Why you need it
Required for the German spouse/partner (family reunification) visa. You must pass A1 before applying for your visa in Australia.
Where to sit it
Goethe-Institut Sydney (York St) and Melbourne (George St Fitzroy). Book at least 6–8 weeks in advance — sessions fill fast.
Cost & format
~AUD $260–290
Listening (20 min), Reading (25 min), Writing (20 min), Speaking (15 min). Total: ~80 min.
Exam tips for A1
- Learn numbers, days, months and basic greetings cold
- Practice "Mein Name ist…" and "Ich komme aus Australien" — guaranteed to appear
- The speaking test is done in pairs — be supportive, not competitive
- Goethe-Institut runs free trial sessions — book one before your exam
Key vocabulary — A1
Hallo / Guten Tag
Hello / Good day
Ich heiße…
My name is…
Wie alt bist du?
How old are you?
Wo wohnst du?
Where do you live?
Ich komme aus Australien
I come from Australia
Wie viel kostet das?
How much does that cost?
Entschuldigung
Excuse me / Sorry
Links / rechts
Left / right
der Bahnhof
train station
die Arbeit
work / job
Sample practice questions — A1
Listening
You hear: "Der Zug fährt um halb drei." When does the train leave?
A) 2:00pm B) 2:30pm C) 3:00pm
Show answer & tip
B — "halb drei" means half past two.
Reading
Which sign means "No entry"?
A) Eingang B) Ausgang C) Kein Eingang
Show answer & tip
C — "Kein Eingang" means no entry.
Writing
Write 3 sentences about yourself: name, age, where you live.
Ich heiße [Name]. Ich bin [X] Jahre alt. Ich wohne in Sydney.
Show answer & tip
Any correct sentences score full marks — grammar perfection not required at A1.
Why you need it
Useful for visa extensions, some job applications, and university language requirements. Shows solid conversational German.
Where to sit it
Goethe-Institut Sydney and Melbourne. Online exam option also available.
Cost & format
~AUD $310–340
Listening (30 min), Reading (30 min), Writing (30 min), Speaking (15 min). Total: ~105 min.
Exam tips for A2
- Focus on past tense (Perfekt) — it appears constantly
- Learn common prepositions: auf, in, an, bei, mit, von, zu
- Practice short email writing — "Liebe/r X, …" format
- Time yourself on reading sections — pacing matters
Key vocabulary — A2
Das Wetter
The weather
Es regnet / Es ist sonnig
It's raining / sunny
Ich habe … gekauft
I bought …
Können Sie mir helfen?
Can you help me?
die Wohnung
apartment
der Supermarkt
supermarket
früher / später
earlier / later
Ich würde gerne…
I would like to…
Wie lange dauert das?
How long does that take?
Bitte wiederholen Sie
Please repeat that
Sample practice questions — A2
Listening
A woman describes her daily routine. What time does she start work?
A) 7:30am B) 8:00am C) 9:00am
Show answer & tip
Listen for "Ich fange um … Uhr an" — the key phrase for starting work.
Reading
Read the apartment listing. How many rooms does it have?
A) 2 B) 3 C) 4
Show answer & tip
Look for "Zimmer" — not "Räume" which includes bathroom/kitchen.
Writing
Write a short message cancelling a doctor's appointment.
Mention: your name, appointment date/time, reason, request to reschedule.
Show answer & tip
Use "Leider kann ich nicht kommen, weil…" to introduce your reason.
Why you need it
Required for German citizenship (Einbürgerung). Also needed for many skilled worker visas and university language requirements. Demonstrates independent language use.
Where to sit it
Goethe-Institut Sydney and Melbourne. Online proctored exam also available.
Cost & format
~AUD $360–400
Listening (40 min), Reading (65 min), Writing (60 min), Speaking (15 min). Total: ~3 hrs.
Exam tips for B1
- Practice connecting ideas with: "weil", "obwohl", "damit", "trotzdem"
- Learn opinion phrases: "Ich bin der Meinung, dass…", "Meiner Ansicht nach…"
- The writing section expects 80–100 words — plan before you write
- Speaking is about fluency, not perfection — keep talking even if you make errors
- Study with a language partner or book lessons on Italki 3 months out
Key vocabulary — B1
die Meinung
opinion
obwohl
although
außerdem
furthermore
Ich stimme zu / nicht zu
I agree / disagree
die Umwelt
the environment
die Gesellschaft
society
beruflich
professionally
Vor- und Nachteile
pros and cons
Ich schlage vor…
I suggest…
Meiner Ansicht nach…
In my view…
Sample practice questions — B1
Reading
A text discusses remote work trends. Which statement best reflects the author's position?
A) Remote work reduces productivity B) Flexibility benefits employees C) Employers prefer office work
Show answer & tip
Read for the author's conclusion sentence, usually in the final paragraph.
Writing
Write a formal letter (80–100 words) responding to a job advertisement.
Structure: Greeting → interest → relevant experience → closing
Show answer & tip
Use "Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren" for unknown recipient, never "Hallo".
Speaking
Discuss: Should public transport be free? Present your view and respond to your partner.
Use: "Einerseits… andererseits…" (on one hand… on the other…)
Show answer & tip
Even if you disagree with your own argument, demonstrate the language — that's what's marked.
Why you need it
Required for most German university programs taught in German, and many professional roles. Demonstrates upper-intermediate fluency.
Where to sit it
Goethe-Institut Sydney and Melbourne. Online option available.
Cost & format
~AUD $420–460
Listening (65 min), Reading (80 min), Writing (75 min), Speaking (15 min). Total: ~4 hrs.
Exam tips for B2
- Read German news (Tagesschau, Spiegel) daily for 3 months before the exam
- Master Konjunktiv II for hypotheticals: "Ich würde…", "Es wäre besser…"
- Writing must be structured as an essay with intro, arguments, conclusion
- Grammar marks drop heavily for article gender errors at B2 — drill "der die das"
- Consider a proper course: Lingoda or Goethe-Institut intensive programs
Key vocabulary — B2
die Argumentation
line of argument
folglich / daher
consequently / therefore
im Gegensatz zu…
in contrast to…
Angesichts der Tatsache, dass…
Given the fact that…
die Herausforderung
the challenge
nachhaltig
sustainable
die Digitalisierung
digitalisation
Vor dem Hintergrund…
Against the backdrop of…
Es lässt sich festhalten…
It can be established that…
zunehmend
increasingly
Sample practice questions — B2
Reading
A complex article on housing policy. What does the author identify as the root cause of high rents?
Skim for the thesis sentence, then look for causal language: "weil", "aufgrund", "da"
Show answer & tip
B2 texts are designed to be dense — spend 60% of reading time on comprehension questions.
Writing
Write an argumentative essay (150–200 words): "Should Germany introduce a universal basic income?"
Structure: Intro (define the issue) → For arguments → Against arguments → Your conclusion
Show answer & tip
Both sides must be represented — a one-sided essay loses marks regardless of quality.
Speaking
Analyse the graph showing German renewable energy growth 2010–2025. What trend do you identify?
Describe: direction, magnitude, any notable changes, and possible causes
Show answer & tip
Phrase starter: "Der Graph zeigt deutlich, dass… was darauf hindeutet, dass…"