Topics of the Goethe A2 writing exam

Detailed Guide to Preparing for the Goethe A2 Writing Exam

Anyone who wants to communicate confidently in everyday situations in German will eventually encounter the A2 writing exam. This test, part of the Goethe-Institut’s official exam format, assesses whether learners can produce short, clear, and structured texts. The tasks are deliberately based on real-life situations and are aimed at people who need written German for personal, professional, or administrative purposes.

What is the Goethe A2 Writing Exam?

The A2 writing module is part of the complete Goethe-Zertifikat A2 (Start Deutsch 2). In this section, candidates are asked to write simple written messages – such as a short note, a form, or an informal email. The tasks are modeled on realistic situations where basic written communication is needed.

Who organizes the exam?

The Goethe-Institut, Germany’s official cultural and language institute, is responsible for designing, administering, and certifying the exam internationally. With over 150 centers worldwide, Goethe exams are widely recognized and respected by institutions, employers, and governments across the globe.

Who is this exam for?

This writing test is ideal for learners who want to confirm their basic German writing skills after a course or as part of their personal progress. It’s also frequently required for immigration procedures, job applications, or residency applications. For many learners, A2 is also a useful stepping stone toward the B1 level.

What is the purpose of the writing module?

The writing section is designed to test the ability to communicate clearly in written German on everyday topics. Typical tasks might include:

• writing an email to cancel an appointment
• leaving a short note for a neighbor
• filling out a basic form with personal details

Being able to write such texts correctly and clearly is useful not just for passing a test but also in real-world situations, such as dealing with landlords, local authorities, or colleagues.

Structure and duration of the writing exam

This part of the exam takes around 30 minutes. It usually includes two tasks: one guided written response based on a brief situation and one simple form-filling or structured writing task. Candidates are assessed on accuracy, structure, task completion, and appropriate word choice.

How is it different from the Goethe B1 Writing Exam?

Compared to the B1 level, the A2 exam is much simpler. B1 tasks often require argumentation, expressing personal opinions, and writing longer, well-organized texts. In contrast, the A2 level focuses on functional communication: as long as you can share basic information and describe a situation in writing, you’re meeting the expectations.

How is the exam assessed – and when do you pass?

Each response is graded according to fixed criteria: spelling, clarity, full task completion, and correct format. Certified examiners mark the papers anonymously based on a standardized scoring system. To pass the writing module, candidates must usually reach about 60% of the total points available for this section.

Expert advice from Olena – years of practical experience

This platform is led by Olena, a highly experienced exam coach with more than 15 years of teaching learners worldwide. She works closely with German teachers and examiners from countries such as Germany, Austria, Canada, and Japan to develop realistic writing tasks and step-by-step strategies. “Many underestimate the A2 level,” she says, “but if you don’t fully understand what’s being asked, you can lose important points. I focus on clarity, structure, and practical language.”

Her writing exercises are based on real Goethe exam formats and are used in more than 20 countries – both in classroom teaching and online training. Her goal is to help even shy learners build confidence gradually without fear of making mistakes.

What do other experts say?

Language educator Johanna T. emphasizes: “Writing shows how well someone really understands the language. Grammar matters, but meaningful communication is even more important.” Certified Goethe examiner Marcel R. adds: “Many candidates lose points because their text is too short or they miss key elements of the prompt.”

What our users say

Many of our learners report that they overcame their fear of writing thanks to our platform’s practice resources. “The writing tasks were just like those in the real test,” says Amina from Freiburg. Lukas from Kraków adds: “Your examples helped me figure out how to start a text. That made a huge difference for me.”

Our preparation recommendations

If you want to prepare successfully, we recommend starting early – with short, regular study sessions. The most effective techniques include:

• working with official sample tests from previous Goethe exams
• practicing short writing tasks and getting feedback
• simulating timed test conditions online

Also helpful: read your texts out loud to check if they sound natural, and never underestimate how important greetings, formatting, and proper sentence structure can be – they often make the difference.