The four modules at a glance
The Goethe-Zertifikat B1 tests four skills in four separate modules: reading (Lesen), listening (Hören), writing (Schreiben) and speaking (Sprechen). Each module has its own parts, its own time limit and its own score out of 100. The table below shows the official structure that applies since 1 September 2025.
| Module | Parts | Time | Task types | Scoring |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LesenReading | 5 | 65 min | Richtig/Falsch · Mehrfachauswahl · Zuordnung · Ja/Nein · Mehrfachauswahl | 30 items, converted to 0–100 with the official table |
| HörenListening | 4 | ~40 min | Richtig/Falsch + Mehrfachauswahl · Mehrfachauswahl · Richtig/Falsch · Zuordnung | 30 items, converted to 0–100 with the official table |
| SchreibenWriting | 3 | 60 min | E-Mail (informell) · Meinung (Forum) · E-Mail (formell) | Two examiners rate four criteria; averaged to 0–100 |
| SprechenSpeaking | 3 | ~15 min | Gemeinsam etwas planen · Ein Thema präsentieren · Über ein Thema sprechen | Two examiners rate your performance; averaged to 0–100 |
How scoring works
Each module is scored out of 100 and passed at 60. In Lesen and Hören you answer 30 questions; the official table converts correct answers to points, so 18 correct = 60. Schreiben and Sprechen are rated by two examiners on fixed criteria, and their two results are averaged.
| Correct | Points |
|---|---|
| 30 / 30 | 100 |
| 29 / 30 | 97 |
| 28 / 30 | 93 |
| 27 / 30 | 90 |
| 26 / 30 | 87 |
| 25 / 30 | 83 |
| 24 / 30 | 80 |
| 23 / 30 | 77 |
| 22 / 30 | 73 |
| 21 / 30 | 70 |
| 20 / 30 | 67 |
| Correct | Points |
|---|---|
| 19 / 30 | 63 |
| 18 / 30 | 60 |
| 17 / 30 | 57 |
| 16 / 30 | 53 |
| 15 / 30 | 50 |
| 14 / 30 | 47 |
| 13 / 30 | 43 |
| 12 / 30 | 40 |
| 11 / 30 | 37 |
| 10 / 30 | 33 |
| 9 / 30 | 30 |
| Correct | Points |
|---|---|
| 8 / 30 | 27 |
| 7 / 30 | 23 |
| 6 / 30 | 20 |
| 5 / 30 | 17 |
| 4 / 30 | 13 |
| 3 / 30 | 10 |
| 2 / 30 | 7 |
| 1 / 30 | 3 |
| 0 / 30 | 0 |
Every module result also gets a grade (Prädikat), printed on the back of the certificate:
| Points | Prädikat | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 90–100 | sehr gut | very good |
| 80–89 | gut | good |
| 70–79 | befriedigend | satisfactory |
| 60–69 | ausreichend | sufficient (pass) |
| 0–59 | nicht bestanden | not passed |
Want to check a practice result? Try the score calculator.
Lesen: 5 parts, 65 minutes
Lesen has five parts and 30 questions in 65 minutes. You read a blog post or email, two press articles, short adverts, reader comments and a set of rules. Each part has its own task type, from Richtig/Falsch to matching. You may start with any part, so plan your time per part.
| Teil | Task | What you do | Items | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Richtig/Falsch | A blog post or personal email: are 6 statements true or false? | 6 | 10 min |
| 2 | Mehrfachauswahl | Two press articles: 6 multiple-choice questions (a, b, c). | 6 | 20 min |
| 3 | Zuordnung | Match 7 people to 10 short adverts; some adverts are not needed. | 7 | 10 min |
| 4 | Ja/Nein | Seven reader comments: is each person for or against the topic? | 7 | 15 min |
| 5 | Mehrfachauswahl | Rules or instructions, e.g. house rules: 4 multiple-choice questions. | 4 | 10 min |
More detail, tactics and a sample item: the Lesen guide.
Hören: 4 parts, about 40 minutes
Hören has four parts and 30 questions in about 40 minutes. Teil 1 and Teil 4 are played twice, Teil 2 and Teil 3 only once, so read the statements before each recording starts. You hear announcements, a talk or tour, an everyday conversation and a radio discussion.
| Teil | Task | What you do | Items | Played |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Richtig/Falsch + Mehrfachauswahl | Five short announcements or messages, two questions each. | 10 | 2× |
| 2 | Mehrfachauswahl | A talk or guided tour: 5 multiple-choice questions. | 5 | 1× |
| 3 | Richtig/Falsch | An everyday conversation: 7 true/false statements. | 7 | 1× |
| 4 | Zuordnung | A radio discussion: who says what? 8 statements. | 8 | 2× |
More detail and tactics: the Hören guide.
Schreiben: 3 tasks, 60 minutes
Schreiben has three tasks in 60 minutes: an informal email of about 80 words, an opinion of about 80 words and a short formal message of about 40 words. Examiners mark each task on four criteria: Erfüllung (task fulfilment), Kohärenz (coherence), Wortschatz (vocabulary) and Strukturen (structures).
| Teil | Task | What you do | Time | Words | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | E-Mail (informell) | A personal email to a friend that covers three points. | 20 min | ~80 | 40 |
| 2 | Meinung (Forum) | Your opinion on a topic, for example in an online guestbook. | 25 min | ~80 | 40 |
| 3 | E-Mail (formell) | A short polite message, e.g. to apologise or ask for something. | 15 min | ~40 | 20 |
Structures, phrases and common mistakes: the Schreiben guide.
Sprechen: 3 parts, about 15 minutes
Sprechen is usually taken in pairs and lasts about 15 minutes (about 10 minutes if you take it alone). Before it you get 15 minutes to prepare, and you may use the short notes you make. You plan something together, present a topic and react to your partner's presentation.
| Teil | Task | What you do | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gemeinsam etwas planen | Plan something together with your partner, using four guiding points. | ~3 min |
| 2 | Ein Thema präsentieren | Present a topic using five given slides. | ~4 min |
| 3 | Über ein Thema sprechen | React to your partner's presentation: give feedback and ask a question. | ~2 min |
How each part works and useful phrases: the Sprechen guide.
Taking modules separately and retakes
The Goethe B1 is modular. You can take the four modules together or on their own, and you can retake a module as often as your exam centre has places. That means you only repeat the modules you did not pass. Some centres have rules about combining module certificates, so ask yours.
What the exam costs
There is no single world-wide price: each Goethe-Institut or licensed exam centre sets its own fees, and many charge less for a single module than for the whole exam. The example below is from the Goethe-Institut's own price list for Germany.
| Exam centre | Full exam | Per module | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goethe-Institut in Germany | €259 | €104 | 2026-10-20 |
Fees are set by each exam centre and change over time. Check the current price with your local Goethe-Institut or licensed exam centre.
Does the certificate expire?
No. Goethe-Institut certificates have no expiry date. Some employers, universities and authorities still ask for a certificate that is no older than a certain number of years, so check what the institution you apply to requires before you book.
Paper or digital exam?
Many centres also offer the Goethe-Zertifikat B1 as a digital exam, taken on a computer at the exam centre. The modules, the task types, the timing and the scoring are the same as in the paper exam, so you prepare for both in exactly the same way.
Goethe B1 or telc B1?
telc Deutsch B1 is a different exam from a different provider, with its own format and scoring. Both certify level B1, but they are not interchangeable in every situation. goetheb1.com prepares you only for the Goethe-Zertifikat B1, so check which certificate your employer or authority accepts.