ExamReady Deutsch
Log in
Goethe-Zertifikat B1 · Lesen

Goethe B1 Lesen: understand and practise all 5 parts

In Lesen you need 18 of 30 correct answers. Here you see every part with its time, its format, the best way to tackle it and the traps that cost the most points.

Start the course for freeGoethe B1 at a glance
65
minutes
5
parts
30
items, 1 point each
18
correct answers to pass (60 of 100)
The module

What is the Lesen module?

Lesen is the first module of the written exam. You have 65 minutes for 5 parts with 30 items in total: a personal text, two press texts, ads, readers’ letters and a set of house rules. Within that time you also transfer your answers to the answer sheet, so allow about 5 minutes for it. Dictionaries and phones are not allowed.

Every item is worth 1 point or 0 points, and all parts count the same. At the end your points are converted to a score out of 100: 18 correct answers equal 60 points, and from 60 points Lesen is passed. The module counts on its own, so a good Hören does not make up for a weak Lesen.

Part by part

The 5 parts of Lesen

The minutes are the recommendation printed on the task sheet. Together they add up to the 65 minutes of the module.

Teil 1 · Richtig/Falsch

A blog or a personal e-mail

  • 10 min
  • 6 items

You read a personal text, usually a blog post, and decide for 6 statements: Richtig or Falsch?

How to approach it
  • Read the statement first and turn its detail into a question to the text.
  • The statements follow the text: look for each one after the spot where you found the last.
  • Compare detail by detail. What counts is the meaning, not the same words.
Typical traps
  • One detail is different: another number, another person, earlier instead of today.
  • The decoy word: words from the text appear in a false statement.
  • Your knowledge of the world: only the text decides.
Free practice taskTeil 1Lesson in the courseBlog and email: Richtig or FalschAll 5 tasks in the appTeil 1
Teil 2 · a/b/c

Two press texts

  • 20 min
  • 6 items

You read two short newspaper articles and answer 3 questions on each with a, b or c.

How to approach it
  • Read the headline and the lead first and sum up in one sentence what it is about.
  • The items follow the text: the beginning of each item is your search word.
  • Allow about 10 minutes per text and never leave an item blank.
Typical traps
  • Words from the text, but linked the wrong way.
  • Something that used to be true or is only true for some people. Half right is wrong.
  • The correct answer often says what the text says in different words.
Free practice taskTeil 2Lesson in the coursePress texts: a, b or cAll 5 tasks in the appTeil 2
Teil 3 · Zuordnung

Matching ads

  • 10 min
  • 7 items

Seven people are looking for something, and there are 10 ads. You match each person with the right ad. For one person nothing fits: there you write 0.

How to approach it
  • First cross out the ad used in the example, it is already taken.
  • Underline each person’s conditions: only an ad that meets all of them fits.
  • Each ad can only be used once: cross out the ones you have used.
Typical traps
  • Same topic, but one condition is missing. Small words like “nur” or “ab” decide.
  • Offering or looking: the person is looking for something, and so is the ad.
  • Exactly one 0: count again at the end and leave no box empty.
Free practice taskTeil 3Lesson in the courseMatching the adsAll 5 tasks in the appTeil 3
Teil 4 · Ja/Nein

Opinions in readers’ letters

  • 15 min
  • 7 items

Seven people give their opinion on a question. For each one you decide: is this person in favour? Ja or Nein.

How to approach it
  • Read the question carefully: what exactly, for whom, where?
  • The opinion usually comes at the end, after “aber”, “trotzdem” or “deshalb”.
  • Every text gets one cross, Ja or Nein.
Typical traps
  • The first sentence sounds like a yes, but after “aber” comes the no.
  • In favour, but of something else or only of part of it: that is a Nein.
  • Irony and questions often mean the opposite. What counts is the opinion today.
Free practice taskTeil 4Lesson in the courseReading opinions: Ja or NeinAll 5 tasks in the appTeil 4
Teil 5 · a/b/c

A set of house rules

  • 10 min
  • 4 items

You read a text with rules, for example house rules, and answer 4 questions with a, b or c. The items come before the text.

How to approach it
  • Read the items first and mark a keyword in each one.
  • The headings in the text lead you to the right spot.
  • There you read every word: muss, darf, darf nicht, muss nicht.
Typical traps
  • Darf or muss? “Bitte” and “sollen” are rules too.
  • Who does the rule apply to, and what does the number refer to?
  • Identical words are often the decoy, the correct answer puts it differently.
Free practice taskTeil 5Lesson in the courseUnderstanding rules and house rulesAll 5 tasks in the appTeil 5
Your training

What you get for Goethe-Zertifikat B1

You start for free and decide for yourself if and when you need Pro.

The course: 28 lessons

Short lessons take you step by step through every exam task: how it is built, where points get lost and how to win them. With exercises and checkpoints.

Open the course

5 complete model tests

Every task in the real exam format, with a timer, automatic scoring, solutions with explanations and AI feedback on writing and speaking.

Open the model tests

Free or Pro

Free: 2 keys every day, each one opens a lesson or a task for good.

Pro: €24.90 for 30 days or €49.90 for 90 days. Paid once, no subscription, 3-day money-back guarantee.

See prices
The modules in detail

Goethe B1 module by module

Every module on its own page: structure, points, strategy and typical traps for each part, with a practice task and a lesson.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How many points do I need in Goethe B1 Lesen?

You need 60 of 100 points. Each of the 30 items is worth 1 point, and the total is converted to a score out of 100. 18 correct answers give exactly 60 points, 17 correct only 57.

How much time do I have for each part?

The whole module takes 65 minutes. The task sheet recommends: Teil 1 10 minutes, Teil 2 20, Teil 3 10, Teil 4 15 and Teil 5 10 minutes. This includes the time for the answer sheet, about 5 minutes.

Do wrong answers cost points?

No. Every item is worth 1 point or 0 points, so a wrong answer costs no more than a blank one. That is why you should always mark something, even when you are not sure.

What does the 0 in Lesen Teil 3 mean?

In Teil 3 there are 7 people and 10 ads. For exactly one person no ad fits, and for that person you write 0. You can use each ad only once, and the ad from the example is already taken.

Is Goethe B1 Lesen the same as in the ÖSD Zertifikat B1?

Yes, Lesen is identical in the ÖSD Zertifikat B1 (ZB1). Don’t mix it up with the ÖSD ZDÖ B1: there the module is called Lesen und Sprachbausteine, takes 90 minutes and has gap-fill texts.

ExamReady is an independent learning platform and is not affiliated with the Goethe-Institut or ÖSD. All tasks are original materials written in the exam format.

Practise Lesen in the real format.

Five tasks per part, one from each model test, with scoring and an explanation for every answer.

Start for freeOpen the 5 model tests