Are you applying to a German university and confused about how to answer the German language section in the application?
You’re not alone.
Many students get stuck at this step—especially when they’ve studied at a private language school and only took the Goethe A1 exam. If that’s your case, this article is exactly what you need.
Let me walk you through this using the example of Maya, one of my students who recently went through the same process. She studied German with me at a private school, and later appeared for her Goethe-Zertifikat A1: Start Deutsch 1 exam on 10 April 2025 at the Goethe-Institut Chennai.
Here’s everything she did to confidently complete her German university application—even before her exam results arrived.
Most university applications ask:
“Do you have any German language skills?”
“Where did you learn German?”
“Do you have an official certificate?”
These questions often assume that the student learned at Goethe, but that’s not always true—and it’s totally okay.
Just like Maya, you may have studied German in a private language academy or with a tutor, and then registered independently to take the Goethe A1 exam. That is completely valid and accepted by most German universities.
Here’s how you can answer that section properly.
✅ Select: Yes
You have completed your A1 exam, so go ahead and confidently select “Yes.”
✅ Select: Language school
Even if it wasn’t Goethe, your private language school still counts as formal training. This is the correct choice. Do not select “self-study” unless you truly didn’t attend any classes.
✅ Select: Yes
Now enter the following:
Name of Certificate: Goethe-Zertifikat A1: Start Deutsch 1
Exam Date: 10 April 2025
Place: Chennai, India
Optional note or remarks field:
“Studied at a private language school; appeared for Goethe A1 exam at Goethe-Institut Chennai.”
No problem at all!
Here’s what you can upload instead:
✅ Email confirmation from Goethe-Institut for your exam date and time.
✅ Payment receipt or fee invoice for the exam.
✅ A short statement in a Word or PDF document, saying:
“I have completed the Goethe A1 exam on 10 April 2025 at Goethe-Institut Chennai. I am currently waiting for my results and certificate. I will upload the official certificate as soon as it is issued.”
This shows the university that you’ve completed the exam and are only waiting for the formal document.
When you receive your official A1 certificate:
📄 Scan the certificate clearly (PDF preferred).
🧾 Upload it to the same application portal under “Language Skills” or “Attachments.”
✉️ If you already submitted your application, you can email the certificate to the admissions office later with your application number.
These are some errors that can delay or hurt your application:
Even if your school wasn’t Goethe, if you had proper lessons, choose “language school.”
Always attach your email and fee receipt. Add a note. Don’t leave it blank.
No! You only need a recognized certificate, not Goethe classes. Private school + Goethe exam is 100% acceptable.
Maya took our 3-month A1 course at my private German school. After consistent effort and preparation, she wrote her Goethe A1 exam in Chennai on April 10.
She applied to several German universities and uploaded:
Her Goethe exam email confirmation
Her exam payment receipt
A short statement about her private school learning
✅ Result? Her application was successfully accepted for processing even before her A1 result was released.
So yes, it works!
If you want to organize your documents nicely:
Create a one-page PDF with:
Your name and passport number
A headline: “Goethe A1 Exam Completed – Awaiting Certificate”
Attached email and fee receipt
A short note saying you’ll upload the certificate soon.
You don’t have to study at Goethe-Institut to apply for a German university.
What really matters is:
That you studied seriously (even at a private school)
Took an officially recognized exam (like Goethe A1)
Are clear and honest in your application
Attach your temporary proof. Share your journey. Be confident.
