As an exam provider with many years of experience, the Goethe-Institut attaches great importance to fulfilling all professional demands placed on exams for foreign languages. In order to sustain this commitment to quality, numerous quality standards are adhered to in the development, organization and administration of our exams.
We verify the quality of our exams at regular intervals using the audit procedure of the Association of Language Testers in Europe (ALTE). Goethe-Institut exams carry the ALTE Q -Mark as official proof of this. This quality seal confirms that our tests are valid, reliable, objective, fair and practicable.
Further information about our quality management can be found on this page.
The Goethe-Zertifikate B1, B2, C1 and C2 are modular exams. In a modular exam, the four skills of reading, listening, writing and speaking can be taken and certified in combination or as individual modules.
The modular principle corresponds to the reality of many learners. Due to the diverse requirements and needs in everyday and professional life, learners’ language skills are often at different stages of development in the individual skills.
The modular approach makes it possible to select modules according to need, take them at different times, and repeat them if necessary.
Yes, digital German exams take place in selected exam centres on Goethe-Institut laptops with a German keyboard. Candidates complete the reading, writing and listening (with headphones) modules on the laptop. The speaking module takes place on site with experienced examiners from the Goethe-Institut, similar to the paper-based exam.
Online German exams are currently only offered at selected pilot institutes. An online German exam can be taken from any location (e.g. at home) on your own desktop computer or laptop if the technical and spatial requirements are met. Exam candidates are monitored by an online exam proctor throughout the entire exam.
Please contact your local Goethe-Institut to find out whether digital and/or online German exams are offered in your country.
Yes, there is practice material in the form of sample papers and practice exercises for every Goethe-Institut exam. For the exams at levels A1 to B1, lists of the relevant vocabulary are also available.
The practice material, videos of the oral exam, the word lists, and interactive, accessible online practice material can be found unter exam preparation.
Yes, the Goethe-Institut offers exams for candidates with special needs. Our exam centres endeavour to accommodate candidates with special needs as far as possible. The nature and degree of specific needs must be stated when registering for the exam and supported by a medical certificate (or similar). The exam centre is obliged to maintain confidentiality.
Supplement to the Terms and Conditions for Exam Administration: Exam Participants with Special Needs (PDF, 228 KB)
Information for Exam Participants with Special Needs (PDF, 57 KB)
Accessible and certified exam training with interactive evaluation (display of correct and incorrect answers) is available for each exam level. You can find the exam training material at exam preparation.
For further information, please contact your local exam centre directly.
The Goethe-Zertifikat C2: Großes Deutsches Sprachdiplom is recognized by all universities in Germany as proof of language proficiency for study or research programs. The Goethe-Zertifikat C2 is also accepted for university admission in Austria and Switzerland.
Many universities also accept the Goethe-Zertifikat C1 or the Goethe-Zertifikat B2 as proof of language proficiency. You can find an overview of the respective language requirements of the universities (without guarantee) in this list.
Universities that would like to be included on this list can contact pruefungen@goethe.de.
You can check the authenticity of Goethe certificates (A1-C2) quickly and easily via our verification page:
www.goethe.de/verify
You can check the authenticity of digital certificates for our professional oriented exams, Goethe-Test PRO and Goethe-Test PRO Pflege, here:
www.goethe.de/gtp/verify
Please follow the instructions and notes on the respective pages. If in doubt, you can send a scan to pruefungen@goethe.de for authentication.
Please note that only enquiries received from official bodies will be answered by the Goethe-Institut.
