A working adult takes the Goethe A1 exam
I took the Goethe exam for the first time in March 2025, so I will write down the details (with plenty of self-reflection) and my impressions.
I personally found articles by people who had taken the exam in the past very helpful, so I hope this will be useful to someone else!
Brief learning history
Started from scratch as a hobby two years ago in April (I did take it as a second foreign language in college, but I have no memory of it).
Took the Dokken (German Language Test) Level 5 that winter.
Took the Dokken Level 4 the following summer.
Since then, I have been studying loosely with Duolingo.
Rough schedule on the day of the exam
When I arrived at the venue about 30 minutes before seating, about 10 people had already gathered.
The instructions were given in a flow of: German speaker speaks -> Japanese interpreter translates. You can already practice your listening here, haha.
They also explained how to fill out the answer sheet very kindly and carefully, which was helpful.
By the way, unlike a normal exam, we answered with a ballpoint pen!!!!!!!!!!!
Though I think they would lend you one if you forgot it, which would be the worst-case scenario.
Hören (Listening)
I didn't mind the volume at all and was able to listen comfortably.
However, I am really bad at listening.
I really wish they wouldn't play the announcement-style questions in Teil 2 only once.
But for the other Teil sections, there were parts I got used to by repeatedly working on past papers and mock exams, so I want to work hard on getting my ears accustomed for the next A2 exam.
Schreiben (Writing)
Since it is held at the same time as Lesen, I (1) lightly look through the writing task in Schreiben.
(2) Start answering the Lesen section with the intention of picking up sentences that could be used in the email.
I feel like this saved quite a bit of time.
On the day, I reflected that I should have set up more opportunities to have my writing corrected because my own sentences were so shallow!
Lesen (Reading)
I feel like you can manage if you memorize the words that appear often, so there is nothing special to mention.
Sprechen (Speaking)
This was the part I feared quite a bit.
The word cards were
Städte (Familie)
,
Sport (Freizeit), and the illustration cards were a letter and a key.
I mistook 'Städte' for a completely different word and gave a nonsensical answer, which greatly confused my partner, so the examiner had to follow up.
Also, for the letter, I wanted to say 'Brief' but ended up saying 'Beruf'...
The questions asked by my partner were:
Was machen Sie am Abend?
Wo gehen Sie mit deine Familie?
I think the illustrations were swimming and some kind of prohibition card. I forgot the sentences.
I thought it would be better to keep your mouth moving while using gestures even if you don't understand, because you get more nervous if you stay silent.
I happened to be in the same group as the person I took the exam with, and that person spoke very clearly and personally I think they were perfect, but other people including me were giving completely different answers, haha.
I think it's better to take it without being too tense about having to be perfect!
Also, there were some unbelievable incidents, such as a lack of supplies for the exam and the examiner clearly not being used to conducting interviews...
This was fine since it was an exam in my own country, but I thought I would be quite panicked if this happened in Germany or somewhere else. I hope the management improves...!
Thank you for reading this far! I managed to pass, so next I will aim for the Dokken Level 3 and A2 by the summer. I'll also work hard on conversation practice by increasing my tandem partners.