GUIDE
How should I study?
With ZertifikatsFuchs you can prepare for an exam, learn German for your life in Germany or just for yourself. Here's the most effective way.
1
Choose your level
If you know no German at all, start with A1. If you know a little, look through the topic list and move quickly past what you already know.
2
Choose your goal
We ask once on the home page: an exam, life in Germany or just for yourself? Your plan is prepared accordingly.
3
Finish your plan every day
“Today's plan” on the home page shows 3–4 short steps (20–30 min). They are ticked off automatically as you do them.
A sample day (20–30 minutes)
- 1Review: If there are any, review the questions you got wrong before.2–5 min
- 2Topic: Read a grammar topic, listen to the examples, take the test.10–15 min
- 3Word: A 10-question word round in Practice.3–5 min
- 4Reading & listening: Listen to a text, read it, answer the questions.5–8 min
- 5By goal: For an exam, one practice exam a week; for life in Germany, a speaking task.5–10 min
WHAT ARE THE SECTIONS FOR?
Learning PathGrammar topics in order, explained in English with tables and examples. When you finish a topic, take the short test.VocabularyWords for your level: article, plural, example sentence and audio pronunciation. Words and verbs are listed separately.Practice10-question rounds: word meaning, word writing, articles, verb conjugation, Perfekt, sentence completion, topic tests. Questions you got wrong come back in the Review round.Reading & ListeningShort texts, audio and comprehension questions. Listen first, then read along with the text, and tap to see the English.SpeakingSpeaking tasks from everyday life and the exams. Record your answer and compare it with the sample answer.WritingTasks such as emails, messages and opinion pieces, with sample texts.ExamsPractice exams close to the Goethe and telc format: with timing, scores and listening recordings.ProgressYour completed topics, exam results, practice success and the areas to work on.
BY GOAL
If you're preparing for an exam
- Work through the topics of your target level in order; review weak topics in Practice.
- Take a full practice exam once a week and follow your score in Progress.
- In the last 2–3 weeks before the exam, practise one exam section every day (Hören, Lesen, Schreiben, Sprechen).
To live or work in Germany
- Focus on everyday topics: introductions, shopping, the doctor, appointments, work.
- Answer one speaking task out loud every day; don't be shy, listening to your own voice really helps.
- While listening to the reading texts, repeat the sentences out loud (shadowing).
If you're learning for yourself
- 15–20 minutes a day is enough; being regular matters more than studying for long.
- Choose texts and words on topics you enjoy, so it stays fun.
- Keep your streak (🔥): even a single step of your plan counts each day.
Small but effective tips
- Little but every day: 20 minutes a day is far more effective than 3 hours once a week.
- Don't skip the review step: questions you got wrong come back after 1, 3 and 7 days. It's the most effective way not to forget.
- Recognising a word isn't enough: in the word writing round, type the German yourself and it will come to mind more easily when you speak.
- Always learn a word with its article: not Tisch, but der Tisch.
- Guess the meaning before looking at the English, then check.
- If listening is hard, set the speed to 0.75x, listen while reading the text, then listen again without it.
- Mistakes are teachers: read the explanations at the end of Practice and go back to the weak areas shown in Progress.