This body, being public, aims to spread the German language and culture, in addition to establishing foreign relations of the German nation with each country where it has been established or where it has associates. Its headquarters and those of the latter around the world have the ability to take the German exam to certify each level, as well as the power to issue the specific German qualification for each case.
However, although the test is intended for adults, age is not exclusive, so we can even present it as minors, but the parts that compose it will not be modified nor will arguments around this characteristic (age) be accepted for challenging the rating received.
- Read . News, commentaries, texts from specialized books and various reports should be read. From their reading, a series of tests will be carried out, among which we must demonstrate the ability to make use of these texts to create longer speeches, for example, by quoting them. It lasts 70 minutes.
- Write . Content of various kinds is presented in the form of graphics, and the aim is that we create a well-crafted text where a topic is broadly addressed. This will be suggested by the aforementioned visual resources. The module lasts approximately 80 minutes.
- Listen . In this case, we must pay attention to daily dialogues, telephone conversations, interviews or radio reports. During listening, notes should be taken and later used in association with the statements heard. The duration of this module is 40 minutes.
- Talk . This module is divided into two parts. In the first, we must express ourselves orally. In this short speech we will have to give our opinion about a short text. In the second part, we must dialogue with an interlocutor. The purpose of this talk is to reach an agreement to make a joint decision or to agree on a solution to a problem. The duration of the module is short, only between 10 and 15 minutes.
Due to the fact that the exam carries out a comprehensive evaluation of the command of German, in some institutions, having the C1 certification exempts you from taking other exams such as tests for foreigners who are going to enter a career in German technical schools and universities. In addition, this certificate is recognized by multiple companies worldwide, as a solid proof of the command of the German language.
It is important to prepare for the exam in advance. Since the test lasts for a long time, it is convenient to eat properly and hydrate enough to not feel anxious about hunger or thirst, but it is not about wasting time in continuous trips to the bathroom. Likewise, it is highly recommended to adhere to at least a margin of 800 to 1000 study sessions of 45 minutes to 1 hour each.
Another convenient tool is to make use of the face-to-face conversation groups that exist in different schools, at the Goethe Institute facilities or independently. It will also help us a lot to enter Internet sites where the use of this language predominates in a spontaneous and varied way (chat rooms, forums, websites specialized in a subject) and, above all, to read literature in German.
In addition to all of the above, the Goethe Institute makes various study materials available to us on its website. Among other resources, we can find online preparation sets or exam templates to download, as well as audios and videos for the modules that assess listening and speaking, are in formats to be played online and to download.
Obtaining the C1 German certificate with the Goethe-Zertifikat C1 test is easier than we think if we are truly prepared for this level. In addition, it is a title that will open the doors to the academic, labor world and Germany itself if that were the case. Of course, before presenting it, it is very important to study, especially if we do not usually use our German, no matter how advanced our level is.
I had an assessment at the Goethe Institut in London. They offer these for free before the start of each teaching semester and they are part of the preparation (and recruitment!) process for their taught courses.
I had spoken and listened a lot during three years living in Germany (years and years ago). I had read quite a bit then and since, but less than I would have liked. I had done very little writing. I was on a wonky plateau.
Make sure you have a clear time-frame. As I argued at the beginning of my German project, three-month time-frames: long enough to make noticeable progress, not so long as to risk a lack of focus.
I did this by getting the support of a community of learners. I joined the Add1Challenge (my main review of the format is here). (Update April 2023: the Challenge no longer exists but if you can find another motivational study group, give it a try!)
Second, as I argued in detail my second Project revive my German, log your progress from start to finish. You can do this with an accountability sheet (through the Add1Challenge, your own spreadsheet, or by simply emailing that friend at the beginning of the week with your intentions, and at the end with your achievements).
Sometimes its good to be led step-by-step through a syllabus. Self-directed learning is all very well, but if you only focus on structures that you feel are difficult, you may overlook ones you feel confident in but, where you still, actually, have a thing or two to learn.
The textbook I chose Mittelpunkt neu C1 Lehr- und Arbeitsbuch from publishers Klett (two volumes, C1.1, C1.2, with 4 accompanying CDs). It deals with the Goethe exam and also other exams at a similar level: DSH; telc; TestDaF and even has a complete mock Goethe C1 paper at the back with answers.
In addition to making use of the audio material that came with my course book, I listened to at least an hour of good quality speech radio a day. I built this into my normal routine. German radio replaced English or Russian as the accompaniment to my morning shower and my evening meal.
I worked Daniela, whom I know from the Polyglot Workshop in Budapest and who was learning Czech in the last Add1Challenge. I also worked with two other excellent teachers, Laura and Klaus. During the three-month project, I aimed for three, half-hour sessions a week.
I went back to the books for a refresher and practise with case endings, gender and irregular plurals to strengthen the bases of my speaking and writing. I then asked my teachers to keep an extra ear open for my performance in these areas of weakness.
Your initial assessment will have helped you get a sense of your strengths and weaknesses across the four skills and you can ask your teacher to put special emphasis on your weaker skills.
In the first weeks, I made sure we were working with the textbook which provide a structured fund of topics for discussion. Each chapter of my book had a subject topic and stressed particular grammatical points and communicative goals.
The second six weeks or so of my three-month project I continued listening to the radio and reading as much as possible in my spare time but for my focussed study, I used the textbook less and moved to familiarisation with the exam in the narrow sense.
I worked through the one official Goethe C1 past paper available for download from the Institut. I then, during the last three and a half weeks before the exam, I did all four of the mock papers in my training book.
Fourth, informed by your knowledge of the time and mark allocation, any commentary on the exam you can find (I had the tips form the training book) and your growing experience of past papers, consider tactics.
For example. Goethe writing 2 involves filling in blanks in a letter. It is only worth 5 points and fifteen minutes are allocated. In contrast, question 1 is freehand 200 word mini-essay, which involves commenting on some data presented in a table. It is worth 20 points and 65 minutes are allocated.
Congratulations Gareth!!!! Outstanding result and amazing tipps!!!! These help me a lot! I was wondering can I make you my writing pal in order to practice my writing and grammar skill in German as I will be taking my Telc C1 Hochschule this summer?
Hi,
First of all, congratulations for the great result! I am an eighteen-year-old Bulgarian student and passed the C1 exam too with 91%(sehr gut). My question is: Is it worth it to take the C2 exam in German and if i decide to, how can I prepare, apart from the Klett and Hueber textbooks?
my strategy-
I browsed first of all resources, glad we have now you tubes, apps, free online courses too on many webs, free df of books too. thats mindblowing awesome. I am done with this phase. now, B1 studying again with many other resources I got. i also checked my level-online many free tests and free tests with certificate both available from many other webs, teaching insti webs etc.
You will get 5 questions (11 to 15) and 5 Audio here and again there will be A, B, C options to every question. You have to listen to the audio carefully and select the answer. Every audio here is again played twice.
Two texts (mostly small letters) are given and there will be 5 statements. You have to find out if the given statements are True (Richtig) or False (Falsch) according to the texts. Below you can see the example in the image.
In every question here, you will get two website screenshots and a purpose is given. You need to understand which website (A or B) will help you to fulfill your purpose. For this, there will be 5 questions, and for every question, there will be two websites A and B, you have to select which website is helpful. Beispiel or 0 number question is an example in the image below.
You will find one small piece of text information or an advertising poster in each question. Here you will have 5 statements and you have to find out whether the given statements according to the text are True (Richtig) or False (Falsch).
You will get one topic to write a letter or an email. With the topic, you also get three points which you have to use in the letter. Write around 5 to 6 lines (around 30 words) on the given three points. The letter is for 10 points.
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