Goethe-Zertifikat B1 exam
The Goethe-Zertifikat B1 is a modular German exam at level B1 with four modules: reading, listening, writing and speaking. You pass each module with 60 of 100 points.
Practise for the Goethe-Zertifikat B1
The exam at a glance
- Reading5 parts, 30 questions, 65 minutes
- Listening4 parts, 30 questions, about 40 minutes
- Writing3 texts in 60 minutes
- Speaking3 parts, about 15 minutes in pairs, after 15 minutes of preparation
- Pass mark60 points in each module
- Fee in Germany€259 for all four modules, €104 for one module
The parts in brief
| Part | What you do | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Reading 1 | A blog post or personal text: statements true or false | 6 |
| Reading 2 | Two press texts, three answers per question | 6 |
| Reading 3 | Match situations to adverts; one situation has none | 7 |
| Reading 4 | Short opinions: is the person for or against? | 7 |
| Reading 5 | Rules or instructions, three answers per question | 4 |
| Listening 1 | Short messages and announcements, heard twice: true/false and three answers | 10 |
| Listening 2 | A talk, heard once, three answers each | 5 |
| Listening 3 | A conversation, heard once: true or false | 7 |
| Listening 4 | A radio discussion, heard twice: who says what? | 8 |
| Writing 1 | An email to a friend on three points, about 80 words in 20 minutes | 1 text |
| Writing 2 | Your opinion in a discussion, about 80 words in 25 minutes | 1 text |
| Writing 3 | A short polite message, about 40 words in 15 minutes | 1 text |
| Speaking 1 to 3 | Plan something together, present a topic, give feedback and answer questions | 3 parts |
The written modules take about 165 minutes of exam time, with a break of at least 15 minutes between modules. Dictionaries and phones are not allowed.
Passing and grades
Each module gives up to 100 points; you pass it with 60. In reading and listening every correct answer counts: 18 of 30 correct answers give 60 points. The grade is given per module:
| Points | Grade |
|---|---|
| 90 or more | sehr gut (very good) |
| 80 or more | gut (good) |
| 70 or more | befriedigend (satisfactory) |
| 60 or more | ausreichend (pass) |
| below 60 | nicht bestanden (fail) |
Modules and certificates
You can take the modules alone or in any combination and repeat them as often as you like. Each passed module gets its own certificate. If you pass all four modules at one centre on one date, you can get one overall certificate instead.
Cost
At Goethe-Instituts in Germany the exam costs €259, or €104 for a single module. People who took a course there get 20% off. Other exam centres set their own prices.
Good to know
- Residence and citizenship: the Goethe-Institut states that the certificate is accepted as proof of German for the settlement permit and for naturalisation in Germany.
- Overall certificate later: on request, and where the centre offers it, your best results from within 12 months can go on one overall certificate. The centre may charge up to 25% of the exam fee for it.
- Versions: for adults (recommended from 16 years) and for young learners (recommended from 12 years).
- Speaking alone: an individual speaking exam is only possible in exceptional cases; it takes about 10 minutes.
- Digital: the exam is also offered on a laptop at the Goethe-Institut.
- Joint exam: the Goethe-Institut developed the exam together with ÖSD and the University of Fribourg (Switzerland).
Independent practice
Our exercises are our own, written from the public structure of the Goethe-Zertifikat B1; they are not official model tests, and we do not compute Goethe points. FreeExamPath is not affiliated with the Goethe-Institut.
Official information
Questions about the Goethe-Zertifikat B1
How long is the Goethe B1 exam?
Reading takes 65 minutes, listening about 40 and writing 60 minutes. The speaking exam takes about 15 minutes in pairs, after 15 minutes of preparation.
How many points do I need to pass?
60 of 100 points in each module. In reading and listening that means 18 correct answers out of 30.
How much does the Goethe-Zertifikat B1 cost?
At Goethe-Instituts in Germany €259 for all modules or €104 per module. Other centres set their own prices.
Are these official model tests?
No. They are FreeExamPath’s own exercises in the Goethe-Zertifikat B1 format. Free official practice tests with audio are available on the Goethe-Institut website.
Official sources (6)
- Deutschprüfungen A1–C2 — Goethe-Institut — goethe.de, checked 17 October 2026
- Prüfungstraining Goethe-Zertifikat B1 — Goethe-Institut — goethe.de, checked 17 October 2026
- Goethe-Zertifikat B1 — Durchführungsbestimmungen — Goethe-Institut — goethe.de, checked 17 October 2026
- Prüfungsordnung des Goethe-Instituts — Goethe-Institut — goethe.de, checked 17 October 2026
- Prüfungspreise an den Goethe-Instituten in Deutschland — Goethe-Institut — goethe.de, checked 18 October 2026
- Goethe-Zertifikat B1 — Modellsatz Erwachsene (PDF) — Goethe-Institut / ÖSD / Universität Freiburg — goethe.de, checked 19 October 2026