Goethe A1 Speaking Exam: All Three Parts with Useful Phrases
What happens in the 15-minute A1 speaking group exam, what the examiner says, and how to answer simply and naturally.
The A1 speaking test is a guided group conversation. The examiner introduces each task and gives short prompts. You do not need long speeches. You need clear, understandable everyday German and an appropriate reaction to another person.
Part 1: Introduce yourself
- Give your name, age, country, place of residence, languages, job or studies and a hobby.
- Spell a requested word, often your surname, street or town.
- Say a number clearly, for example a telephone number or postcode.
Part 2: Ask for and give information
You receive a topic and a word card. Make one question for another candidate, then answer a question yourself. Useful patterns are: “Wie viel kostet ...?”, “Wann ...?”, “Wo ist ...?” and “Haben Sie ...?” A short complete answer is better than one isolated word.
Part 3: Make a request and react
A picture card gives you a situation. Ask politely for an object or action, then react to another candidate's request. Practise “Bitte geben Sie mir ...”, “Kann ich bitte ...?” and natural replies such as “Ja, natürlich”, “Gern” or “Tut mir leid, das geht nicht.”
The most common mistake
Many candidates memorise an introduction but do not train interaction. Spend equal time asking questions, listening to a partner and responding immediately. Speaking is assessed as communication, not as a recited text.