Question 1

How many points do I need to pass?

Accepted Answer

60 of 100 — in each module separately, with no compensation between modules. In Lesen and Hören that means 18 of 30 correct answers, and a wrong answer costs nothing. The grade (Prädikat) follows the points: sehr gut from 90, gut from 80, befriedigend from 70, ausreichend from 60.

Question 2

Can I take and resit single modules?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can take the four modules on their own or in any combination, and resit a module you did not pass as often as you like — the modules you passed stay passed. Your exam centre sets the dates, fees and conditions for single modules.

Question 3

How long do the Goethe-Zertifikat B1 and B2 take?

Accepted Answer

Lesen takes 65 minutes, Hören about 40 and Sprechen about 15 minutes in pairs, after 15 minutes’ preparation — in both exams. Schreiben takes 75 minutes at B2 and 60 at B1. If you take all four modules, Lesen, Hören and Schreiben usually run back to back with a break of at least 15 minutes between them; Sprechen follows on the same day or on a date of its own.

Question 4

Goethe or telc — what is the difference?

Accepted Answer

Both test German at B2, but they are built differently. The Goethe-Zertifikat B2 is four modules you pass and resit one at a time; telc Deutsch B2 adds a grammar and vocabulary section (Sprachbausteine) and scores one written and one oral part, each of which you must pass with at least 60%. This site prepares you for the Goethe-Zertifikat B2; preparation for telc Deutsch B2 is in the works.

Question 5

Can I take the exam on a computer?

Accepted Answer

Yes, if your exam centre offers the digital exam: many Goethe-Instituts run it on computers at the centre, with the same tasks, timing and criteria as on paper. Here you type your texts as in the digital exam — for the paper exam, practise by hand as well.

Question 6

How much does the exam itself cost?

Accepted Answer

In Germany, roughly €185–235 for all four modules and €80–100 for a single module, depending on the exam centre; other countries set their own fees. You pay the exam fee directly to the centre — none of our passes includes it.

Question 7

Is the Goethe-Zertifikat B1 / B2 recognised for a visa, work or study?

Accepted Answer

It is a widely used proof of B1 and B2 German — but whether it is enough in your case is decided by whoever asks for it. The authority, employer or university sets which certificates it accepts and how old they may be, so check with them before you register.

Question 8

Are these real exam tasks?

Accepted Answer

No. We write every exercise and every mock exam ourselves, to the published format of the Goethe-Zertifikat B1 / B2 — the same Teile, the same number of items, the same timing. The official Modellsatz is published by the Goethe-Institut itself; we are not affiliated with it or endorsed by it.

Question 9

How closely do the exercises match the exam?

Accepted Answer

They follow the published format Teil by Teil: the same task types, the same number of items, the same text types and time limits, and in Hören the same number of plays. For every item in Lesen and Hören we explain why the answer is right and why the closest wrong options do not fit.

Question 10

Is there a free German level test?

Accepted Answer

Yes: 31 minutes at most, no account, with items in the Lesen and Hören formats of the Goethe-Zertifikat B2. The result is an estimate (under B1, B1, B1+, B2 or B2+) with a breakdown by Teil and every answer explained.

Question 11

How often is a Hören recording played?

Accepted Answer

As in the exam, and the pattern depends on the exam: in Goethe B2, Teil 1 and Teil 3 play once and Teil 2 and Teil 4 twice; in Goethe B1, Teil 1 and Teil 4 play twice and Teil 2 and Teil 3 once. No pausing and no rewinding. The playback controls appear only after the last play in an exercise, and only in the review after a mock exam.

Question 12

Do I need a microphone for Sprechen?

Accepted Answer

No. You can answer out loud while the browser writes down your German, or type your answer instead — the exercise and the marking work the same either way.

Question 13

Does it work on a phone?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Exercises, Hören with its recordings, Sprechen by microphone or keyboard and whole mock exams all run in your phone’s browser, with nothing to install. Your account is the same everywhere, so you can practise on the bus and sit the mock at a desk.

Question 14

Is my progress saved?

Accepted Answer

Yes, once you are signed in: every attempt lands in your history with its points. You can see what you practised, how it was marked and which Teile still cost you points.

Question 15

Who marks my answers — a person or AI?

Accepted Answer

Lesen and Hören are marked by the answer key, with the reasoning behind every item; Schreiben and Sprechen are marked by AI — Felix, our AI examiner. He grades on the exam’s criteria from A to E and backs his marks with quotes from your own answer. His marking is a practice estimate, not an official result, and he does not mark Aussprache.

Question 16

How is Schreiben marked?

Accepted Answer

On the exam’s four criteria (Erfüllung, Kohärenz, Wortschatz and Strukturen), each graded from A to E. An E in Erfüllung scores the whole task 0, however good the German — and a text under half the required length gets that E. Felix, our AI examiner, marks your texts on these criteria and quotes your own words in every note; his marking is a practice estimate, not an official result.

Question 17

Is pronunciation (Aussprache) marked?

Accepted Answer

In the exam, yes: Aussprache is worth up to 16 of the 100 Sprechen points. Felix does not mark it, because a transcript cannot hear an accent; he marks the other 84 points and tells you how many Aussprache points you would still need for 60.

Question 18

How strict is Felix?

Accepted Answer

Strictly by the exam’s criteria: he praises only what earns it and says plainly when a text or an answer would not pass. His marking is a practice estimate, not an official result — your points in the exam come from the examiners at your centre.

Question 19

What language is the feedback in?

Accepted Answer

In the language you use the site in. Quotes from your text, corrections and better phrasings are always in German — the way you will need them in the exam.

Question 20

Can I try Felix before buying?

Accepted Answer

Yes — once in Schreiben and once in Sprechen, with a free account and a confirmed email. You get the real marking of a free exercise, blurred except for the colours on your own text and two criteria: in Schreiben Erfüllung and Kohärenz with the Inhaltspunkte check, in Sprechen Erfüllung and the task checklist.

Question 21

What is free?

Accepted Answer

Without an account or a card: the first two exercises in every Teil (in Schreiben, of each task type) and one Modellprüfung (a full mock exam) per module. A free account with a confirmed email also gets one preview of Felix’s marking in Schreiben and one in Sprechen.

Question 22

Does anything renew?

Accepted Answer

No. You pay once, VAT included; when the time is up, access simply ends and there is nothing to cancel. What the passes cost is on the pricing page.

Question 23

What is the difference between the passes?

Accepted Answer

The Last-Minute Pass opens every Lesen and Hören exercise for 5 days — no mock exams and no Felix. Exam Prep (3 months) and Complete Prep (6 months) open everything: every exercise and every mock exam in all four modules, plus Felix’s marking of Schreiben and Sprechen.

Question 24

How many Felix markings are included?

Accepted Answer

Exam Prep and Complete Prep include up to 20 markings in any 30 days and at most 6 within 24 hours. Each marking frees its slot again 30 days later; the Last-Minute Pass includes no Felix marking.

Question 25

Can I get a refund?

Accepted Answer

Where the 14-day right of withdrawal applies to your purchase, yes: you get a full refund — just write to us. The exact rules for digital content are on the refunds page; failing the exam is not a reason for a refund, because we sell preparation, not a result.

Questions about Goethe B1 / B2, answered

The exam itself

Practising here

Marking and Felix

Passes and paying

Try it yourself