen
- Kaffee
- Restaurant
C. Teil 3: make a request and a reaction for each card.
- a pen
- an open door
- a phone
- a glass of water
Model answers
- Was isst du zum Frühstück? – Ich esse Brot mit Käse und trinke Tee.
- Was ist dein Lieblingsessen? – Mein Lieblingsessen ist Pizza.
- Trinkst du gern Kaffee? – Ja, ich trinke jeden Morgen zwei Tassen.
- Gehst du oft ins Restaurant? – Nein, ich koche lieber selbst.
- Kannst du mir bitte einen Kuli geben? – Ja, hier, bitte.
- Können Sie bitte die Tür zumachen? – Ja, natürlich.
- Darf ich bitte mal dein Handy benutzen? – Tut mir leid, der Akku ist leer.
- Ich möchte bitte ein Glas Wasser. – Gern, hier, bitte.
Model group round (Teil 2, topic: Wohnen)
A (Karte: Zimmer): Wie viele Zimmer hat deine Wohnung?
B: Meine Wohnung hat zwei Zimmer und eine Küche.
B (Karte: Nachbarn): Hast du nette Nachbarn?
C: Ja, meine Nachbarn sind sehr nett. Sie haben einen Hund.
C (Karte: Miete): Ist deine Miete teuer?
D: Ja, leider. Ich bezahle 700 Euro.
D (Karte: Garten): Hast du einen Garten?
A: Nein, aber ich habe einen Balkon.
Notice how each answer is a full sentence and often adds one detail. That is exactly what examiners want to hear at A1.
Common mistakes in A1 Sprechen
- One-word answers. „Ja.“ → „Ja, ich spiele gern Fußball.“
- Verb in the wrong place in questions. „Du trinkst Kaffee gern?“ → „Trinkst du gern Kaffee?“
- Wrong verb ending with du. „Was mache du?“ → „Was machst du?“
- Saying your age with haben. „Ich habe 30 Jahre.“ → „Ich bin 30 Jahre alt.“
- Article with a job. „Ich bin ein Lehrer.“ → „Ich bin Lehrer.“
- Impolite requests. „Gib Stift!“ → „Gibst du mir bitte den Stift?“
- Staying silent when unsure. Ask „Wie bitte?“ instead. Asking is communication too.
Weekly practice plan
- Daily (5 min): say your self-introduction aloud, then spell one random word and say one random phone number.
- Mon/Thu: pick a topic (Einkaufen, Familie, Wohnen, Freizeit). Write six word cards and make a question and an answer for each.
- Tue/Fri: collect eight objects at home and make a polite request for each, then a positive and a negative reaction.
- Wed: record yourself and listen for verb position and endings.
- Weekend: practise with a language partner or study group, ideally three or four people, just like the real exam.
Next steps
- See the full exam structure in our A1 mock exams (Goethe and telc formats).
- Prepare the written part in the exam simulator, since you need it to qualify for Sprechen at Goethe.
- Learn the basic structures in the German A1 course.
- Other A1 guides: Hören, Lesen, Schreiben.
FAQ
Do I get preparation time in the A1 speaking exam?
No. Neither Goethe A1 nor telc A1 gives preparation time for Sprechen. You speak straight away with the cards and keyword sheet, which is why practising the patterns at home is so useful.
How many points do I need to pass Goethe A1 Sprechen?
There is no separate pass mark for Sprechen. At Goethe A1, the 15 raw points are multiplied by 1.66 (up to 25 points), and you need 60 of 100 points overall. At telc Deutsch A1, the pass mark is 36 of 60 points in total. For current rules, check the official provider.
Is the A1 speaking exam individual or in a group?
Normally in a group, usually four candidates with two examiners. For Goethe online exams, Sprechen takes place individually or in pairs.
What happens if I make grammar mistakes?
At A1 the focus is on whether you complete each task: introducing yourself, asking a fitting question, answering, making a request. Mistakes that don’t block understanding are normal at this level. Keep talking and keep your sentences simple.