Free German A1 exam practice is straightforward to find — but not all of it is useful. The most important thing is practising in the actual TELC A1 format, not just at A1 language level. These are different things.
This guide covers how to structure your practice, what to focus on, and how to judge readiness before paying for a sitting.
The TELC A1 Sections and What They Require
| Section | Time | Content |
|---|---|---|
| Lesen | 30 min | Short texts: notices, messages, signs, simple schedules |
| Schreiben | 30 min | Short form: a brief note, a card, a simple message |
| Hören | 20 min | Short dialogues, announcements, phone messages |
| Sprechen | ~10 min | Conducted with an examiner: introduction, simple questions |
The written sections (Lesen, Schreiben, Hören) are completed together and can be practised independently. The Sprechen section requires a live examiner and is not something you can fully replicate in a free mock.
What A1 German Actually Is
A1 is the entry level of the Common European Framework. At A1, you are expected to:
- Understand simple, slowly spoken German in everyday contexts
- Read short, simple texts about familiar topics
- Write very short, simple messages when prompted
- Introduce yourself and respond to simple direct questions in conversation
You do not need complex grammar. Present tense (haben, sein, regular verbs), basic question words, numbers, and common vocabulary for everyday topics (family, address, work, time) cover most of the exam content.
If you know these things and can use them under mild time pressure, A1 is within reach.
A Practical Practice Sequence
Step 1: Learn the question formats
Before doing timed practice, look at one set of A1 sample questions and read through how each format works. Understanding what a task is asking you to do is different from knowing the German to answer it. Do not skip this.
Step 2: Section-by-section untimed practice
Go through one full set of A1 reading questions without a timer. Check your answers. Understand why you got any wrong — was it a German vocabulary gap, or did you misread the question type?
Do the same for listening and writing.
Step 3: Timed practice
Repeat the practice with a timer. Set 30 minutes for Lesen and Schreiben, 20 minutes for Hören.
Most candidates find the first timed session difficult — not because of language level, but because time pressure changes how the brain works. This feeling goes away with repetition.
Step 4: Full mock exam
Once you can complete each section within the time limit, take a full mock exam in sequence. This trains the mental stamina required to move from section to section without a significant break.
What to Focus On in Schreiben
The A1 Schreiben section asks you to produce a very short piece of writing — typically 20–40 words. The task specifies exactly what information to include.
The marking does not reward perfect German. It rewards:
- Including the required information
- Writing something understandable
- Appropriate length
If you write grammatically perfect German but leave out one required piece of information, you lose marks. If you write imperfect but understandable German that covers everything, you pass.
Practise by reading the task prompt carefully, listing the required points, and checking each one off before you finish.
How to Know You Are Ready
Take a full timed mock exam and score it against the answer key. If you are consistently above 60% across all sections, you are likely ready. If one section is below 50%, spend another week on that section and test again.
Do not book the official sitting until you have passed at least one timed mock exam with a score above the threshold. Exam sittings cost money — knowing you are ready before you book is how you avoid paying twice.