Exam Prep
telc B1 Prüfung: Exam Preparation Course
Know every part of the exam before you sit it.
telc B1 is a widely recognized general German certificate, accepted for visas, the Chancenkarte, and citizenship applications, alongside the Goethe-Zertifikat. Our telc B1 Prüfungsvorbereitung is German B1 exam preparation on the exact exam format: reading, listening, writing, and the paired speaking exam.
Level
B1 (general German)
Skills tested
Reading, Listening, Writing, Speaking
Pass mark
60% written and 60% oral
Accepted for
Visas, Chancenkarte, citizenship
What is the B1 Prüfung (telc B1 exam)?
The telc B1 Prüfung (telc Deutsch B1, also called Zertifikat Deutsch B1) tests general German at level B1. The written exam has four parts: Lesen, Sprachbausteine, Hören and Schreiben. The oral exam, Sprechen, is usually taken with a second candidate. You can reach 300 points and need 60% in both the written and the oral exam.
The telc B1 exam format
Every part, what you do in it, and how many points it brings. Tap a part for the full explanation.
| Part | What you do | Tasks | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lesen Teil 1 | Match 5 short texts to 10 headings90 min (with Sprachbausteine) | 5 | 25 |
| Lesen Teil 2 | One longer text, multiple choice a/b/c | 5 | 25 |
| Lesen Teil 3 | Match 10 situations to 12 adverts | 10 | 25 |
| Sprachbausteine Teil 1 | Text with 10 gaps, choose a/b/c | 10 | 15 |
| Sprachbausteine Teil 2 | Text with 10 gaps, 15 words to choose from | 10 | 15 |
| Hören Teil 1 | 5 short texts, heard once, true/falseabout 30 min | 5 | 25 |
| Hören Teil 2 | One conversation, heard twice, true/false | 10 | 25 |
| Hören Teil 3 | 5 short texts, each heard twice, true/false | 5 | 25 |
| Schreiben | One email with 4 points to cover30 min | 1 | 45 |
| Sprechen Teil 1 to 3 | Getting to know each other, talking about a topic, planning something togetherabout 15 min (plus 20 min preparation) | 3 | 75 |
Written exam: 225 points (pass with 135). Oral exam: 75 points (pass with 45). Total: 300 points (pass with 180).
Each part of the exam, explained
- LesenLeseverstehen · 20 tasks · 75 pointsRead the guide →
- SprachbausteineSprachbausteine · 20 gaps · 30 pointsRead the guide →
- HörenHörverstehen · 20 tasks · 75 pointsRead the guide →
- SchreibenSchriftlicher Ausdruck · 1 email · 45 pointsRead the guide →
- SprechenMündlicher Ausdruck · 3 parts · 75 pointsRead the guide →
Redemittel, verbs and grammar for B1
The phrases and lists that carry the exam: what to write in an email, what to say in the oral exam, and the grammar behind most Sprachbausteine gaps.
- Redemittel: SchreibenPhrases for emails and lettersOpen the list →
- Redemittel: SprechenPhrases for the oral examOpen the list →
- B1 grammarGrammatik · B1 foundationsOpen the list →
- Verbs with prepositionsVerben mit Präpositionen · B1Open the list →
- PrepositionsPräpositionen · B1Open the list →
- ConnectorsKonnektoren · B1Open the list →
- B1 verbsWichtige Verben · B1Open the list →
Free telc B1 Modelltest practice, part by part
Tasks in the format of a telc B1 Modelltest for Lesen and Sprachbausteine, plus Redemittel and grammar exercises. Every answer is explained.
Start practisingGrades in telc B1
| Points | Grade |
|---|---|
| 270 to 300 | sehr gut (very good) |
| 240 to 269.5 | gut (good) |
| 210 to 239.5 | befriedigend (satisfactory) |
| 180 to 209.5 | ausreichend (pass) |
| under 180 | nicht bestanden (not passed) |
Intensive exam-only course
telc B1 Prüfungsvorbereitung (Exam Prep Course)
Already comfortable with B1 grammar but need to pass the exam itself? This course covers telc's specific question formats, timing, and the paired speaking exam, with full mock tests and feedback.
See all prices · Not sure of your level? Free placement test
telc B1 exam: frequently asked questions
telc Deutsch B1 (Zertifikat Deutsch) is a German exam at level B1. It has a written part with Lesen, Sprachbausteine, Hören and Schreiben, and an oral part, Sprechen, usually taken in pairs. It is accepted for visas, the Chancenkarte and citizenship.
The exam has 300 points. You need 60% in the written exam (135 of 225 points) and 60% in the oral exam (45 of 75 points). That makes at least 180 points in total.
The written exam takes about two and a half hours: 90 minutes for Lesen and Sprachbausteine, about 30 minutes for Hören and 30 minutes for Schreiben. The oral exam takes about 15 minutes, after 20 minutes of preparation.
Yes. If you pass the written exam but not the oral exam, or the other way round, you can repeat only the part you did not pass until the end of the following calendar year. After that you take the whole exam again.
telc publishes a free practice test (Übungstest) for telc Deutsch B1 as a PDF on telc.net, with an answer key. German Notes does not offer a Modelltest PDF. Our free practice is online, in the same task format, with every answer explained.
It is the certificate you receive after passing: telc Deutsch B1, also called Zertifikat Deutsch B1. It shows your points and your grade, from ausreichend to sehr gut, and serves as proof of B1 German for visas, the Chancenkarte and citizenship.
For learners who already know B1 grammar and need to pass the exam itself. The course works on the telc task types, the timing and the paired speaking exam. If you are not sure about your level, take the free placement test first.
Yes. The guide pages and the practice exercises are free and work without an account. The live course with a teacher is paid.