Quick Answer
The official Goethe-Zertifikat A2 Wortliste has roughly 1,300 lexical units. In the last 30 days, study by theme (housing, health, appointments, work) with spaced repetition — not alphabetical cramming. Free PDF lists work if you organise them; exam-themed Anki decks save time with audio and example sentences.
German A2 certificates (Goethe-Zertifikat A2, telc Deutsch A2, ÖSD A2) share the same practical goal: handle everyday situations in Germany — forms, doctors, landlords, colleagues. Vocabulary is the fastest lever in the final month because grammar patterns are already set at A2. Note: Einbürgerung requires B1 (DTZ, Goethe B1, telc B1) — this A2 list is for the level below that, or as a bridge while you build toward DTZ.
The Goethe-Institut publishes an official Wortliste (~1,300 entries). That is your ceiling for “what examiners expect you to recognise.” Prep2Go’s deck compresses 1,000+ high-frequency exam-themed items with native audio — useful when you do not have time to build decks from the PDF yourself.
What the A2 word list actually covers
Official lists group vocabulary by themes: family, work, shopping, travel, health, school, time expressions, and administrative language. Citizenship and integration contexts add Behörde, Termin, Mietvertrag, Krankenkasse — words that rarely appear in tourist phrasebooks but dominate real exams.
A 30-day calendar with weekly review targets beats cramming 1,300 words without spaced repetition.
| Approach | Cost | Time to start | Best when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official PDF + DIY Anki | Free | High (you build cards) | You enjoy deck design |
| Community AnkiDecks lists | Free | Medium | You will filter themes yourself |
| Prep2Go Goethe/telc/ÖSD deck | One-time (~$24.99) | Low (import .apkg) | Exam in 2–6 weeks; need audio |
| General course app | Subscription | Low | You need full course, not last-mile vocab |
Five mistakes in the final month
- Cramming 100 new words/day — retention collapses; 30 new + reviews is sustainable.
- Studying only nouns — verbs in context (Könnten Sie…, Ich möchte…) matter in speaking and writing.
- Ignoring listening — A2 listening uses paraphrase; you must recognise words in fast speech.
- Using lists without example sentences — collocations (einen Termin vereinbaren) beat isolated translations.
- Skipping mock exams — vocabulary without timing practice hides weak sections until test day.
If you already use a course, treat the deck as repair: fill gaps your course does not theme explicitly (insurance, rental contracts, employment office vocabulary).
Week-by-week: last 30 days
- Days 1–7 — full deck after preview: 30 new cards/day; focus listening to example sentences.
- Days 8–14 — FULL deck: maintain 30 new + 40 reviews; add Prep2Go listening on weak themes.
- Days 15–21 — Free readiness mock; double reviews on missed themes (health, housing).
- Days 22–30 — No new cards after day 24; 60–80 reviews/day; second mock if writing is weak.
For German citizenship, language requirements are often B1 (DTZ / naturalization routes) — not A2. This plan is for A2 certificates. If you are on a B1 path, see DTZ B1 how to pass and which German certificate fits naturalization.
Read next
DTZ B1 grammar and vocabulary roadmap · EU citizenship exam difficulty ranking
Frequently Asked Questions
How many words for Goethe A2? The official Wortliste is ~1,300 lexical units. Exam success depends on active recall in context, not counting lemmas.
Goethe vs telc vs ÖSD vocabulary? At A2, themes overlap heavily. One well-themed deck plus exam-format practice is usually enough.
Is the free PDF enough? Yes, if you build spaced repetition yourself. Paid decks buy time, audio, and exam grouping.
Can I use this deck for DTZ B1? No — use B1 materials for DTZ. This deck targets A2 certificates (Goethe/telc/ÖSD A2).