Fifteen minutes. Two candidates. One examiner watching you both plan a party you will never have.
The speaking module of the Goethe-Zertifikat A2 is the shortest part of the exam and the one that decides the most nerves. It is also the most predictable — which means these goethe-zertifikat a2 speaking tips are not theory. They are a script you can rehearse.
What you will get from this guide
- What each of the three speaking parts actually asks
- Sample answers in German, ready to adapt
- The scoring realities, and the phrases that rescue a stalled conversation
The Shape of the Exam
The Goethe-Zertifikat A2 has four modules: Lesen, Hören, Schreiben, Sprechen. Each is worth 25 points, 100 in total, and 60 passes. Sprechen is taken as a group — usually two candidates, occasionally three — with two examiners present.
Before Teil 2 you get a short preparation window with the task sheet. Use it to write keywords, not sentences. Reading full sentences aloud is the fastest way to sound like a robot.
Teil 1: Fragen zur Person
This is not an interview. It is a warm-up, and the examiners are checking one thing: can you answer a simple question with a complete, natural sentence?
The pattern is simple: answer, then add one detail. One clause of extra information per answer is worth more than a perfect accent.
Teil 2: Gemeinsam Etwas Planen
You and your partner get a task: organise a farewell party, plan a weekend trip, choose a gift. You must negotiate — suggest, agree, disagree politely, and settle.
Three things examiners look for here: that you speak to your partner (not to the examiner), that you react to what your partner actually said, and that something gets decided. A polite conversation with no decision loses points.
Rehearse the exam until it stops being scary.
The A2 oral rewards rehearsal, not talent. A personal AI voice tutor runs the negotiation task with you until suggesting, disagreeing and deciding come out automatically. Practise with your AI voice tutor →
Start the German course →Create a free accountTeil 3: Etwas Mitteilen
You draw a card with a situation — a message on an answering machine, a note, an announcement — and you must pass the information on to your partner, who reacts with a question.
This part tests information transfer, not opinion. Say the key facts clearly, in order, and let your partner interrupt. Interruption is the exam working correctly.
The Four Point-Losers
The filler phrases matter more than beginners believe: Also…, Moment bitte…, Das ist eine gute Frage… These are not wasted words. They are the sound of a person thinking in German.
How to Practise the Last Two Weeks
Record yourself once. It is unpleasant and it fixes your two loudest habits in one sitting.
Pass the module, not just the practice.
A2 speaking fails on hesitation, not vocabulary. A self-paced course gives you an AI voice tutor and exam-style tasks until the fifteen minutes feel routine. Start German practice →
Start the German course →Create a free accountFrequently Asked Questions
How long is the Goethe-Zertifikat A2 speaking exam? Around fifteen minutes in total, in a group of two candidates. Teil 1 is roughly three minutes, Teil 2 and Teil 3 about six minutes each.
Can I choose my speaking partner? Usually not — you are paired by the exam centre. If you register with a friend at the same centre, you can sometimes request to be paired, but the centre decides.
What score do I need in Sprechen alone? Each module is worth 25 points and is graded separately. You need a passing performance overall, and some centres let you retake a single failed module — check with your exam location.
Do I need perfect grammar to pass A2 speaking? No. A2 candidates are expected to make errors. What matters is being understandable, keeping the conversation moving, and completing the task with your partner.
References & Further Reading
- Goethe-Institut — Goethe-Zertifikat A2 exam format and modules: https://www.goethe.de/en/spr/kup/prf/prf/gzsd2.html
- Goethe-Institut — official A2 practice materials and sample papers: https://www.goethe.de/en/spr/kup/prf/prf/gzsd2/ueb.html
- Common European Framework of Reference for Languages — A2 spoken descriptors, Council of Europe: https://www.coe.int/en/web/common-european-framework-reference-languages
- Deutsche Welle Nicos Weg — free A2 listening and dialogue practice: https://learngerman.dw.com/en/overview
- LanguageSkills.net German exam preparation courses: https://languageskills.net/german