AFTER THE COURSE
ÖSD A1 Modelltest (Grundstufe Deutsch 1): the 100-point grid & 3 practice papers
ÖSD A1 Modelltest decoded: 75 written + 25 oral points, subtest floors, the Notizblatt listening, banded form — plus 3 full ÖSD A1 practice papers.
VON GERMANIUM
Editorial desk — calibrated against the official ÖSD Zertifikat A1 Modellsatzbroschüre (ISBN 978-3-903164-67-3) and Probebewertung
ÖSD Zertifikat A1 (Grundstufe Deutsch 1 / ZA1) is the Austrian state-recognized A1 diploma accepted across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland for spousal family reunification (Ehegattennachzug) and Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) applications. Candidates who prepare using standard Goethe Start Deutsch 1 materials walk into a trap: while the CEFR level is identical, the ÖSD A1 paper uses completely different task mechanics and a 50% two-module scoring grid rather than Goethe's 60% single-block rule. Benchmark yourself against the real Austrian format right now on our free timed ÖSD A1 Paper 1.
The 100-Point Grid: Two Independent Modules (75 Written + 25 Oral)
Unlike Goethe A1—where failing the overall 60% threshold forces you to resit all four skills—ÖSD Zertifikat A1 splits the examination into a Written Module (75 points, ~55 minutes without a break) and an Oral Module (25 points, ~10 minutes plus 10 minutes preparation). You can sit and retake each module independently, and each carries its own certificate.
| Subtest (Module) | Time | Official Modellsatz Tasks | Max Points | Mandatory Floor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lesen (Written) | 25 min | A1: 5 situations → 6 ads (number match) · A2: 3 ads × 2 Ja/Nein items · A3: 5 texts → 6 pictures | 30 | Min. 6 of 30 |
| Hören (Written) | ~10 min | A1: 5 texts → 6 pictures (1×) · A2: Notizblatt 5 lines (2×) · A3: 5 mini-interviews matrix (1×) | 30 | Min. 6 of 30 |
| Schreiben (Written) | 20 min | A1: 10-item form (banded 5→0 pts) · A2: reply e-mail (~30 words) covering 3 Leitfragen | 15 (5 + 10) | Min. 4 of 10 on A2 |
| Written Total | ~55 min | Administered continuously (Lesen + Hören + Schreiben) | 75 | 38 of 75 (+ all 3 floors) |
| Sprechen (Oral) | ~10 min (+10 min prep) | A1: pick 4 of 6 self-intro cards · A2: describe 1 of 3 photos · A3: role-play from the same photo | 25 | 12 of 25 |
Three Signature Tasks Unique to ÖSD A1
- 01Number-Matching Lesen with a Decoy (20 of 30 Points): Two of the three Reading tasks (Aufgabe 1 and Aufgabe 3) are matching matrices, not a/b/c multiple choice. You match 5 situations to 6 numbered ads (and 5 sign texts to 6 numbered pictures), leaving 1 decoy unused. Decoys are engineered to share a topic noun with the prompt while failing on opening hours (am Sonntag vs Mo–Fr) or location.
- 02Hören Aufgabe 2 — Das Notizblatt (10 Points): The signature ÖSD listening task. You hear one voicemail or announcement twice and write down five pieces of information on a notepad (Was / Wann / Uhrzeit / Wo / Telefonnummer). The two 2-point lines—a spelled-out street name and a phone number—are graded all-or-nothing: a single wrong digit zeroes that line.
- 03Schreiben Aufgabe 1 — The 10-Item Banded Form (5 Points): You complete 10 form rows (fill-in gaps plus Kreuz checkbox choices) from a short narrative scenario. Grading is banded (`10 correct = 5 pts`, `9–8 = 4`, `7–6 = 3`, `5–4 = 2`, `3–2 = 1`). Spelling slips are forgiven if meaning is unambiguous, but swapping Vorname and Nachname or miscounting Nächte vs Tage drops your band. See our dedicated ÖSD A1 Sprechen & Schreiben guide for full templates.
Pluricentric German: Austrian, Swiss & German Settings
Because ÖSD is an Austrian diploma, the official Modellsatzbroschüre deliberately mixes settings across Vienna, Graz, Basel, and Munich: expect Swiss Franc (CHF) prices, Austrian mobile prefixes (`0664`, `0676`), and standard regional nouns (Kassa, Velo, Jänner). Our full ÖSD A1 mock exam kit (3 papers + 5 cheat sheets) replicates this exact pluricentric distribution and grades your paper against the official bands and subtest floors.
What is the passing score for ÖSD A1?
You need 38 out of 75 points in the Written Module (while meeting the minimum floors of 6/30 in Lesen, 6/30 in Hören, and 4/10 on the Schreiben email) and 12 out of 25 points in the Oral Module. Because the two modules are independent, passing one secures that module's certificate even if you have to retake the other.
Is ÖSD A1 accepted for the German spouse visa in Turkey and worldwide?
Yes. Worldwide, German missions accept ALTE-accredited A1 certificates including Goethe and ÖSD. In Türkiye specifically (per tuerkei.diplo.de), Goethe-Institut (Start Deutsch 1) and ÖSD (Grundstufe Deutsch 1) are the ONLY two A1 providers recognized by the German visa sections when the certificate is earned locally (telc A1 is not accepted there).
Do you get preparation time before the ÖSD A1 speaking exam?
Yes — unlike Goethe A1, ÖSD gives you 10 minutes of supervised preparation time before the oral exam begins. You receive a stamped notepad (Notizblatt) to jot down keywords for your self-introduction, photo description, and role-play, and you take those notes into the exam room with you.