Lesen is the reading module of the Goethe-Zertifikat. It grows from three short Teile in 25 minutes at A1 to four long texts in 80 minutes at C2, but the logic stays the same: every item is a closed question (true/false, multiple choice or matching) worth a fixed number of points, and the Teile start with an example item 0 that is not scored.
| Level | Time | Teile | Items / tasks | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | 25 min | 3 | 15 | 15 raw points (1 per item) |
| A2 | 30 min | 4 | 20 | 20 raw points (1 per item) |
| B1 | 65 min | 5 | 30 | 30 raw points (1 per item) |
| B2 | 65 min | 5 | 30 | 30 raw points (1 per item) |
| C1 | 65 min | 4 | 30 | 30 raw points (1 per item) |
| C2 | 80 min | 4 | 30 | 100 points (40 + 18 + 18 + 24) |
From B1 upwards Lesen is its own module, scored out of 100 and passed with 60. At A1 and A2 it is one part of a single exam and worth 25 of the 100 total points.
Time
25 min
Teile
3
Items / tasks
15
Points
15 raw points (1 per item)
| Teil | Task | Items | What you do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teil 1 | Kurznotizen Short notes and e-mails Sample task | 5 | Two short texts (a note or e-mail: an invitation, a message) and five Richtig/Falsch statements. |
| Teil 2 | Kleinanzeigen / Internetseiten Small ads and websites Sample task | 5 | A situation (“Sie möchten …”) and two short ads or website snippets a/b: where do you find the information? |
| Teil 3 | Hinweisschilder und Aushänge Signs and notices Sample task | 5 | A place (“Am Bahnhof”, “An der Post”) and a sign or notice there, with one Richtig/Falsch statement each. |
At this level only the module time is set; you divide it between the Teile yourself.
Time
30 min
Teile
4
Items / tasks
20
Points
20 raw points (1 per item)
| Teil | Task | Items | What you do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teil 1 | Informationen und Argumentationen in Medientexten verstehen A newspaper article or interview Sample task | 5 | A newspaper article or interview with five multiple-choice questions a/b/c. |
| Teil 2 | Informationstafeln, Veranstaltungsprogramme verstehen Information boards and programmes Sample task | 5 | For example a department-store directory: five situations (“In welchen Stock gehen Sie?”), each with options a/b/c. |
| Teil 3 | Korrespondenz verstehen A personal e-mail Sample task | 5 | A personal e-mail with five multiple-choice questions a/b/c. |
| Teil 4 | Anzeigen verstehen Match ads to people Sample task | 5 | Six people or situations (one is the example) and six ads a–f. For one situation there is no matching ad (mark X). The example ad cannot be used again. |
About 3 minutes of the time are for transferring answers.
At this level only the module time is set; you divide it between the Teile yourself.
Time
65 min
Teile
5
Items / tasks
30
Points
30 raw points (1 per item)
| Teil | Task | Items | What you do | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teil 1 | Korrespondenz lesen A blog post or e-mail Sample task | 6 | A blog post or e-mail with six Richtig/Falsch statements. | 10 min |
| Teil 2 | Information und Argumentation verstehen Two press texts Sample task | 6 | Two press texts with three multiple-choice questions a/b/c each. | 20 min |
| Teil 3 | Zur Orientierung lesen Match situations to ads Sample task | 7 | Seven situations and ten ads A–J. Each ad is used once; for one situation there is no ad (answer 0). | 10 min |
| Teil 4 | Information und Argumentation Opinions in a forum Sample task | 7 | Comments by seven people on one question. For each: is the person in favour (Ja) or not (Nein)? | 15 min |
| Teil 5 | Schriftliche Anweisung verstehen Rules and instructions Sample task | 4 | A rules text (for example a gym’s house rules) with four multiple-choice questions a/b/c. | 10 min |
Time
65 min
Teile
5
Items / tasks
30
Points
30 raw points (1 per item)
| Teil | Task | Items | What you do | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teil 1 | Einstellungen und Haltungen verstehen Attitudes in a forum Sample task | 9 | Forum texts by four people a–d; nine statements: which person does each apply to? A person can be chosen more than once. | 18 min |
| Teil 2 | Informationen verstehen Gapped magazine article Sample task | 6 | A magazine article with six gaps and eight sentences a–h (plus the example sentence). Two sentences do not fit. | 12 min |
| Teil 3 | Informationen verstehen Newspaper article Sample task | 6 | A newspaper article with six multiple-choice questions a/b/c. | 12 min |
| Teil 4 | Standpunkte verstehen Match opinions to statements Sample task | 6 | Eight opinion statements a–h (a is the example) and six claims to match. One statement does not fit. | 12 min |
| Teil 5 | Regeln und Instruktionen verstehen Headings for regulations Sample task | 3 | A set of regulations (for example study regulations) with three paragraphs and a table of contents a–h. Four headings are not needed. | 6 min |
The times per Teil are suggested working times; you manage the 65 minutes yourself.
Time
65 min
Teile
4
Items / tasks
30
Points
30 raw points (1 per item)
| Teil | Task | Items | What you do | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teil 1 | Text mit Wörtern rekonstruieren Gap text: choose the word Sample task | 8 | A popular-science article with eight gaps; for each gap, four options a/b/c/d (single words and connectors). | 10 min |
| Teil 2 | Informationsdichter Artikel Dense magazine article Sample task | 7 | A magazine or internet article with a lot of information, with seven multiple-choice questions a/b/c. | 20 min |
| Teil 3 | Kommentar mit Satzlücken Commentary with sentence gaps Sample task | 8 | A commentary from a popular-science magazine with eight sentence gaps and ten sentences a–j to insert. Two sentences do not fit. | 20 min |
| Teil 4 | Fachbeiträge Expert contributions: who says that? Sample task | 7 | Contributions by three experts a–c; seven statements: who says it? Two statements match nobody (answer 0). | 15 min |
Time
80 min
Teile
4
Items / tasks
30
Points
100 points (40 + 18 + 18 + 24)
| Teil | Task | Items | What you do | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teil 1 | Kommentar Commentary Sample task | 10 | A commentary with ten multiple-choice questions a/b/c/d. 4 points each. | 25 min |
| Teil 2 | Artikel Article in six sections | 6 | An article in six sections and nine statements (one is the example); match statements to sections. Two statements do not fit. 3 points each. | 20 min |
| Teil 3 | Bericht Report with missing paragraphs | 6 | A report with paragraphs removed; insert them into six gaps. One paragraph does not fit; one is the example. 3 points each. | 25 min |
| Teil 4 | Stellenanzeigen Four job ads | 8 | Four job ads a–d to skim; eight statements: which ad? Ads can be chosen more than once. 3 points each. | 10 min |
Sample tasks with answers or model answers are on the Goethe Lesen samples page. How points are counted and converted is on the Goethe Lesen scoring page, and common questions are answered in the Lesen FAQ. The whole exam is summarised on the Goethe-Zertifikat format page.
For timed practice of every Teil with instant scoring and feedback from AI trained by our experts, use the Goethe practice section or sit a full Goethe mock test.
Written by Kirill O'Nayd
Language test expert and educator at TestSucceed. He works through the official Goethe-Institut model papers for every level from A1 to C2, part by part, and explains how each module awards its points. See all TestSucceed preparation materials.