Overview
The reading part (Lesen) is the first half of the written test. You have 30 minutes and can get 9 points. Together with writing, it makes up the written part (15 points). You need at least 7.5 points in the written part to pass, so reading is important. See the full rules on our exam overview.
The texts are about everyday life in Germany: ads, notices, short newspaper articles. You do not need to understand every word. You need to find the important information.
The three task types
| Task type | What you read | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Situation and ads | A short situation and three ads | Choose the ad that fits the situation |
| 2. Newspaper article | An article | Decide if four statements are true or false (richtig/falsch) |
| 3. Headline | A text | Choose the best headline out of three |
Task type 1: situation and ads
You read what a person needs, for example a course, a flat or a service. Then you read three ads. Only one ad matches all the details. The wrong ads often match some details but not all: the time is wrong, the place is wrong or the price is too high.
Task type 2: true or false
You read a newspaper article and four statements. For each statement, decide: does the text say this (richtig) or not (falsch)? Be careful: the statement usually uses different words than the text. Look for the same meaning, not the same words.
Task type 3: headline
You read a text and choose the headline that fits best out of three. The right headline describes the main idea of the whole text. Wrong headlines often describe only one detail, or something the text does not say.
A time plan for 30 minutes
There is no official time plan for each task. This is a simple plan that many learners find useful:
- 1
First 1-2 minutes
Look at all pages. See which tasks there are and how long the texts are.
- 2
About 8 minutes per task type
Read the question first, then the text. Mark key words like times, days, prices and places.
- 3
Last 3-4 minutes
Check that you answered every question. If you are unsure, choose your best guess. Do not leave anything empty.
Tips that help
- Look for small words that change the meaning: nicht, kein, nur, immer, nie, schon, noch nicht.
- Check numbers and times carefully: Montag bis Freitag, ab 18 Uhr, kostenlos, 20 Euro pro Monat.
- Do not use your own knowledge. In true/false tasks, only what the text says counts.
- Do not get stuck on one word. Read the whole sentence. Often the meaning is clear from context.
- Learn typical ad words: Anmeldung, Gebühr, Termin, Öffnungszeiten, Ermäßigung, inklusive.
Worked example (task type 1)
This is an original example in the style of task type 1. It is not taken from the official test.
Ihre Tochter ist 8 Jahre alt und möchte schwimmen lernen. Sie arbeiten bis 17 Uhr. Der Kurs soll am Wochenende sein.
Your daughter is 8 and wants to learn to swim. You work until 5 pm. The course should be at the weekend.
A) Schwimmkurs für Kinder von 6 bis 10 Jahren. Jeden Dienstag und Donnerstag, 16:00-17:00 Uhr. Stadtbad Mitte.
B) Schwimmen für Anfänger: Kinder von 7 bis 12 Jahren. Samstags, 10:00-11:00 Uhr. Anmeldung im Büro des Schwimmbads.
C) Wassergymnastik für Erwachsene. Samstags und sonntags, 9:00 Uhr. Keine Vorkenntnisse nötig.
A) passt nicht: Der Kurs ist an Wochentagen um 16 Uhr.
B) passt: Kinder von 7 bis 12, am Samstag.
C) passt nicht: Der Kurs ist für Erwachsene.
A is for the right age, but on weekdays when you are at work. C is at the weekend, but for adults. Only B matches every detail: age, weekend, beginners.
This is the typical pattern: each wrong ad matches some details. Check every detail of the situation against every ad.
Practise with the app
In the app you find reading tasks for all three types, with model solutions and English and Turkish explanations. Tasks you get wrong come back in Review, so you practise your weak points. For a full simulation, use the timed mock exams. Useful words are on our vocabulary page.
- Official model test (Modelltest), PDF (berlin.de)
- Berlin VHS: Sprachtest zur Einbürgerung (berlin.de)