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The official rules, explained clearly.

Exam parts, scoring, costs and dates for each exam, with a link to the official source behind every fact.

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Language

A1 · Start Deutsch 1 (Goethe / telc)

The usual proof of basic German (A1) for a spouse visa to Germany, taken before you travel.

Official website
How to bookExam centreNo waiting time is published; it depends on the centre. Book early — popular dates can fill up.
Exam parts4· 80 minHören · Lesen · Schreiben · Sprechen
Pass mark60/100≥ 60 of 100 points, all parts taken
Cost€155

Start Deutsch 1 (Goethe / telc) (A1, Goethe-Institut · telc) has 4 parts: Hören, Lesen, Schreiben, Sprechen. Pass mark: ≥ 60 of 100 points, all parts taken. Cost: Goethe-Institut in Germany 2026: €155; course participants 20% off (€124). telc and centres abroad set their own prices. Result: Result times are not published centrally; ask your exam centre. Checked 2026-09-29.

Dates, places and waiting times

No national exam dates: each Goethe-Institut or telc exam centre sets its own dates and registration deadlines. Book directly with the centre. source

  1. 1Bookat a Goethe, telc or ÖSD exam centre
  2. 2ExamNo national exam dates: each Goethe-Institut or telc exam centre sets its own dates and registration deadlines
  3. 3ResultResult times are not published centrally
  4. 4Certificatetelc certificates have no validity period; the institution that asks for the certificate decides whether it accepts it. Goethe: no validity stated on the checked pages.

Where

BerlinBonnBremenDresdenDüsseldorfFrankfurtFreiburgGöttingenHamburgHeidelbergMannheimMünchenSchwäbisch Hall

Goethe-Institut locations in Germany; telc exams are held at telc exam centres (e.g. adult education centres and language schools). Abroad: the local Goethe-Institut or telc partner. source

Waiting & results

No waiting time is published; it depends on the centre. Book early — popular dates can fill up. source

Result times are not published centrally; ask your exam centre. source

Cost & retakes

Goethe-Institut in Germany 2026: €155; course participants 20% off (€124). telc and centres abroad set their own prices. source

Goethe: only the whole exam can be repeated. telc: no partial exam at A1. Pay the full fee again. source

At a glance

WhoSpouses who must prove simple German for the visa; also anyone proving A1.[1]
Accepted for the visaStart Deutsch 1 (Goethe), Start Deutsch 1 (telc), ÖSD Grundstufe Deutsch 1, TestDaF (min. B2) — example: German embassy Bangkok[2]
PartsHören, Lesen, Schreiben (written) + Sprechen (group)[3]
DurationAbout 80 min: written 65 min + oral 15 min[4]
Pass mark (Goethe)≥ 60 of 100 points, all parts taken[5]
CostGoethe-Institut in Germany 2026: €155 (course participants €124). Abroad and at telc centres prices differ.[6]
Learning timeGoethe: 80–200 lessons of 45 min, depending on your background[1]

Exam parts80 min in total

Hören20 min
Lesen25 min
Schreiben20 min
Sprechen15 min
HörenListening · Goethe: 3 parts, 15 items. telc: 3 parts.
About 20 min (both)
Format
Goethe: written part. telc: written part.
Questions / tasks
Goethe: 3 parts, 15 items. telc: 3 parts.
Task types
Goethe: short everyday conversations (picture choice), public announcements (true/false), phone messages (choice). Parts 1 and 3 are played twice, part 2 once.
Scoring
Goethe: part of the written score (75 of 100).
Allowed aids
Not stated[3]
LesenReading · Goethe: 3 parts, 15 items. telc: 3 parts.
Goethe 25 min
Format
Goethe: 25 min. telc: Lesen + Schreiben together 45 min.
Questions / tasks
Goethe: 3 parts, 15 items. telc: 3 parts.
Task types
Goethe: short notes (true/false), small ads (matching), signs and notices (true/false).
Scoring
Goethe: part of the written score.
Allowed aids
Not stated[3]
SchreibenWriting · 2 parts (Goethe and telc)
Goethe 20 min
Format
Goethe: 20 min. telc: inside the 45-min Lesen/Schreiben block.
Questions / tasks
2 parts (Goethe and telc)
Task types
Goethe: fill in 5 missing details on a form; write a short message of about 30 words covering 3 points.
Scoring
Goethe: part of the written score.
Allowed aids
Not stated[3]
SprechenSpeaking · 3 parts
About 15 min
Format
Group exam: Goethe max. 4 candidates; telc usually 4. No preparation time.
Questions / tasks
3 parts
Task types
Goethe: introduce yourself (spell, give a number); ask and answer questions; make requests and react.
Scoring
Goethe: 25 of 100 points.
Allowed aids
—[4]

Scoring, results and retakes

1

Goethe: 60 of 100

Written 75 points + oral 25 points. You pass with at least 60 points (60%) if you took all parts.[5]

2

Grades

100–90 sehr gut, 89–80 gut, 79–70 befriedigend, 69–60 ausreichend, below 60 nicht bestanden (failed).[5]

3

Goethe: retake the whole exam

Start Deutsch 1 can only be repeated as a whole.[4]

4

telc: no partial exam

telc Start Deutsch 1 is paper-based and cannot be taken as a partial exam.[7]

5

Certificates do not expire (telc)

telc certificates have no validity period; the institution that asks for it decides if it accepts it.[8]

What is really tested

Derived from the official task descriptions and level descriptions — not from leaked questions.

Hören: short everyday audio

  • 15 items: conversations, announcements, phone messages.
  • Some texts play twice, the announcements only once (Goethe).
  • CEFR A1: understand familiar words and very basic phrases about yourself, your family and surroundings when people speak slowly and clearly.
  • Numbers, times, days and prices come up often in such texts.
Source [3]

Lesen: notes, ads and signs

  • 15 items in 3 parts, 25 min (Goethe).
  • True/false and matching: find one piece of information quickly.
  • Texts are short: notes, small ads, signs and notices.
Source [3]

Schreiben: form and short message

  • Fill in 5 missing personal details on a form.
  • Write about 30 words that cover all 3 given points.
  • CEFR A1: write a short, simple postcard and fill in forms with personal details.
Source [3]

Sprechen: in a small group

  • Introduce yourself, spell a word and give a number.
  • Ask and answer simple questions on everyday topics.
  • Make a request and react to one.
  • Up to 4 candidates, no preparation time, about 15 minutes.
Source [3]

Rules you need to know

Routes & levels1
A1 before the spouse visa

Since 2007-08-28 joining spouses must generally prove basic German before the visa. "Simple German" means CEFR level A1.[9]

Registration2
Goethe: book at a Goethe-Institut or partner

In Germany you can take Goethe exams at the Goethe-Institut locations (e.g. Berlin, Bonn, Bremen, Dresden, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Freiburg, Göttingen, Hamburg, Heidelberg, Mannheim, München, Schwäbisch Hall). Abroad: the local Goethe-Institut.[11]

telc: register at a telc exam centre

You register with a telc exam centre. Each centre sets its own prices, conditions and dates.[8]

Costs & payment1
Fees

Goethe-Institut in Germany (2026): €155; Goethe course participants (course in the 6 months before) 20% off = €124. Other centres and countries set their own prices.[6]

Exemptions2
Exceptions

No A1 before entry for spouses of skilled workers and highly qualified people, or of holders of an EU long-term residence permit from another EU state. The full list of exceptions is in the Residence Act.[10]

Clearly above A1

Example embassy Bangkok: if it is clear at your visa appointment that your German is well above A1, no certificate is needed.[2]

On the exam day

  1. 1
    Written part without break (Goethe)

    Hören about 20, Lesen 25 and Schreiben 20 minutes: 65 minutes in one block.[4]

  2. 2
    Speaking with no preparation

    The oral exam takes 15 minutes in a group of up to 4 and starts without preparation time.[4]

  3. 3
    telc: photo ID

    Show a valid official photo ID before you enter the exam room.[8]

  4. 4
    telc: no dictionary, no phone

    Dictionaries, textbooks, own notes, mobile phones, smartwatches and devices with internet are not allowed. Pencils, erasers and a clear bottle without label are allowed.[8]

Recent and planned changes

  1. In forceGoethe exam rules updated

    The current Goethe Durchführungsbestimmungen (exam rules) for A1 are dated 1 September 2025.[4]

Frequently asked questions

What are the parts of Start Deutsch 1 (Goethe / telc)?

Hören (About 20 min (both)) · Lesen (Goethe 25 min) · Schreiben (Goethe 20 min) · Sprechen (About 15 min).

What is the pass mark for Start Deutsch 1 (Goethe / telc)?

≥ 60 of 100 points, all parts taken source

How much does Start Deutsch 1 (Goethe / telc) cost?

Goethe-Institut in Germany 2026: €155; course participants 20% off (€124). telc and centres abroad set their own prices. source

How do you register for Start Deutsch 1 (Goethe / telc)?

No national exam dates: each Goethe-Institut or telc exam centre sets its own dates and registration deadlines. Book directly with the centre. source

How long do you have to wait for Start Deutsch 1 (Goethe / telc)?

No waiting time is published; it depends on the centre. Book early — popular dates can fill up. source

When do you get the result of Start Deutsch 1 (Goethe / telc)?

Result times are not published centrally; ask your exam centre. source

What happens if you fail Start Deutsch 1 (Goethe / telc)?

Goethe: only the whole exam can be repeated. telc: no partial exam at A1. Pay the full fee again. source

Where can you take Start Deutsch 1 (Goethe / telc)?

Goethe-Institut locations in Germany; telc exams are held at telc exam centres (e.g. adult education centres and language schools). Abroad: the local Goethe-Institut or telc partner. Berlin, Bonn, Bremen, Dresden, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Freiburg, Göttingen, Hamburg, Heidelberg, Mannheim, München, Schwäbisch Hall. source

Official sources

Checked on 2026-09-29. Rules change — the official page always wins.

  1. [1]
  2. [2]
    Was sind einfache Deutschkenntnisse Deutsche Botschaft Bangkok
  3. [3]
  4. [4]
  5. [5]
  6. [6]
    Prüfungspreise 2026 Goethe-Institut Deutschland
  7. [7]
  8. [8]
  9. [9]
  10. [10]
    Nachzug zu Drittstaatsangehörigen BAMF · page date 2024-03-01
  11. [11]
    Prüfungen (Übersicht, Standorte) Goethe-Institut Deutschland
  12. [12]
    CEFR self-assessment grid (EN) European Union (Europass)

Prepare with this in mind

Exam tips from EUpassway · editorial, not official rules

1Check which provider your embassy lists

Look at the German embassy page for your country before you book, then choose Goethe or telc near you.

2Practise the group speaking format

Practise with others: say your name, spell it, give your phone number, ask a question from a word card, make a request.

3Cover all 3 points in the message

About 30 words is enough. Write one short sentence for each point, plus a greeting and a closing.

4Use the free model test

Goethe and telc both publish a free model test with audio. Do one under exam timing (65 min written).

Practise in exam formatMock sets and official sample examsOpen Exam training videosPlaylists for this levelOpen Exam vocabularyWord lists with audioOpen Official documentsSample exams, rules, word listsOpen

Practise each part — sample questions with answers

Key facts in one pageStart Deutsch 1 Lesen (Reading)Start Deutsch 1 Hören (Listening)Start Deutsch 1 Schreiben (Writing)Start Deutsch 1 Sprechen (Speaking)Start Deutsch 1German word listsQuestions and answers

Compiled with AI assistance from official pages (BAMF, g.a.s.t., Goethe-Institut, telc and other official sources) · not yet reviewed by a teacher · the official page always wins