Short answers to the questions candidates ask most about the Hören module, checked against the official Goethe-Institut model papers and exam regulations.
About 20 minutes at A1, about 30 at A2, about 40 at B1, B2 and C1, and about 35 at C2. These times include the pauses and the repeated recordings.
It depends on the Teil. A1: Teil 1 and 3 twice, Teil 2 once. A2: Teil 1 and 4 twice, Teil 2 and 3 once. B1: Teil 1 and 4 twice, Teil 2 and 3 once. B2: Teil 2 and 4 twice, Teil 1 and 3 once. C1: Teil 2 and 4 twice, Teil 1 once, Teil 3 in four sections heard once each. C2: Teil 3 twice, Teil 1 and 2 once.
Yes. At A1 and A2 you read the questions before each text. From B1 there is a fixed reading time before most Teile: 60 seconds at B1 Teile 2 to 4; 90, 60 and 90 seconds at B2 Teile 2 to 4; 60, 60, 30 (per section) and 90 seconds at C1.
A1: 15 items in 3 Teile. A2: 20 items in 4 Teile. B1, B2 and C1: 30 items in 4 Teile. C2: 30 items in 3 Teile.
From B1 to C2 you need 60 of 100 points in the module; at B1, B2 and C1 that is 18 of 30 items correct. At A1 and A2 Hören counts towards the exam total (25 of 100 points), which is passed with 60.
On paper, yes: about 3 minutes at A1, 5 minutes after listening at B1 and B2, and 3 minutes at C2. In the digital exam you answer directly on screen.
From A1 to C1 each correct answer is one point before conversion. At C2 Teil 1 items are worth 2 points, Teil 2 items 4 points and Teil 3 items 5 points, so Teil 3 alone is 50 of the 100 points.
From B1 upwards, yes: B1, B2, C1 and C2 are modular. Each of the four modules is scored out of 100, passed with 60, and can be taken and retaken on its own. A1 is not modular and can only be repeated as a whole; at A2 repeating only the written or only the oral part is possible in exceptional cases.
Every Teil is described on the Hören description page, sample tasks with answers are on the Hören samples page, and the criteria and conversion are on the Hören scoring page.
Practise every Teil under exam timing in the Goethe practice section or take 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.