German A1

The first CEFR level. At A1 you can introduce yourself, ask and answer simple questions about where you live and what you own, and handle very basic exchanges — provided the other person speaks slowly and helps you.

What the exam asks

Hören — short announcements, simple conversations, phone messages.
Lesen — notices, small advertisements, short emails.
Schreiben — filling in a form and writing a short message.
Sprechen — introducing yourself, asking a question, making a simple request.

Everything is slow, short and concrete. There is no argument, no abstraction and no extended text at this level.

Who needs it

Spouse and family reunion visas commonly require A1.
Some universities ask for A1 from students on English-taught courses, for daily life rather than for study.
It is the usual first milestone for anyone starting German from nothing.

A1 is not enough for part-time work in Germany, where B1 is the practical threshold. Plan for that if a job is part of your budget.

A1 — FAQs

2 questions

Is A1 enough to study in Germany?

Not for a German-taught course. It is sometimes asked for alongside an English-taught one.

How long does A1 take?

Commonly a few months of consistent study from nothing.

More levels (a1–c2) question types

A2 Elementary — routine exchanges B1 Independent — the practical threshold B2 Upper intermediate — some courses accept it C1 Advanced — the usual university requirement C2 Mastery — rarely required

Sources

Written from the test board's own published material and checked on 1 October 2026.

goethe.de/en/spr/kup/prf.html