Exercises for German A1 exam

General Information about the German A1 Exam

The A1 level language exam is the first step for anyone who wants to start learning the German language. It is primarily aimed at people who want to understand everyday conversations and form basic sentences.

What is the A1 Exam?

This exam checks the basic knowledge of the German language. It shows whether a person can handle simple everyday situations – for example, when shopping, visiting a doctor, or having a short conversation with neighbors.

Who needs this exam?

The A1 exam is often taken by people who are new to a German-speaking country – for example, for family reunification, integration courses, or as an entry point into the job market. It is often required for certain residence permits or as a prerequisite for the next language course.

What is the purpose of the exam?

The goal is to prove that you have basic language skills. The exam is also an important step toward independent living in a new country.

Structure and Duration

The exam generally consists of four parts:

• Listening (about 20–25 minutes)
• Reading (about 25 minutes)
• Writing (about 20–25 minutes)
• Speaking (about 15 minutes)

The total duration of the exam is about 90 minutes. It can take place in one day or be split into two appointments.

How does the A1 exam differ from the A2 exam?

The A1 exam is designed for complete beginners and mainly tests whether one can understand and use individual words, simple sentences, and everyday expressions. In contrast, the A2 exam requires the ability to engage in short conversations, understand commonly used phrases, and express simple connections. The listening and reading tasks in A2 are also more demanding, as they involve longer and more content-rich texts.

How is it evaluated and what is needed to pass?

Each part of the exam is evaluated separately. To pass, you usually need a minimum score, which can vary depending on the exam provider. In most cases, 60% of the total points is enough to pass.

Expert Tip from Olena

Olena, the founder of this platform, has been developing preparation materials for German exams for many years. Together with experienced teachers and examiners from various countries, she creates exercises that reflect the real exam format. Her tip: “Many people underestimate the A1 exam, but structured practice of simple dialogues and repeating typical everyday topics often makes the key difference.”

What others say

Language coach Jelena B. from Linz says: “You should start early with listening and repeating simple dialogues. Those who practice regularly will not be afraid on exam day.”

A user of our platform wrote after passing the exam: “Thanks to the online exercises, I was well prepared. The example sentences and listening tasks helped me a lot.”

Our recommendations for preparation

• Choose topics that often appear in the exam – e.g. housing, health, shopping
• Practice with real examples and ideally with solutions
• Repeat basic sentence structures out loud every day
• Use small test sections online – a little every day
• Prepare specifically for the speaking part with partner exercises

The A1 exam is manageable – with a clear structure, patience, and targeted practice, you can build a solid foundation for your journey with the German language.