Goethe-Institut
Goethe-Zertifikat A2
International recognition; four modules, each scored out of 100.
CEFR A2 · Elementary
German A2 exam preparation
A2 is where German starts to feel usable. You can talk about the past, explain what you need at the doctor’s or the town hall, and understand the gist of announcements. It is also the level where the exam starts to test speed: more text, more listening, and a writing task with several points to cover. PassDeutsch prepares you with full A2 model tests for Goethe and telc, marked the way an examiner would.
Vocabularyaround 1,300 words
Guided learningroughly 200–250 hours of guided learning in total
What A2 means in practice
The CEFR describes each level by what you can do with the language, not by how much grammar you have covered. At A2 you can:
- Understand sentences and frequently used expressions about family, shopping, work and local geography.
- Communicate in simple, routine tasks requiring a direct exchange of information.
- Describe your background, immediate surroundings and everyday needs in simple terms.
- Write short notes and messages, and a simple personal letter - for example thanking someone or cancelling an appointment.
- Talk about the past with the Perfekt and describe plans for the future.
The grammar A2 tests
Exam grammar is not all of German grammar. This is the syllabus worth your study time at this level:
- Perfekt with haben and sein, plus the Präteritum of sein, haben and modal verbs
- Dative case: indirect objects, dative verbs and dative prepositions
- Two-way prepositions (Wechselpräpositionen) with movement and position
- Subordinate clauses with weil, dass, wenn - and the verb at the end
- Comparative and superlative adjectives
- Reflexive verbs and separable verbs in everyday contexts
Your options
Which A2 exam can you take?
All of these certify the same CEFR level. Take the one the office, school or employer asking for it accepts.
telc
telc Deutsch A2
Common at the end of an A2 course in Germany; includes a Sprachbausteine section.
BAMF
DTZ (A2 result)
The DTZ certifies A2 or B1 - an A2 result documents this level.
What a A2 certificate is used for
- Progress proof during an integration course
- Some visa and residence categories that ask for A2
- Entry to B1 courses and vocational preparation
- Employers who need documented basic communication
Study plan
A realistic route to A2
Assumes about an hour a day plus one full model test a week. Adjust the weeks, keep the order.
- 1
Weeks 1–2
Close the A1 gaps
A2 exams still test A1 grammar. Run through articles, cases and present tense fast, and take one A1 model test to confirm nothing is shaky before you build on it.
- 2
Weeks 3–5
Past tense and subordinate clauses
Perfekt every day, in speech as well as writing. Add weil, dass and wenn - examiners notice sentence variety, and these three connectors alone lift a written answer a whole band.
- 3
Weeks 6–7
Themed vocabulary
Health, housing, work, travel, shopping. Learn words in the collocations the exam uses: einen Termin vereinbaren, eine Wohnung mieten, sich krankmelden.
- 4
Weeks 8–10
Timed model tests
A full test each week under exam conditions, plus a writing task every other day. Review the AI feedback for repeated mistakes rather than one-off slips.
In the app
How PassDeutsch prepares you for A2
- A2 model tests for Goethe, telc and the A2 band of the DTZ
- The A2 vocabulary list with spaced repetition and games
- Grammar lessons for Perfekt, cases, prepositions and subordinate clauses
- AI marking for the A2 writing task, point by point
- AI speaking practice for everyday exchanges and the paired planning task
- Analytics comparing your four skills so you can see the weak one early
FAQ
German A2 questions
How many words do I need for German A2?
The A2 word lists come to roughly 1,300 words, including the A1 vocabulary. In practice, knowing the A2 list well and being able to use it in the Perfekt is worth more than a larger passive vocabulary.
What is the difference between A2 and B1?
A2 is about routine situations with predictable language; B1 is about coping with the unexpected - giving opinions, explaining problems, following longer arguments. In exam terms, B1 adds longer texts, a proper opinion-based writing task, and a speaking test where you have to react rather than recite.
Can I skip A2 and go straight to B1?
You can sit any exam without holding the one below it. Whether it is wise depends on your Perfekt, your cases and your listening speed. Take a B1 model test first: if you are scoring well under 50%, A2 is the more useful certificate right now.
How long does it take to get from A1 to A2?
Course providers typically plan another 100 to 150 hours on top of A1, so around 8 to 12 weeks of daily study. Regular timed practice shortens it, because most lost points at A2 come from pacing, not from unknown words.
Keep reading
PassDeutsch is an independent study tool. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the Goethe-Institut, telc gGmbH, the Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge (BAMF), or any official examination body. Goethe-Zertifikat, telc Deutsch and DTZ are trademarks of their respective owners. Exam formats and requirements can change - always confirm the current specification with your test centre before booking.
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