Goethe B1 Hören: Format, All 4 Teile, and How to Practise
Hören is the module where many B1 candidates lose points they could have kept — not because their German is weak, but because parts of the audio are played only once and there is no time to recover a missed answer. Knowing exactly what each of the four Teile contains, how often you will hear it, and where the traps are turns listening from a gamble into a system.
Updated 2026-05-24
Module overview
| Teil | What you hear | Items | Listens | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teil 1 — Kurztexte | Five short everyday clips (messages, announcements) | 10 | 2× | ~10 min |
| Teil 2 — Monolog | One longer monologue (talk, guided tour) | 5 (multiple choice) | 1× | ~10 min |
| Teil 3 — Gespräch | An informal conversation between two people | 7 (Richtig/Falsch) | 1× | ~10 min |
| Teil 4 — Diskussion | A discussion or interview with several speakers | 8 (Wer sagt was?) | 2× | ~10 min |
Teil 1 — Kurztexte (short texts)
You hear five short, independent clips — voicemails, public announcements, radio snippets. Each clip carries two questions: one Richtig/Falsch statement and one multiple-choice question with three options. Each clip is played twice.
- ›Read both questions for a clip before it starts — you only have seconds.
- ›The Richtig/Falsch statement usually paraphrases the audio; listen for meaning, not matching words.
- ›Use the second listen to confirm, not to start from scratch.
Teil 2 — Monolog (single listen)
One longer monologue — a presentation, a guided tour, a set of instructions — with five multiple-choice questions (a/b/c). Critically, you hear it only once.
- ›Read all five questions during the pause before the audio. They follow the order of the recording.
- ›Mark your best guess immediately and move on — freezing on one item costs you the next.
- ›Distractor options usually mention something that is said but does not answer the question.
Teil 3 — Gespräch (single listen)
An informal conversation between two people — friends or colleagues — with seven Richtig/Falsch statements. Like Teil 2, it is played only once.
- ›The seven statements follow the order of the conversation — track your position as you listen.
- ›Watch for speakers changing their mind; the answer reflects their final position.
- ›A statement is "Falsch" if any part of it is wrong, even when most of it is correct.
Teil 4 — Diskussion (Wer sagt was?)
A more formal discussion — a radio debate or interview — with several speakers. Eight questions ask who expresses which opinion ("Wer sagt was?"). You hear it twice.
- ›Note each speaker's core position on the first listen; assign the questions on the second.
- ›Opinions are paraphrased, not quoted — match ideas, not exact words.
- ›Use the two listens deliberately: first for the big picture, second to confirm assignments.
Beating the single-listen parts
Teil 2 and Teil 3 decide most Hören scores. Candidates who train only with replayable audio are unprepared for the one-pass pressure.
- ›Practise with single-listen exercises so answering in real time becomes a habit.
- ›Always pre-read the questions in the pause — it tells you what to listen for.
- ›Never leave a blank: an educated guess on a binary or three-option question has good odds.
- ›If you miss one, let it go instantly — chasing it costs you the next two.
Practice plan
- ›Weeks 1–2: One Teil per day. Learn the format and question types cold.
- ›Week 3: Drill Teil 2 and Teil 3 specifically under single-listen conditions.
- ›Week 4: Full 40-minute Hören sections, timed, with only the allowed listens.
- ›Throughout: After each exercise, re-listen with the transcript to see what you missed and why.
Frequently asked questions
How many times do you hear each audio in Goethe B1 Hören?
Teil 1 and Teil 4 are played twice; Teil 2 (Monolog) and Teil 3 (Gespräch) are played only once. Training under single-listen conditions for Teil 2 and Teil 3 is the most important preparation step.
How long is the Goethe B1 Hören exam and how many questions are there?
The Hören module lasts about 40 minutes and has 30 items across four Teile: 10 in Teil 1, 5 in Teil 2, 7 in Teil 3, and 8 in Teil 4.
What score do you need to pass Goethe B1 Hören?
Each Goethe-Zertifikat B1 module is scored out of 100 points, and you need at least 60 points (60%) to pass. Modules are certified independently, so you can pass Hören separately from the other three.
What is the hardest part of Goethe B1 Hören?
Most candidates find Teil 2 and Teil 3 hardest because they are played only once, leaving no chance to recover a missed answer. Pre-reading the questions and practising one-pass listening are the keys.
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Goethe B1 Hören