Goethe B1 Lesen
the reading module, part by part
30 items in 65 minutes, five parts, and you pass with 18 correct answers. Here is what you read in each Teil, the two traps in Teil 2 and Teil 3, how your raw score becomes points — and a sample task of our own to try.
B1 Lesen at a glance
The module has exactly 30 items, split 6 / 6 / 7 / 7 / 4 across five parts. Each item has one right answer and earns one raw point. You may start with any part, and the sheet prints a working time for each one. Parts 1 to 4 open with an example; Teil 5 does not.
| Part | What you read | Task | Items | Working time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teil 1 | A personal text: blog post, e-mail or letter | Richtig/Falsch | 6 (1–6) | 10 min |
| Teil 2 | Two separate press articles | a/b/c | 6 (7–12) | 20 min |
| Teil 3 | Ten short ads (a–j) and seven situations | Matching, one answer is 0 | 7 (13–19) | 10 min |
| Teil 4 | Seven reader comments on one topic | Ja/Nein | 7 (20–26) | 15 min |
| Teil 5 | House rules or regulations | a/b/c, no example | 4 (27–30) | 10 min |
Teil 1: a personal text (items 1–6)
You read one personal text — a blog post, an e-mail or a letter. Six statements follow, each Richtig or Falsch, after an example numbered 0. Suggested time: 10 minutes.
Read the statements first, then the text with them in mind. A statement is only Richtig if every part of it matches; one wrong detail — a day, a person, a reason — makes it Falsch.
Teil 2: two press articles (items 7–12)
This is the longest part, with 20 minutes. It consists of two different articles from the press, each with three a/b/c questions. The first article carries the example and items 7 to 9; on the next page a second, unrelated article carries items 10 to 12, without an example.
The questions may follow the order of the text — use that if they do, but don't count on it. Underline the line that answers each one, and check that the whole option is supported — a wrong option can repeat words from the article with a changed meaning.
Teil 3: ads and situations (items 13–19)
Seven people are looking for something — a flat, a sports club, an offer — and ten short ads, a to j, come from different German-language media. You match each situation with the ad that fits. Three rules decide this part:
- every ad can be used only once;
- the ad used in the example is gone and cannot be an answer;
- exactly one situation has no matching ad — there you write 0.
So of the ten ads, one goes to the example, six to situations, and three are left over as distractors. Read each situation for all of its conditions (day, price, level, who it is for) and only accept an ad that meets every one.
Try it: a mini Teil 3 with the same rules
Match situations 1–3 to the ads a–e. The example is done for you. This is our own task, written in the official format and scaled down — not Goethe material.
Einige Freunde von Ihnen suchen ein Freizeitangebot in ihrer Stadt.
Situations
Example
0Lena möchte am Wochenende einen Sport ausprobieren, den sie noch nie gemacht hat.a
- 1Tarik singt gern und hat montagabends immer frei.
- 2Mia isst kein Fleisch und hat nach der Arbeit wenig Zeit zum Kochen.
- 3Jonas sucht einen Tanzkurs für sich und seine Freundin.
Ads
- Kletterhalle NordSchnupperkurs für Anfänger: samstags von 10 bis 12 Uhr, Ausrüstung inklusive.
- Chor „Montagsstimmen“Wir suchen neue Sängerinnen und Sänger. Proben montags um 19 Uhr, keine Vorkenntnisse nötig.
- Fahrradwerkstatt zum SelbermachenWir zeigen Ihnen, wie Sie Ihr Rad selbst reparieren. Jeden Mittwochabend, Werkzeug ist da.
- Kochkurs „Vegetarisch nach Feierabend“Schnelle Rezepte ohne Fleisch, fertig in 20 Minuten. Dienstags um 18:30 Uhr.
- Fotospaziergang durch die AltstadtMit einer Profi-Fotografin. Sonntag um 9 Uhr, bitte eigene Kamera mitbringen.
Show answers and why
Answers: 1 → b · 2 → d · 3 → 0 (no ad)
Ad a went to the example, so it is used up even though Lena's wish also sounds like climbing. Tarik matches the choir (b), Mia the quick vegetarian cooking course (d). Nobody offers a dance course, so Jonas gets 0. Ads c and e are the leftover distractors.
Teil 4: reader comments — yes or no? (items 20–26)
Seven readers comment on one topic, each comment signed with a name, age and city. Above the texts is one question about that topic, and for every comment you decide: does this person answer it with Ja or Nein? There is an example, and 15 minutes.
The question changes with the topic, so read it carefully before the comments. Then look for each writer's position, not their arguments: someone can list advantages and still conclude the opposite in the last sentence.
Teil 5: house rules (items 27–30)
The last part is a set of rules — the house rules of a training centre or a gym, for example. Four a/b/c questions are printed above the text, and this is the only part with no example. Suggested time: 10 minutes.
Read the four questions first, find the section each one points to, and compare the options with the exact wording of the rule.
How 18 of 30 becomes a pass
Each correct item is one raw point. Goethe converts the 30 raw points to 100 with a fixed table — the same table as in Hören, and not a simple percentage at every step. Every B1 module passes on its own at 60 points, which in Lesen means 18 correct answers. There is no overall score across modules.
| Correct | Points |
|---|---|
| 30 | 100 |
| 29 | 97 |
| 28 | 93 |
| 27 | 90 |
| 26 | 87 |
| 25 | 83 |
| 24 | 80 |
| 23 | 77 |
| 22 | 73 |
| 21 | 70 |
| 20 | 67 |
| 19 | 63 |
| 18pass | 60 |
| 17 | 57 |
| 16 | 53 |
| 15 | 50 |
| Correct | Points |
|---|---|
| 14 | 47 |
| 13 | 43 |
| 12 | 40 |
| 11 | 37 |
| 10 | 33 |
| 9 | 30 |
| 8 | 27 |
| 7 | 23 |
| 6 | 20 |
| 5 | 17 |
| 4 | 13 |
| 3 | 10 |
| 2 | 7 |
| 1 | 3 |
| 0 | 0 |
Six mistakes that cost points
Forgetting the answer sheet
Lesen has no extra transfer time. Your answers must be on the answer sheet before the 65 minutes are over, so transfer each part as you finish it.
Reading Teil 2 as one text
Teil 2 is two different press articles: items 7–9 belong to the first, items 10–12 to the second. Look for the answer in the right article.
Reusing the example ad in Teil 3
The ad from the example is used up, and every other ad fits at most one situation. Cross out an ad once you have used it.
Forcing an ad onto every situation
Exactly one situation in Teil 3 has no matching ad — the answer is 0. If no ad meets every detail of a situation, 0 is a real option, not a failure.
Reading Teil 4 for the topic, not the question
Each comment is answered with Ja or Nein to one specific question printed above the texts. A writer can discuss the topic at length and still answer the question differently than you expect.
Spending 30 minutes on Teil 2
The sheet prints a working time per part — 10, 20, 10, 15, 10 minutes. You may start with any part, but keep an eye on the clock so Teil 5 still gets its ten minutes.
Where to practise
Start with the official material: the Goethe-Institut publishes a free B1 exam training set that includes a Lesen module with answers. Do it once against the clock, with the answer sheet, inside 65 minutes.
Then build speed with full mocks. ScoreUp's Goethe B1 Lesen mocks follow the official format part by part, score you with the official conversion table and explain every answer. New accounts get three free exam credits; one complete Lesen mock uses one.
Why practise on ScoreUp
- Mock exams in the official Goethe-Zertifikat format — the same parts, item counts and timing as the real exam
- Writing graded by AI against the official criteria, with feedback in your language
- Reading and listening scored instantly, every answer explained
- 3 free exam credits, no credit card — practice stays free
Take a full B1 Lesen mock
30 items in five parts, scored with the official table — free with your starter credits.Frequently asked questions
How long is the Goethe B1 Lesen module?
65 minutes for five parts. The answer sheet is filled in within that time — unlike Hören, there are no extra minutes for transferring your answers at the end.
How many points do I need to pass B1 Lesen?
You need 18 of the 30 items right. The 30 raw points are converted to 100 points with an official table, and 18 correct answers equal 60 points — the pass mark of every B1 module.
Do I have to do the parts in order?
No. The instructions say you can start with any task. The sheet suggests a working time per part (10, 20, 10, 15 and 10 minutes), which adds up to the 65 minutes.
What does 0 mean in Teil 3?
In Teil 3 one of the seven situations has no matching ad. For that situation you write 0. The ad from the example cannot be used again, and every other ad fits at most once.
Why are there two texts in Teil 2?
Teil 2 consists of two independent press articles. The first carries the example and items 7 to 9, the second items 10 to 12.
What happens if I fail only the Lesen module?
The Goethe-Zertifikat B1 is modular: each module is scored on its own and passes at 60 of 100 points. You can retake Lesen alone.
Can I use a dictionary or my phone?
No. Dictionaries, phones and other aids are not allowed in the Lesen module.