Practise telc Deutsch C1.
216 minutes, four modules, pass mark 60 per cent. The first practice exam is free.
Structure and length
For studying at a German university, for the medical licence (Approbation) and for qualified jobs with a lot of customer contact.
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)40 minIn preparation here
- Schreiben (Writing)70 minMarked against the board's criteria, with a margin
- Sprechen (Speaking)16 minIn preparation here
- Total216 minPass mark 60 %
Structure by part
How the modules of telc Deutsch C1 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 1Text reconstruction | Put six removed passages back; not every option fits. (Inserting text parts) | 6 tasks |
| Teil 2Selective reading | Match six statements to the right texts. (Matching) | 6 tasks |
| Teil 3Detailed and global reading | A long text, eleven statements: true, false or not in the text; plus one question on the main point. (True, false or not in the text) | 11 tasks |
| Teil 4Language elements | A text with 22 gaps, four options each: grammar and vocabulary. (Gap text with options) | 22 tasks |
| Part | What to do | Tasks |
|---|---|---|
| Teil 1Global listening | Match eight short contributions to statements. (Matching) | 8 tasksplayed once |
| Teil 2Detailed listening | A conversation, ten three-option tasks. (Multiple choice) | 10 tasksplayed once |
| Teil 3Information transfer | A lecture, complete ten pieces of information in keywords. (Completing notes) | 10 tasksplayed once |
| Part | What to do | Tasks |
|---|---|---|
| Teil 1Writing a text | An essay on one of two topics, about 350 words, referring to a chart or quotations. (Free writing) | 1 task |
| Part | What to do | Tasks |
|---|---|---|
| Teil 1Presentation | A short talk on a prepared topic. (Oral) | – |
| Teil 2Summary and discussion | Summarise and discuss the other person's talk. (Oral) | – |
| Teil 3Problem solving | Solve a problem as a pair. (Oral) | – |
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. Your test centre sets the fee, and it differs from place to place.
What level C1 demands
The written part takes 200 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 long, demanding texts and grasp implicit meaning: irony, allusion, unspoken judgement.
- Hören (Listening)
- Follow longer contributions even when they are loosely structured and connections are only implied.
- Schreiben (Writing)
- Express yourself clearly and in a well-structured way, present complex matters in detail and match the style to the occasion.
- Sprechen (Speaking)
- Speak fluently and spontaneously without obvious searching for words, and use the language effectively at work.
Where C1 is usually lost
At C1 the giveaway is avoiding Konjunktiv II and phrasing suggestions in the indicative with „vielleicht“. Linguistic precision is expected, not just comprehensibility.
As a guideline, about 800 to 1000 lessons from zero are quoted for C1. 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 C1 take?
- About 216 minutes in total: Lesen (Reading) 90 minutes, Hören (Listening) 40 minutes, Schreiben (Writing) 70 minutes, Sprechen (Speaking) 16 minutes. The oral part often takes place on a different date.
- How many points do you need for telc Deutsch C1?
- Normally 60 per cent. The exam is marked as a whole. Whoever fails repeats every part.
- How long does preparing for C1 take?
- As a guideline, about 800 to 1000 lessons from zero are quoted for C1 in total. Anyone who speaks a related language needs far fewer; the range is deliberately wide.