Goethe-Zertifikat B1
The Goethe-Zertifikat B1 is one of the most widely recognised German exams at B1 level. It is required for visas, professional recognition and citizenship.
It has four modules, and you can retake individual modules — the most important practical difference from the DTZ.
Practise now instead of just reading
Write a real exam task and see instantly how an examiner would grade it, explained in your language. Your first grading is free.
The four modules
Each module is marked out of 100 points. You need 60 points, or 60 percent, to pass a module.
| Module | Parts | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Lesen | 5 | 65 min |
| Hören | 4 | 40 min |
| Schreiben | 3 | 60 min |
| Sprechen | 3 | ~15 min |
How writing is graded
Each task is graded on four criteria: task fulfilment, coherence, vocabulary and structures. Two examiners grade independently and the result is the average.
Important: if your text is under half the required length, misses the topic, or uses the wrong register throughout, task fulfilment is scored zero — and with it the whole task, however good your German is.
Part 1 is a personal email (about 80 words, three content points), Part 2 an opinion post (about 80 words), Part 3 a short formal message (about 40 words).
How speaking works
You get 15 minutes of preparation. The exam itself takes about 15 minutes in pairs.
Part 1: plan something together. Part 2: a presentation in five steps. Part 3: give feedback and answer a question.
Part 2 is the part you can practise alone — and working through the five steps cleanly protects most of your marks.
Common questions
- How many points do I need to pass?
- At least 60 out of 100 in each module.
- Can I retake just one module?
- Yes. Modules can be retaken individually without repeating the whole exam.
- How long is the certificate valid?
- Indefinitely. Some authorities still ask for proof no older than one or two years.