telc German A2 is the next level after A1. She will be for certain Extensions of stay, simple professional activities without customer contact and needed as preparation for the integration course (B1). No obligation for naturalization or settlement - but a useful intermediate step.
Target group
A2 is an intermediate step. Most residence permits require B1 straight away, but some authorities accept A2 as the first proof.
Extension of stay, simple employment, pre-integration
Typical cases for telc A2:
Important note: For most permanent residence permits (settlement permit, naturalization). B1 needed. If you're aiming for A2, ask yourself: Do you really need it? Or can you start directly with B1 and save time?
Exam format
The structure is similar to telc A1, but is more demanding: longer texts, more complex listening situations and more sentence structure in writing.
Reading & language, listening, writing, speaking
| part | Duration | Content | Passing limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading & Language (combined) | 60 mins | Longer everyday texts, simple newspaper advertisements, fill-in-the-blank texts with grammar (past tense of be/have, modal verbs in past tense, subordinate clauses with because/that). | 60% in the overall written part |
| Listen | approx. 30 minutes | Longer everyday dialogues, short messages, announcements at the train station/airport - usually played once. | |
| Write | 30 mins | Write a simple formal email (e.g. appointment cancellation) or a short coherent text (approx. 50-70 words). | |
| Speaking (oral) | approx. 12 minutes per couple | Introduce yourself (extended information: hobbies, job). Describe a topic (e.g. “My last vacation”). Solve a situation together (e.g. plan something). | 60% of oral points |
Costs & dates
telc A2 is slightly more expensive than A1, but still cheaper than Goethe A2. The availability is very good.
Price range approx. 90-140 €
Registration deadline: 4-6 weeks before the exam date. Early registration is recommended as A2 appointments are less frequent than A1 appointments.
Provider comparison
Both certificates are accepted for the same purposes, but differ in exam structure, cost and popularity.
| criterion | telc A2 | Goethe A2 |
|---|---|---|
| Examination fee | 90–140 € | 140–200 € |
| Exam structure | Complete written part + oral; no modularity | Modular (reading, listening, writing, speaking pass individually) |
| Availability in Germany | Very high (community colleges, many language schools) | Good, but lower density than telc |
| International fame | High in Europe, moderate outside | Very high worldwide |
Preparation
A2 already requires a more secure basic knowledge of grammar (subordinate clauses, past tense of modal verbs) and vocabulary (approx. 1,200 words).
Model tests, textbooks, learning strategies
According to A2
A2 is an intermediate step. The actual goal for immigrants is B1 (settlement permit, naturalization). Plan your further learning path in good time.
telc B1 and DTZ – the most important certificates
The average learning time from A2 to B1 is 3-5 months intensively or 6-9 months part-time.
Next steps
You now know whether telc A2 makes sense for your situation.
Let's clarify together whether you need A2 or can go straight for B1.
Free · No obligation · 30-45 minutes
As of: May 2026. Lalmano checks content editorially and is based on official information, including from Foreign Office, BAMF and Make it in Germany. The content does not replace individual legal advice.