A2telc GmbH~85 minutes (70 min written + ~15 min oral, paired)Fee set by each test center

Complete Guide to telc Deutsch A2 (Start Deutsch 2)

The step after A1 — the four sections, how the 60 points work, the shared reading-and-writing block, and how to prepare

What is the telc Deutsch A2 exam?

telc Deutsch A2 — official name "telc Deutsch A2 (Start Deutsch 2)" — certifies German at the A2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR): you can handle short, everyday situations, understand simple messages and announcements, and write short notes. It is the natural step after A1 — the CEFR level between A1 and B1.

The exam has four subtests, each worth 15 points: Hören (listening, about 20 minutes), Lesen (reading) and Schreiben (writing), which share one 50-minute block, and Sprechen (speaking), taken in pairs in about 15 minutes. The points are not scaled — the total is 60, and you pass with 36 (60 %) on the combined score. There is no minimum per subtest, so a stronger section can balance a weaker one.

Two things surprise many candidates. First, Lesen and Schreiben are one timed block: nobody tells you when to switch, so you plan the split yourself. Second, there is no Sprachbausteine (grammar) section — grammar counts only through the four skills.

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Exam Structure

Section	Duration	Parts	Points	Description
Hören (Listening)	~20 minutes	3	15	Three parts, 15 items: phone messages where you complete a short note (heard twice), radio announcements with a/b/c answers (heard only once), and one conversation where you match five people or things to the right lettered option (heard twice).
Lesen (Reading)	Shares one 50-minute block with Schreiben	3	15	Three parts, 15 items: finding information in a reference text such as a store directory or programme (a/b/c), a short newspaper report with true/false statements, and matching five situations to eight small ads — one situation has no matching ad.
Schreiben (Writing)	Shares one 50-minute block with Lesen	2	15	Two parts: filling in a form with five pieces of information taken from short texts (5 points), and writing a short message of about 40 words that covers three of four given points, with a greeting and a closing (10 points).
Sprechen (Speaking)	~15 minutes (paired)	3	15	A paired exam in three parts: introducing yourself with a keyword card and answering follow-up questions (3 points), an everyday conversation where you ask and answer questions using question cards and a Jokerkarte (6 points), and negotiating a plan with your partner using two different information sheets (6 points).

Total: ~85 minutes (70 min written + ~15 min oral, paired)Passing Score: 36 of 60 points (60 %) on the combined total — no minimum per section, no scaling

What Is This Certificate Accepted For?

✓

Next Step after A1

Documents elementary German at CEFR A2 — the level between the first certificate (A1) and the independent-user level B1

✗

German Citizenship / Permanent Residence

NOT sufficient — naturalization and permanent residence require B1-level German (see our telc B1 guide)

Registration & Cost

Cost:Fee set by each test center

1Find a licensed telc test center (search on telc.net) — many Volkshochschulen (VHS) and private language schools run telc exams
2Ask the center for its telc A2 dates; smaller centers may schedule the exam only a few times a year
3Register and pay directly with the test center (each center sets its own fee)
4Receive confirmation with the date, time and location of the written and oral parts
5Bring a valid photo ID matching your registration on exam day
6The exam is marked by telc; your test center tells you when the certificate is ready

Preparation Timeline

Do each of the 11 Teile once, untimed, so no task type is new on exam day
In Hören Teil 2 you hear each announcement only once — read the three answers before it starts
Build A2 vocabulary around daily life: appointments, travel, shopping, work, health, free time
Practise saying and understanding times, dates, prices and phone numbers quickly

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Frequently Asked Questions

Each of the four subtests gives up to 15 points, 60 in total, and the points are not scaled. You pass with 36 points (60 %) on the combined total; there is no minimum per subtest. Grades: 54–60 sehr gut, 48–53.5 gut, 42–47.5 befriedigend, 36–41.5 ausreichend. Below 36 points the certificate says "teilgenommen" (participated).

No. Unlike A1, where telc and the Goethe-Institut offer the same Start Deutsch 1 exam, the A2 exams are different: telc runs telc Deutsch A2 (Start Deutsch 2), and the Goethe-Institut runs its own Goethe-Zertifikat A2 with a different format. Viobean practises the telc A2 format only.

No. telc A2 has four subtests — Hören, Lesen, Schreiben and Sprechen — and no Sprachbausteine section. Grammar is assessed only indirectly, through your reading and listening comprehension, your short written message and your speaking.

Together, 50 minutes. They form one timed block: after Hören, you get 50 minutes for the three reading parts and the two writing parts, in any order you like. Nobody announces a switch, so plan your split — the 40-word message needs its share of the time.

No. The Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer (DTZ) is the final exam of the integration course and can result in either A2 or B1. telc Deutsch A2 is a standalone A2 exam with its own format. See our DTZ guide if you are in an integration course.

Yes. On Viobean an AI partner runs all three speaking Teile with you in the exam format — the self-introduction with a keyword card, the question-card conversation and the negotiation with two different sheets — and you get feedback on each scored part afterwards.