Goethe B1 Exam Format: What to Expect on Test Day

Knowing the Goethe B1 format in advance removes most exam-day surprises. The exam has four modules with fixed task types and timings, and at B1 the question formats barely change from one sitting to the next. This walkthrough covers exactly what each module contains and what the test day itself looks like.

Updated 2026-05-24

The four modules

Module	Parts	Items	Time
Lesen	5 Teile	~30	65 min
Hören	4 Teile	30	40 min
Schreiben	3 Aufgaben	3 texts	60 min
Sprechen	3 Teile (paired)	3 tasks	~15 min

The three written modules total about 165 minutes. Sprechen is held separately as a paired oral exam, often on the same day or a nearby date.

Lesen — 5 Teile, 65 minutes

›Teil 1: a correspondence text with 6 Richtig/Falsch items.
›Teil 2: two press articles, each with 3 multiple-choice questions (6 total).
›Teil 3: match 7 situations to short notices (with a no-match option).
›Teil 4: an opinion/forum text with 7 Ja/Nein items.
›Teil 5: a set of rules (Hausordnung) with 4 multiple-choice questions.

Hören — 4 Teile, 40 minutes

›Teil 1: five short clips, 10 items, played twice.
›Teil 2: one monologue, 5 multiple-choice items, played once.
›Teil 3: a conversation, 7 Richtig/Falsch items, played once.
›Teil 4: a discussion, 8 "who says what" items, played twice.

Teil 2 and Teil 3 are played only once — the defining challenge of the listening module. Train one-pass listening before test day.

Schreiben — 3 Aufgaben, 60 minutes

›Aufgabe 1: an email reply (~80 words, recommended 20 minutes).
›Aufgabe 2: a forum post / opinion text (~80 words, recommended 25 minutes).
›Aufgabe 3: a short guided message (~40 words, recommended 15 minutes).

You may do the three tasks in any order. Address every content point and stay near the target word count — going far over wastes time without earning points.

Sprechen — 3 Teile, ~15 minutes (paired)

›Teil 1: plan a shared activity with your partner (Gemeinsam planen).
›Teil 2: give a short individual presentation (Präsentation).
›Teil 3: discuss the presentations and answer follow-up questions (Diskussion).

You take the speaking exam with another candidate and receive preparation time beforehand.

What test day looks like

›Bring valid photo ID — you will not be admitted without it.
›The written modules run in sequence with short breaks between them; arrive early.
›The speaking exam is scheduled separately and is held in pairs.
›Goethe is rolling out a digital B1 format — check with your exam centre whether yours is delivered on a computer or on paper, so you can practise in the right mode.

Frequently asked questions

What is the format of the Goethe B1 exam?

Four modules: Lesen (reading, 5 Teile, 65 min), Hören (listening, 4 Teile, 40 min), Schreiben (writing, 3 Aufgaben, 60 min), and Sprechen (speaking, 3 paired Teile, ~15 min).

How long is the whole Goethe B1 exam?

The three written modules total about 165 minutes, plus a separate paired speaking exam of around 15 minutes.

Is the Goethe B1 exam on a computer or on paper?

Goethe is rolling out a digital B1 format, but delivery still varies by centre. Check whether your exam is digital or paper and practise in that mode so the interface is familiar.

Can you choose the order of the writing tasks?

Yes. Within the 60-minute Schreiben module you can complete the three Aufgaben in any order — many candidates start with the short Aufgabe 3 to bank quick points.

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Goethe B1 Exam Format

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