The ÖSD Zertifikat A1 (ZA1) is the Austrian beginner exam in German. It shows that you can understand and use very simple, everyday German. This guide covers everything you need for ÖSD Zertifikat A1 preparation: every exam part with strategies and traps, a full practice set with an answer key, useful phrases and a 4-week study plan. For an overview of all levels, see our ÖSD exam preparation guide.
ÖSD A1 at a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Who is it for? | Learners from 14 years. Children from 10 can take ÖSD KID A1. There is also an ÖSD Zertifikat A1 / Österreich variant for immigrants in Austria. |
| Level | CEFR A1 |
| Modules | Written module (Lesen, Hören, Schreiben) and oral module (Sprechen). You can take them together or separately. |
| Reading | 3 tasks, 25 minutes |
| Listening | 3 tasks, about 10 minutes |
| Writing | 2 tasks (a form and a short e-mail), 20 minutes |
| Speaking | 3 tasks, about 10 minutes, plus 10 minutes of preparation. Individual exam with two examiners. |
| Points | Written module: 75 points (reading 30, listening 30, writing 15). Oral module: 25 points. |
| To pass | At least 38/75 in the written module and 12/25 in the oral module. Some tasks also have a minimum, for example the e-mail. |
| Certificate | A full certificate if you pass both modules on one date or within one year at the same centre. Otherwise, one module certificate for each passed module. No expiry date is printed. |
| Typical uses | Proof of basic German, for example for the German spouse visa or some Austrian residence procedures. Check with the authority which exams it accepts. |
What A1 means in practice
At A1 you can introduce yourself, ask and answer simple questions about where you live, people you know and things you have. You understand short notices, signs, simple messages and slow, clear speech. You do not need perfect grammar. The examiners want to see that you can get a simple message across. Learn the most common everyday words well (our A1 vocabulary list covers them) and the basic grammar from the A1 course: present tense, sein and haben, W-questions, articles, plural, möchten, simple modal verbs and the most important prepositions of time and place.
Lesen (Reading) – 25 minutes
The reading part has three tasks with short, real-life texts from Austria, Germany and Switzerland: advertisements, notes, e-mails, signs and short notices. It tests if you can find the main point and some important details.
Task types
- Task 1 – Situations and ads: you read a few short situations (for example, “You want to buy a cheap bike”) and match each one to the right advertisement. There are more ads than situations.
- Task 2 – Short texts, yes or no: you read a few short texts, such as a note or an e-mail, and decide whether statements about them are right (Ja) or wrong (Nein).
- Task 3 – Texts and pictures: you match short texts to pictures. One picture is extra.
Strategy step by step
- Read the task line and the example first. They tell you what kind of text it is.
- Read the situations or statements before the texts and underline the key words: days, times, prices, places, people.
- Scan the texts for these key words or their synonyms, for example billig = günstig, or geschlossen = nicht offen.
- Answer every item. There are no minus points for wrong answers.
- Keep 2–3 minutes at the end to check that your answers are on the answer sheet.
Typical traps
- Same word, different meaning: an ad may mention Fahrrad but sell bikes when the situation is about repairing one.
- Negation: nicht, kein and nur change everything. “Am Sonntag nicht geöffnet” means closed on Sunday.
- Time details: ab 9 Uhr (from 9), bis 18 Uhr (until 6 pm), vormittags (in the morning).
- Austrian words: you may see Jänner (January), heuer (this year) or Matura (school-leaving exam). Learn a few of these.
Hören (Listening) – about 10 minutes
You hear short recordings in clear standard German: everyday announcements, a phone message and very short interviews. The speakers come from Austria, Germany and Switzerland.
Task types
- Task 1 – Short texts and pictures: you hear short texts once and match each one to a picture.
- Task 2 – A message and notes: you hear one message (for example on an answering machine) twice and complete notes with information such as a time, a day, a name or a phone number. Names, addresses and numbers must be completely correct, but small spelling mistakes in other words do not count against you.
- Task 3 – Short interviews: several people answer the same question. You hear them once and tick the right answer for each person in a table.
Strategy step by step
- Use the reading time to look at every picture and option. Say the German words in your head: Bus, Zug, Bäckerei, Arzt.
- In Task 2, look at the gaps and predict the type of answer: a number? a day? a name?
- Write numbers as digits while listening, and check them in the second listening.
- If you miss an answer, let it go and focus on the next one. You can guess at the end.
Typical traps
- Changes of plan: “nicht am Montag, sondern am Dienstag“. The second information is the correct one.
- Numbers: siebzehn (17) vs siebzig (70), and zwei is sometimes said as zwo on the phone.
- Times: halb acht means 7:30, not 8:30. In Austria you may also hear viertel acht (7:15) and dreiviertel acht (7:45).
- Spelling names: learn the German alphabet so you can write a name that is spelled out.
Schreiben (Writing) – 20 minutes
Task 1 – Form
You read a short description of a person and fill in a form with their details, for example registering for a course or a sports club. You either choose an option or write a word or number. Copy the information carefully from the text, because the details are given in the task.
Task 2 – Short e-mail
You answer a personal e-mail from a friend. The task gives you three guiding questions, and you write about 30 words plus a greeting and a closing. Answer all three questions. This task has its own minimum score, so a very short or off-topic e-mail can make you fail the writing part.
Strategy step by step
- Start with the form (5 minutes). It gives easy points.
- For the e-mail, write one or two simple sentences for each guiding question.
- Use a fixed frame: Liebe/Lieber …, – thanks – three answers – Viele Grüße – name.
- Check the verb position (verb in second place), capital letters for nouns and the endings of ich/du verbs.
Typical traps
- Forgetting one of the three points, which costs many points.
- Copying long sentences from the task. Use your own words.
- Mixing du and Sie. A friend gets du all the way through.
Sprechen (Speaking) – about 10 minutes
The A1 speaking test is an individual exam: you speak with the examiners, not with another candidate. You get 10 minutes of preparation for all three tasks and can make short notes.
Task 1 – Introducing yourself
You get a card with several topics (for example name, age, country, languages, job, hobbies) and choose some of them. Say a few sentences about each topic. The examiner may ask a short follow-up question.
Task 2 – Describing a situation
You choose one of several photos and answer simple questions about it: Who is in the picture? Where are the people? What are they doing?
Task 3 – Role play
You act out the situation from your photo with the examiner, for example buying something, asking for information or making an appointment.
Strategy step by step
- Prepare Task 1 at home. You can learn a short self-introduction by heart, but it should sound natural.
- In the preparation time, write key words, not full sentences.
- For the photo, use the formula Auf dem Foto sehe ich … Sie sind in/im … Sie ….
- In the role play, ask at least one question and react to the examiner: Gut, danke. / Wie viel kostet das? / Wann haben Sie Zeit?
- If you don’t understand, ask: Können Sie das bitte wiederholen? This is normal and does not cost points.
Typical traps
- Answering with single words. Try to use full simple sentences.
- Long silence. Say Moment, bitte … while you think.
- Forgetting greetings and polite forms: Guten Tag, bitte, danke, auf Wiedersehen.
Practice set: ÖSD A1
These are original practice tasks in the style of the ÖSD A1. Do them with a timer and check your answers at the end.
Reading practice 1 – Situations and ads
Which ad fits each situation? One ad is extra.
Situationen
1. Sie möchten am Wochenende schwimmen gehen.
2. Ihr Fahrrad ist kaputt.
3. Sie suchen eine kleine Wohnung.
4. Sie möchten am Abend Deutsch lernen.
5. Sie sind am Sonntag krank und brauchen eine Ärztin.
Anzeigen
A. Fahrradwerkstatt Huber – Wir reparieren Ihr Rad in einem Tag! Mo–Fr 8–18 Uhr.
B. Hallenbad Mitte – Samstag und Sonntag von 9 bis 20 Uhr geöffnet.
C. Deutschkurs A1 – Montag und Mittwoch, 18:30 bis 20:00 Uhr, Volkshochschule.
D. 1-Zimmer-Wohnung, 35 m², Nähe Bahnhof, 520 Euro im Monat.
E. Ärztlicher Wochenenddienst: Praxis Dr. Berger, Sonntag 10 bis 16 Uhr.
F. Gebrauchte Fahrräder – billig zu verkaufen! Tel. 0123 456789.
Answer key
1 – B (open on Saturday and Sunday). 2 – A (reparieren = repair). F sells bikes but does not repair them, so it is the trap. 3 – D. 4 – C (evening course, 18:30). 5 – E (Sonntag).
Reading practice 2 – Yes or no?
Text 1
Liebe Frau Novak, morgen ist unser Büro geschlossen. Am Donnerstag sind wir wieder ab 8 Uhr da. Bitte bringen Sie dann Ihren Reisepass mit. Viele Grüße, Maria Lang
1. Das Büro ist morgen offen. – Ja / Nein
2. Frau Novak soll ihren Pass mitbringen. – Ja / Nein
Text 2
Liebe Kundinnen und Kunden! Ab 1. März finden Sie unser Geschäft in der Bahnhofstraße 12. Neue Öffnungszeiten: Montag bis Samstag, 9 bis 19 Uhr.
3. Das Geschäft hat ab März eine neue Adresse. – Ja / Nein
4. Das Geschäft ist am Sonntag geöffnet. – Ja / Nein
Answer key
1. Nein (geschlossen = closed). 2. Ja. 3. Ja (Bahnhofstraße 12). 4. Nein (Monday to Saturday only).
Listening practice – A phone message (read the script aloud or ask a friend)
In the exam you hear this type of text twice. Cover the script, ask someone to read it to you twice, and complete the notes.
Hörtext (Skript): „Hallo, hier ist Jana Kraus vom Sportverein. Ihr Kurs ‚Yoga für Anfänger‘ beginnt nicht am Montag, sondern am Dienstag, um 18 Uhr. Der Kurs ist in Raum 4. Bitte bringen Sie ein Handtuch mit. Bei Fragen rufen Sie mich an, meine Nummer ist 0123 / 47 29 15. Danke und bis Dienstag!“
Notizen
1. Der Kurs beginnt am: ________
2. Uhrzeit: ________
3. Raum: ________
4. Mitbringen: ________
5. Telefon Frau Kraus: ________
Answer key
1. Dienstag (not Monday, which is the trap). 2. 18 Uhr. 3. 4. 4. ein Handtuch. 5. 0123 / 47 29 15.
Listening practice – Short interviews
Frage: Was machen Sie am Wochenende?
Person 1: „Am Samstag arbeite ich im Supermarkt, leider. Aber am Sonntag schlafe ich lange.“
Person 2: „Ich fahre zu meinen Eltern nach Linz. Wir kochen zusammen.“
Person 3: „Ich spiele Fußball, wie jedes Wochenende. Am Sonntag haben wir ein Spiel.“
Was macht die Person? a) Sport b) Familie besuchen c) arbeiten
Answer key
Person 1 – c (arbeite im Supermarkt). Person 2 – b (zu meinen Eltern). Person 3 – a (Fußball).
Writing practice 1 – Form
Ihre Freundin Ana Silva möchte im Fitnessstudio „Fit & Froh“ Mitglied werden. Sie ist 27 Jahre alt und kommt aus Portugal. Sie wohnt in der Gartengasse 5 in 8010 Graz. Sie möchte am Abend trainieren und bezahlt jeden Monat mit Karte. Füllen Sie das Formular für Ana aus.
Familienname: ____ · Vorname: ____ · Alter: ____ · Herkunftsland: ____ · Straße, Hausnummer: ____ · PLZ, Ort: ____ · Training: ☐ vormittags ☐ nachmittags ☐ abends · Bezahlung: ☐ bar ☐ mit Karte
Answer key
Silva · Ana · 27 · Portugal · Gartengasse 5 · 8010 Graz · abends · mit Karte
Writing practice 2 – E-mail (about 30 words)
Ihr Freund Lukas schreibt: „Hallo! Am Samstag habe ich Geburtstag und mache eine Party. Kannst du kommen? Ich wohne jetzt in der Mozartstraße 3.“
Antworten Sie Lukas: Kommen Sie zur Party? Was bringen Sie mit? Wie kommen Sie zur Party?
Answer key
Lieber Lukas,
danke für die Einladung! Ja, ich komme gern zu deiner Party. Ich bringe einen Kuchen und Getränke mit. Ich komme mit dem Bus, um 19 Uhr bin ich da.
Viele Grüße
Sara
About 35 words. All three points are answered, and the e-mail has a greeting and a closing.
Speaking practice
Aufgabe 1: Stellen Sie sich vor. Themen: Name – Alter – Land – Wohnort – Sprachen – Beruf – Hobbys – Familie.
Aufgabe 2: Foto: Eine Familie frühstückt in der Küche. Wer ist auf dem Foto? Wo sind die Personen? Was machen sie? Was essen und trinken sie?
Aufgabe 3: Rollenspiel: Sie sind in einer Bäckerei und möchten etwas kaufen. Die Prüferin / Der Prüfer ist die Verkäuferin / der Verkäufer.
Answer key
Aufgabe 1: Guten Tag! Ich heiße Daniel Okafor. Ich bin 31 Jahre alt und komme aus Nigeria. Jetzt wohne ich in Wien. Ich spreche Englisch, ein bisschen Deutsch und Igbo. Ich bin Koch von Beruf. In meiner Freizeit spiele ich gern Basketball und ich koche natürlich gern.
Aufgabe 2: Auf dem Foto sehe ich eine Familie: einen Vater, eine Mutter und zwei Kinder. Sie sind in der Küche. Sie frühstücken zusammen. Sie essen Brot mit Marmelade und trinken Kaffee und Milch. Ich glaube, es ist Sonntag.
Aufgabe 3:
Sie: Guten Morgen! Ich möchte zwei Semmeln, bitte.
Prüfer: Gern. Noch etwas?
Sie: Ja, haben Sie auch Vollkornbrot?
Prüfer: Ja, natürlich.
Sie: Dann nehme ich ein kleines Vollkornbrot. Was kostet das zusammen?
Prüfer: 4,20 Euro.
Sie: Hier, bitte. Danke schön, auf Wiedersehen!
Tip: Semmel is the Austrian word for a bread roll (Brötchen in Germany). Both are fine in the exam.
Useful phrases for ÖSD A1
Introducing yourself
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Ich heiße … / Mein Name ist … | My name is … |
| Ich komme aus … | I come from … |
| Ich wohne in … | I live in … |
| Ich bin … Jahre alt. | I am … years old. |
| Ich spreche … und ein bisschen Deutsch. | I speak … and a little German. |
| Ich arbeite als … / Ich bin … von Beruf. | I work as a … / I am a … by profession. |
| In meiner Freizeit … ich gern … | In my free time I like to … |
| Ich bin verheiratet und habe zwei Kinder. | I’m married and have two children. |
Photos, role plays and e-mails
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Auf dem Foto sehe ich … | In the photo I can see … |
| Die Personen sind im Park / in der Küche. | The people are in the park / in the kitchen. |
| Ich möchte … , bitte. | I would like …, please. |
| Wie viel kostet das? | How much is that? |
| Haben Sie am Montag Zeit? | Do you have time on Monday? |
| Können Sie das bitte wiederholen? | Can you repeat that, please? |
| Danke für deine E-Mail. | Thanks for your e-mail. |
| Viele Grüße / Liebe Grüße | Best wishes / Love (informal closing) |
4-week study plan for ÖSD A1
| Week | Focus | Tasks |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Basics and diagnosis | Download the free ÖSD A1 model test from osd.at and do the reading and listening with a timer. Revise numbers, times, days and the alphabet. Learn 150 words from the A1 vocabulary list. |
| 2 | Reading and listening | Work through the A1 Lesen and A1 Hören guides. Do one reading and one listening task every day from our A1 mock exams. Learn 150 new words. |
| 3 | Writing | Follow the A1 Schreiben guide. Write four short e-mails (invitation, thank you, cancellation, question) and fill in two forms. Revise lessons from the A1 course where you make mistakes. |
| 4 | Speaking and full test | Use the A1 Sprechen guide. Record your self-introduction and three photo descriptions. Do one full test in the exam simulator and the second half of the ÖSD model test. |
Prefer paper? Download the A1 course book from our downloads page. Ready for more? Continue with the ÖSD Zertifikat A2.
FAQ
How long does the ÖSD A1 exam take?
The written module takes about 55 minutes: reading 25, listening about 10 and writing 20 minutes. The speaking test takes about 10 minutes, plus 10 minutes of preparation.
How many points do I need to pass ÖSD A1?
You need at least 38 of 75 points in the written module and 12 of 25 points in the oral module. Some tasks, such as the e-mail, also have a minimum. Check the current model test on osd.at for the full scoring rules.
Is the ÖSD A1 accepted for the German spouse visa?
ÖSD states that its certificates from A1 upwards are accepted for spouse immigration to Germany. The German embassy or consulate makes the final decision, so confirm with them before you book.
Do I speak alone or with a partner?
At A1 the speaking test is an individual exam. You talk with the examiners. Two trained ÖSD examiners assess your performance.
Can I pass only the speaking or only the written part?
Yes. The two modules can be taken separately, and each passed module gets its own certificate. If you pass both within one year at the same exam centre, you receive one full certificate.
How long do I need to prepare for A1?
It depends on your starting point. If you have finished an A1 course, 4 weeks of focused exam training is usually enough to learn the format. If you are a complete beginner, start with our A1 course first.
Sources
- ÖSD – ÖSD Zertifikat A1 folder: https://www.osd.at/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/ZA1_Folder.pdf
- ÖSD – ZA1 model test brochure (structure and scoring): https://www.osd.at/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/ZA1-Modellsatzbroschure_WEB.pdf
- ÖSD – Examination regulations (valid from 01.08.2026): https://osd.at/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/OSD-Prufungsordnung_gueltig-ab-01.08.2026.pdf
- ÖSD – Worldwide recognition: https://www.osd.at/en/?p=9595
Formats can change – always check the official website before you register.