telc B1 · Sprachbausteine · 20 gaps · 30 points
telc B1 Sprachbausteine: Teil 1 and Teil 2 Explained
In short
telc B1 Sprachbausteine tests grammar and vocabulary with two gap texts. In Teil 1 you fill 10 gaps by choosing a, b or c. In Teil 2 you fill 10 gaps from a box of 15 words, each used once. Every gap is worth 1.5 points, 30 points in total, which is 10% of the exam.
- Time
- Part of the 90-minute reading block
- Tasks
- 20 gaps (10 + 10)
- Points
- 30 of 300 (10%)
- Text type
- Usually a letter or an email
Sprachbausteine Teil 1 (tasks 21 to 30)
A short letter or email has ten numbered gaps. For each gap you get three choices and pick one. Most gaps are grammar: the right connector, preposition, pronoun, article ending or verb form.
Sprachbausteine Teil 2 (tasks 31 to 40)
Another text with ten gaps, but now there is one box with 15 words marked a to o. Each word fits only once, so five words are left over. The words are a mix of connectors, prepositions, pronouns, verbs and adverbs.
What the gaps test
| Gap type | Look at | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Connector | Where the verb stands after the gap | …, weil ich krank bin. / Deshalb bleibe ich zu Hause. |
| Preposition with a verb | The verb, often earlier in the sentence | Ich warte auf den Bus. / Ich interessiere mich für Musik. |
| Case after a preposition | The article ending | mit dem Fahrrad, für meinen Bruder |
| Pronoun | Dative or accusative verb | Es gefällt mir. / Ich rufe dich an. |
| Relative pronoun | Gender of the noun and its job in the clause | der Kurs, den ich besuche / ein Raum, der groß genug ist |
| Verb form | Helping verb and time | Ich habe das Geld überwiesen. / Das Haus wurde gebaut. |
| Question word | What information is missing | Wissen Sie, wann der Kurs beginnt? |
| Comparison | als or wie | kleiner als die alte Wohnung / so groß wie meine |
The verb-position trick for connectors
Many gaps are connectors. You can often solve them without understanding the whole sentence, only by looking at where the verb stands.
| After the gap you see | The gap is one of these | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Subject, then other words, verb at the very end | weil, dass, obwohl, wenn, als, ob, damit, falls, bevor, nachdem | …, obwohl es regnet. |
| The verb directly, then the subject | deshalb, deswegen, trotzdem, dann, danach, außerdem, sonst | Trotzdem gehen wir spazieren. |
| Subject, then the verb (normal order) | und, aber, denn, oder, sondern | …, denn ich bin krank. |
| zu + infinitive at the end | um, ohne, statt | …, um einen Platz zu bekommen. |
How to work through Teil 2
- Read the whole text once without filling anything. Know what it is about.
- Sort the 15 words in your head: connectors, prepositions, pronouns, verbs.
- Fill the gaps you are sure about first and cross those words out.
- For the rest, decide what kind of word is missing, then compare only the words of that kind.
- Read each finished sentence once more. Does it make sense, and is the verb in the right place?
What to learn for this part
Three lists carry most of Sprachbausteine: verbs with fixed prepositions, connectors by verb position, and prepositions with their case. All three have their own page in this guide.
Frequently asked questions
Sprachbausteine means language building blocks. It is the grammar and vocabulary part of telc B1: two short texts with 10 gaps each. In Teil 1 you choose a, b or c. In Teil 2 you choose from 15 given words.
30 points out of 300, so 10% of the exam. Each of the 20 gaps is worth 1.5 points.
Learn connectors by verb position (weil, deshalb, denn), verbs with fixed prepositions (warten auf, sich interessieren für) and the case after each preposition. These three topics cover most gaps.
No. The Goethe-Zertifikat B1 has no separate Sprachbausteine section. It is typical for telc exams, so candidates who prepared with Goethe material need extra practice for it.
Prepare for telc B1 with a teacher
Live classes on the exam format, timing and the paired speaking exam, with mock tests and feedback.