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German A1, explained: what you must be able to do
What German A1 actually requires: the CEFR can-do list, the ~650-word vocabulary floor, the A1 grammar scope, and how the Goethe A1 exam tests each part.
VON GERMANIUM
Research Desk — reviewed against Goethe A1–A2 frameworks
DIE ROADMAP · 77 TAGE · A1 → A2
Start Day 001 — the requirements, met one day at a time
A1 is not 'survival German' as a mood — it is a published checklist. The CEFR defines it by can-do statements, and the Goethe A1 exam turns them into four concrete tests. If you can do these things, you are A1, whatever app badge says otherwise.
The can-do core
- Introduce yourself and others, ask and answer questions about address, origin, belongings, people you know.
- Handle transactional survival: shopping, food ordering, asking prices and directions, simple requests.
- Understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very simple sentences about concrete needs.
- Write short, simple messages — a postcard, a filled form, a two-line note about your day.
The grammar scope, precisely
- Present tense of regular, irregular and separable verbs; sein and haben cold.
- Nominative and accusative articles — the first case wall, and only this one at A1.
- Perfect tense (haben/sein + participle) for talking about yesterday — the A1 exam loves it.
- Basic prepositions of place and time (in, auf, von, bis, um…), modal verbs können/müssen/wollen, and word order: verb-second statements, verb-first questions.
Vocabulary floor: roughly 600–700 words (Goethe's A1 wordlist is the standard reference), with the definite articles learned as part of each noun. That wordlist is smaller than most learners fear — and the full A1 guide breaks it into the domains the exam actually draws from.
How the Goethe A1 exam measures it
| Part | Skill | Length | The actual task |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hören | Listening | ~20 min | Short announcements and dialogues; answer multiple choice |
| Lesen | Reading | ~25 min | Short notes, ads, emails; match and answer |
| Schreiben | Writing | ~20 min | Fill a form + write a short message (~30 words) |
| Sprechen | Speaking | ~15 min | Introduce yourself; ask and answer on a topic; make and respond to requests |
Interactive Self-Diagnostic: A1 Readiness Checklist
- [ ] Self-Introduction Fluency: Can you state your name, age, country of origin, profession, and spoken languages aloud without hesitating on verb endings (ich heiße, ich komme aus)?
- [ ] Basic Transaction Resilience: Can you order a meal, ask for the bill ('Die Rechnung, bitte'), and inquire about public transit departures in simple present tense?
- [ ] Accusative Masculine Shift: Do you consistently apply einen/den to direct masculine objects (e.g. 'Ich habe einen Hund') while leaving neuter and feminine unchanged?
- [ ] Form Filling Competence: Can you fill in an official registration form (Name, Vorname, Geburtsdatum, Wohnort, Staatsangehörigkeit) without confusion?
Is A1 German enough to live in Germany?
Enough to survive transactions, not enough to build a life — A1 covers forms, shops, and introductions, but offices, doctors and bureaucracy run faster than A1 ears. Most residence routes that require a certificate ask for A1 as the entry rung (family-reunion visas, for example), with A2 or B1 as the real functional targets.
How long from zero to A1?
About 150–200 guided hours — roughly 12–15 weeks at an hour a day, or one focused course season. Structured paths compress the calendar, not the hours: the free 77-day plan reaches the A1 gate at day 038 precisely because nothing is re-learned.
What vocabulary do I need for German A1?
Roughly 600–700 words, per the Goethe A1 wordlist — fewer than most learners fear. The domains: introductions and family, numbers and time, food and shopping, directions and transport, work and hobbies, and the question words. The non-negotiable is the form: every noun must be learned with its article (das Frühstück, not Frühstück), because gender is half the word and re-learning articles later costs double.
What is the passing score for the Goethe A1 Start Deutsch 1 exam?
You need 60 out of 100 total points (60%) across the four combined sections (Hören, Lesen, Schreiben, Sprechen, weighted at 25 points each). There is no individual subtest minimum score, meaning strong reading or writing performance can balance a weaker speaking score.
Can I use English during the Goethe A1 speaking exam?
No. Speaking English during the exam triggers immediate point deductions for interaction and vocabulary. If you do not understand an examiner or partner, use German clarification phrases like 'Wie bitte?' or 'Können Sie das bitte wiederholen?'