Practise telc Deutsch B1.
165 minutes, four modules, pass mark 60 per cent. The first practice exam is free.
Structure and length
The most requested level: naturalisation, the permanent settlement permit and the integration course all hinge on it.
telc exams are passed or failed as a whole. The reading part also carries the Sprachbausteine, a pure grammar and vocabulary section the other boards do not have.
- Lesen (Reading)90 minAnswer key, instant
- Hören (Listening)30 minAnswer key, instant
- Schreiben (Writing)30 minMarked against the board's criteria, with a margin
- Sprechen (Speaking)15 minIn preparation here
- Total165 minPass mark 60 %
Structure by part
How the modules of telc Deutsch B1 are divided, following the board's published format. Knowing the parts means losing no exam time to the instructions.
| Part | What to do | Tasks |
|---|---|---|
| Teil 1Global reading | Match five short texts to the right headline; ten are on offer. | 5 tasks |
| Teil 2Detailed reading | One longer newspaper text, five multiple-choice tasks with three options each. | 5 tasks |
| Teil 3Selective reading | Match ten situations to twelve adverts; not every situation has a matching advert. | 10 tasks |
| Teil 4Language elements, part 1 | A letter with ten gaps, three options each. This one is about grammar. | 10 tasks |
| Teil 5Language elements, part 2 | A text with ten gaps, fifteen words to choose from. This one is about vocabulary. | 10 tasks |
| Part | What to do | Tasks |
|---|---|---|
| Teil 1Global listening | Five short recordings, one statement each: true or false. | 5 tasksplayed once |
| Teil 2Detailed listening | One longer conversation or interview, ten statements: true or false. | 10 tasksplayed once |
| Teil 3Selective listening | Five short announcements or exchanges, one statement each: true or false. | 5 tasksplayed twice |
| Part | What to do | Tasks |
|---|---|---|
| Teil 1Letter or e-mail | A semi-formal letter on a situation with four Leitpunkte. All four have to appear. | 1 task |
| Part | What to do | Tasks |
|---|---|---|
| Teil 1Getting acquainted | Introduce yourself and ask your partner questions. | – |
| Teil 2Talking about a topic | Talk about a given topic: your own experience and opinion. | – |
| Teil 3Planning something together | Solve a task as a pair, make suggestions and agree. | – |
Figures follow the board's published format. Your test centre's exam regulations are always what counts.
What happens if you do not pass
The exam is marked as a whole. Whoever fails repeats every part. At a fee of €155 to €239 per attempt, that is the most expensive difference between the boards.
Fee for telc Deutsch B1: about €155 to €239 at German test centres. Course participants at an adult education centre pay towards the lower end, external candidates towards the upper.
What level B1 demands
The written part takes 150 minutes in total; the longest single module is Lesen (Reading) at 90 minutes. In telc the reading part also carries the Sprachbausteine, a pure grammar and vocabulary section with nothing to interpret.
- Lesen (Reading)
- Understand texts about work, school and leisure, and recognise wishes and opinions in private letters.
- Hören (Listening)
- Understand the main points of clear standard German, including radio pieces on familiar topics.
- Schreiben (Writing)
- Write connected texts on familiar topics and describe experiences and impressions in a letter.
- Sprechen (Speaking)
- Join conversations on everyday topics without preparation, justify an opinion and tell a story.
Where B1 is usually lost
At B1 the writing almost always decides. A missed Leitpunkt costs more points than a handful of grammar mistakes, and whoever misjudges the time never reaches the last point.
As a guideline, about 350 to 650 lessons from zero are quoted for B1. The range is wide because prior knowledge of a related language changes the effort a lot. It serves rough planning, not as a promise.
Frequently asked questions
- How long does telc Deutsch B1 take?
- About 165 minutes in total: Lesen (Reading) 90 minutes, Hören (Listening) 30 minutes, Schreiben (Writing) 30 minutes, Sprechen (Speaking) 15 minutes. The oral part often takes place on a different date.
- How many points do you need for telc Deutsch B1?
- Normally 60 per cent. The exam is marked as a whole. Whoever fails repeats every part.
- How long does preparing for B1 take?
- As a guideline, about 350 to 650 lessons from zero are quoted for B1 in total. Anyone who speaks a related language needs far fewer; the range is deliberately wide.
- What does telc Deutsch B1 cost?
- At German test centres the fee lies between about €155 and €239. Course participants at an adult education centre pay towards the lower end, external candidates towards the upper. Your test centre sets the exact fee.