Goethe-Zertifikat Sprechen: Scoring and Criteria

Sprechen is rated by two examiners against fixed criteria with fixed point steps. This page lists the criteria and maximum points for every Teil at every level, the rules that turn a task to zero, and how the module result decides pass or fail.

How Sprechen Is Scored

Two raters assess each performance independently on fixed criteria and the mean is taken, rounded. Each criterion has fixed point steps and no values in between.

LevelRaw pointsConverted
A115 raw points (3 + 6 + 6)raw × 1.66 = max. 25 of the 100 total
A225 points (4 + 8 + 8 + 5 pronunciation)max. 25 of the 100 total
B1100 points (28 + 40 + 16 + 16 pronunciation)max. 100
B2100 points (44 + 40 + 16 pronunciation)max. 100
C1100 points (52 + 32 + 16 pronunciation)max. 100
C240 points × 2.5 = 100max. 100

At A1 each item is scored full points (task fully achieved and understandable), half points (partly achieved) or 0 (not achieved or not understandable). From A2 pronunciation is rated separately.

From A2 upwards, if task fulfilment is rated E (0 points), the whole Teil scores 0.

Criteria and Points by Level

Goethe-Zertifikat A1: Start Deutsch 1

PartCriteria and point stepsMax.
Teil 1Introduction / spelling / number: 1 point each3
Teil 2Per topic: question 2 points + answer 1 point6
Teil 3Per round: request 2 points + reaction 1 point6

Goethe-Zertifikat A2

PartCriteria and point stepsMax.
Teil 1Aufgabenerfüllung 2 + Sprache 24
Teil 2Aufgabenerfüllung 4 + Sprache 48
Teil 3Aufgabenerfüllung 4 + Sprache 48
Whole testAussprache (pronunciation) 5 / 3.5 / 2 / 0.5 / 05

Goethe-Zertifikat B1

PartCriteria and point stepsMax.
Teil 1Erfüllung 8, Interaktion 4, Wortschatz 8, Strukturen 828
Teil 2Erfüllung 12 (all five slides covered = A), Kohärenz 4, Wortschatz 12, Strukturen 1240
Teil 3Erfüllung16
Teile 1–3Aussprache16

Goethe-Zertifikat B2

PartCriteria and point stepsMax.
Teil 1Erfüllung 8, Kohärenz (and fluency) 8, Wortschatz 8, Strukturen 8, questions and answers 1244
Teil 2Erfüllung 10, Interaktion 10, Wortschatz 10, Strukturen 1040
Teile 1 + 2Aussprache16

Goethe-Zertifikat C1

PartCriteria and point stepsMax.
Teil 1Erfüllung 10, Kohärenz 10, Wortschatz 10, Strukturen 10, questions and answers 1252
Teil 2Erfüllung 8, Interaktion 4, Wortschatz 10, Strukturen 1032
Teile 1 + 2Aussprache16

Goethe-Zertifikat C2: Großes Deutsches Sprachdiplom

PartCriteria and point stepsMax.
Teil 1Erfüllung, Kohärenz, Wortschatz, Strukturen, Aussprache und Intonation: each 4 / 3 / 2 / 1 / 020
Teil 2The same five criteria20
Total40 points × 2.5100

Pass Marks and the Modular System

LevelModularTo passRetaking
A1No60 of 100 points overall, and every part must be taken. Below 35 of the 75 written points a pass is no longer possible.Not modular: the exam can only be repeated as a whole.
A2No60 of 100 points overall, and at least 45 of the 75 written points and at least 15 of the 25 Sprechen points.Not modular. Repeating only the written or only the oral part is possible in exceptional cases.
B1Yes60 of 100 points in each module.Modular: each of the four modules can be taken and retaken on its own.
B2Yes60 of 100 points in each module.Modular: each of the four modules can be taken and retaken on its own.
C1Yes60 of 100 points in each module.Modular: each of the four modules can be taken and retaken on its own.
C2Yes60 of 100 points in each module.Modular: each of the four modules can be taken and retaken on its own.

At B1, B2, C1 and C2 each module is scored out of 100 and passed with 60, and each module can be taken and retaken on its own. At A1 and A2 the four parts add up to one score out of 100.

Grades

PointsGrade (German)Meaning
90-100sehr gutvery good
80-89gutgood
70-79befriedigendsatisfactory
60-69ausreichendsufficient
0-59nicht bestandennot passed

The same grade bands are used at every level, for each module from B1 upwards and for the total at A1 and A2.

Practice and Next Steps

Compare your own work with the model answers on the Sprechen samples page. The tasks are described on the Sprechen description page. In the Goethe practice section your answers are scored on these criteria by AI trained by our experts; full timed exams are in the Goethe mock tests.

Kirill O'Nayd, German exams expert

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.

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