Failed the Goethe-Zertifikat B1: Retaking Individual Modules

In short: Yes, you can retake an individual module

The Goethe-Zertifikat B1 has a modular structure. It consists of four parts called “modules”: Reading, Listening, Writing, and Speaking. Each module is graded and passed individually. If you failed Writing, for example, but passed Reading, Listening, and Speaking, you only retake the Writing module. The three modules you already passed remain valid. This saves time, money, and stress.

This is a major advantage over older exams where you had to pass everything in one sitting.

When is a module passed?

You can score a maximum of 100 points per module. A module is passed when you reach at least 60 points (i.e. 60 percent).

Grades are distributed as follows:

• 90 to 100 points: very good
• 80 to 89 points: good
• 70 to 79 points: satisfactory
• 60 to 69 points: sufficient (passed)
• 0 to 59 points: not passed

Important: each module counts on its own. You cannot transfer points from a strong module to a weak one. That is precisely why you are allowed to retake each module individually.

How to retake a module: step by step

1. Check your results. Your result sheet shows the score for each of the four modules. This tells you exactly which module you need to retake.
2. Keep your module certificate. For every module you pass you receive a module certificate. Keep it in a safe place. It is your proof that this part is already done.
3. Contact a testing centre. Register at the Goethe-Institut or at a licensed testing centre (for example a Volkshochschule) for the missing module. Many centres offer dedicated dates for candidates retaking a module.
4. Book only the missing module. You pay for and sit only the one module you still need. You do not repeat the modules you have already passed.
5. Watch the 365-day deadline. More on this in the next section.

How many times may I retake a module?

For B1 you can retake individual modules as many times as you like. There is no fixed upper limit. In practice it only depends on how many exam dates your testing centre offers.

The 365-day rule for the overall certificate

Here is a point many people overlook. If you pass all four modules within 365 days, you receive a single combined overall certificate. This overall certificate is equivalent to the four individual module certificates.

If you pass the last module only after more than a year, you still keep all the modules you have already passed. However, you then receive four individual module certificates instead of a single combined certificate. For many authorities this is fine, but if in doubt ask the body that requires the certificate from you in advance (for example the immigration authority, an employer, or a university).

My tip: plan your retake so that all four modules fall within a close timeframe.

What does retaking a module cost?

You only pay for the one module, not for the entire exam. The fee for a single module is significantly cheaper than the complete B1 exam. The exact prices are set by each testing centre individually and vary from city to city. Ask your testing centre directly for the current price of an individual module.

So this does not happen again: targeted preparation

If you only failed one part, you now know exactly what you need to work on. That is actually good news, because you can practise very specifically.

• Failed Writing? Practise typical B1 tasks such as letters, emails, and short opinion pieces. Pay attention to structure, salutation, and closing.
• Failed Speaking? Practise out loud, ideally with a real teacher or speaking coach. Presentation and dialogue can be trained.
• Failed Reading or Listening? Train with real B1 exam tasks under time pressure.

A structured course helps close the gaps. Our online B1 course is a video course with a real DaF teacher and works with the Hueber coursebook “Schritte plus Neu”. It also includes an AI trainer for Speaking, pronunciation, and letter writing, covering exactly the parts where many candidates fail. The course prepares you specifically for exams such as Goethe, telc, and the DTZ. If you want to become more confident from the ground up, you will find all the details on the B1 course page.

Summary

Failing the Goethe-Zertifikat B1 does not mean starting all over again. Thanks to the four-module structure you only retake the part you still need. Passed modules remain valid, and if you complete all four within 365 days you receive an overall certificate. Check your results, register specifically for the missing module, and prepare that part thoroughly. Then you will succeed next time.