telc Deutsch B1 - format, scoring and how to prepare
telc Deutsch B1 is a B1-level German exam made up of a 150-minute written paper and a 15-minute paired oral exam; you pass with 180 of 300 points, and the written and oral parts are scored separately.
What the exam consists of
Try a few real questions
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Ergänzen Sie: Ich interessiere mich ___ Musik.
Ergänzen Sie: Wenn ich mehr Zeit ___, würde ich einen Kurs besuchen.
Welches Wort passt? Der Termin wurde ___, weil der Arzt krank war.
Who telc Deutsch B1 is for
telc Deutsch B1 certifies independent use of everyday German: handling routine situations at work, describing experiences, and explaining opinions and plans. It is the level most commonly required for a German permanent residence permit and for naturalisation, and many employers and vocational training programmes ask for it as a baseline.
The exam is aimed at adults. If you are under 16, telc offers telc Deutsch B1 Schule, which tests the same level with topics drawn from school life.
Exam format
The written exam is taken in one sitting of 150 minutes:
| Part | Time | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Leseverstehen | 90 min (shared) | 75 |
| Sprachbausteine | 90 min (shared) | 30 |
| Hörverstehen | 30 min | 75 |
| Schriftlicher Ausdruck | 30 min | 45 |
| Written total | 150 min | 225 |
| Mündlicher Ausdruck | ~15 min | 75 |
| Overall | 300 |
One detail catches candidates out: Leseverstehen and Sprachbausteine share a single 90-minute block. Nobody tells you when to move on, so you have to allocate the time yourself. Sprachbausteine carries only 30 points but is quick to answer - a common mistake is sinking an hour into the reading texts and then rushing the grammar section for the sake of a third of the points.
The oral exam is taken in pairs, occasionally in threes. You get 20 minutes of supervised preparation beforehand, during which you may make notes.
Scoring
The pass mark is 180 of 300 points overall, but the written and oral parts are assessed independently and both must be passed. Scoring 200 on the written paper does not rescue a failed oral exam.
Schriftlicher Ausdruck is marked against four criteria - task completion, communicative design, formal accuracy and vocabulary. Mündlicher Ausdruck is marked on task completion, pronunciation, fluency and accuracy. Both are judged by two examiners.
How to prepare
Preparation that works at B1 is unevenly weighted, because the sections are not equally difficult to improve:
- Sprachbausteine rewards drilling. Fixed verb-preposition pairs, connectors and Konjunktiv II are a finite, learnable list.
- Schriftlicher Ausdruck is largely a format problem. The task is a semi-formal letter or email with three given points, all of which must be addressed - candidates lose more marks by skipping a point than by making grammar mistakes.
- Hörverstehen plays each recording only once in most parts, so the skill being tested is reading the questions ahead of the audio.
- Mündlicher Ausdruck is the part most people underprepare, because it is the hardest to practise alone.
That last point is why the simulator scores speaking as well as writing: you answer aloud, the AI continues the dialogue, and the answer is assessed against the same criteria the examiners use.
Frequently asked questions
How many points do you need to pass telc Deutsch B1?
You need 180 out of 300 points overall, which is 60%. The written exam is worth 225 points and the oral exam 75. Both parts must be passed; a strong written result does not compensate for failing the oral exam.
How long does telc Deutsch B1 take?
The written exam runs 150 minutes - 90 minutes for Leseverstehen and Sprachbausteine together, 30 minutes for Hörverstehen, and 30 minutes for Schriftlicher Ausdruck. The oral exam takes about 15 minutes in pairs, after 20 minutes of supervised preparation.
What does telc Deutsch B1 cost?
Between roughly €130 and €200 depending on the exam centre. telc sets no fixed national price - each licensed centre sets its own, so it is worth comparing centres in your city.
Is telc Deutsch B1 the same as Goethe-Zertifikat B1?
Both certify the same CEFR level and are equally recognised for a German residence permit or naturalisation. They differ in task format and in the oral exam, and telc offers a version combined with the Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer. Choose based on which format suits you and which centre is nearby.
Can you retake only the part you failed?
Yes, at most centres. If you pass one part and fail the other, you can usually repeat just the failed part, provided you do so within one year at the same centre. Confirm this with your centre before booking, as practice varies.
Ready to sit telc Deutsch B1?
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