Most people ask for the syllabus before they pay for a course. Fair enough. A1 is sold in blocks of weeks and hours, and nobody wants to buy forty hours of something vague.
Here is the full list, plus the exam format at the end.
What is the German A1 syllabus?
The German A1 syllabus is the grammar, vocabulary and everyday topics a beginner course covers before you reach A2.
In practice that means present tense verbs, articles and gender, two of the four German cases, basic modal verbs, question words, negation, numbers and time, and around eight everyday topics. There is no single official version. The Council of Europe defines what an A1 learner can do, the Goethe-Institut defines what its exam tests, and each school sets its own order.
What grammar is in the German A1 syllabus?
Seventeen areas, listed below. This is what A1 courses teach, not an official list, because no official list exists.
| Area | What A1 covers |
|---|---|
| Present tense | Regular verbs, plus sein, haben and werden |
| Stem-changing verbs | fahren, lesen, sprechen, essen |
| Separable verbs | aufstehen, einkaufen, anrufen, mitkommen |
| Modal verbs | können, möchten, müssen, wollen |
| Imperative | Requests and instructions |
| Past tense | Perfekt with common verbs, often late in the course and not in every A1 course |
| Articles and gender | der, die, das, plus ein, eine and kein |
| Plurals | No rule to learn, these are memorised |
| Cases | Nominative and accusative only |
| Possessives | mein, dein, sein, ihr |
| Pronouns | Personal pronouns, nominative and accusative |
| Word order | Verb second in a statement, verb first in a yes or no question |
| Question words | wer, was, wo, wann, wie, warum, woher, wohin |
| Negation | nicht and kein, and when to use which |
| Connectors | und, oder, aber, denn |
| Numbers and time | Numbers, dates, clock times, prices |
| Prepositions | in, auf, an, um, am, nach, bei |
What is not in the German A1 syllabus?
Four things beginners expect to learn at A1 and do not.
- Dative case. A1 teaches nominative and accusative only.
- Präteritum. The simple past comes later, apart from war and hatte.
- Adjective endings. The part most learners dread waits until A2.
- Subordinate clauses. weil, dass and wenn are not A1 grammar.
If a course advertises these at A1, it is either mislabelled or moving faster than the level.
What topics does German A1 cover?
Everyday life, in eight areas.
- Appointments, weekdays and clock times
- Family, origins and personal relationships
- Housing and moving home
- Food, drink and eating out
- Shopping, prices and second-hand items
- Travel and transport
- Work and jobs
- Weekends and free time
The Goethe-Institut groups these under four areas of use: private life, work, education and the public sphere. Its own online A1 course runs across 18 chapters, beginning with “Hallo, ich bin”, “Menschen in Deutschland”, “Freunde und Co.” and “In der Stadt unterwegs” (Goethe-Institut Deutsch Online A1).
What can you do after finishing German A1?
Enough to introduce yourself, shop, ask directions and fill in a simple form. Not enough to hold a conversation at normal speed.
The official outcomes, skill by skill (Goethe-Institut exam objectives):
- Listening: understand instructions spoken slowly and clearly to you, plus times, numbers, quantities and prices.
- Reading: understand very short messages such as postcards and emails, and short written directions.
- Writing: write simple sentences about yourself and others, and ask for or pass on everyday information.
- Speaking alone: talk about people and places in simple, mostly separate phrases.
- Speaking with someone: ask and answer simple questions on immediate needs or familiar topics.
The CEFR says it in one line. At A1 you “can interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help” (Council of Europe).
What is in the German A1 exam?
Four parts, about 80 minutes, 100 points, and you need 60 to pass.
| Part | Time | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Hören, listening | about 20 minutes | Written parts total 75 |
| Lesen, reading | about 25 minutes | |
| Schreiben, writing | about 20 minutes | |
| Sprechen, speaking | about 15 minutes | 25 |
You have to attempt every part, and it can only be retaken as a whole, not section by section. Preparation is covered in our Goethe A1 exam preparation guide.
How many hours does German A1 take?
Around 70 to 75 teaching hours, where a teaching hour is 45 minutes.
That is how the Goethe-Institut builds its own A1 courses. It calls the figures experience-based, and says your previous language learning and your mother tongue both affect how long you need (Goethe-Institut). Treat it as a benchmark. Nobody can promise you a number of weeks.
You have to attempt every part, and it can only be retaken as a whole, not section by section. Preparation is covered in our Goethe A1 exam preparation guide.
How many hours does German A1 take?
Around 70 to 75 teaching hours, where a teaching hour is 45 minutes.
That is how the Goethe-Institut builds its own A1 courses. It calls the figures experience-based, and says your previous language learning and your mother tongue both affect how long you need (Goethe-Institut). Treat it as a benchmark. Nobody can promise you a number of weeks.
FAQ
1.Is there an official German A1 syllabus?
No single one. The CEFR defines the ability, the Goethe-Institut defines what its exam tests, and each provider sets its own grammar order. Compare course outlines rather than looking for a national standard.
2.Does German A1 include Perfekt?
Sometimes. Some A1 courses finish with Perfekt for common verbs, others leave it to A2. Ask before you enrol if it matters.
3.Is A1 enough to work or study in Germany?
Generally no. University admission and most visa routes start at A2 or B1. A1 covers introductions, shopping and directions.
