telc B1 Exam: Format, Duration, Points and Passing Rules

The telc B1 exam (telc Deutsch B1, also called "Zertifikat Deutsch") consists of a 150-minute written exam and an oral pair exam of about 15 minutes. You pass if you reach at least 60 percent of the possible points in both the written and the oral exam, that is 135 of 225 and 45 of 75 points.

The figures in this article come from the official telc practice test 1 and the telc exam page. Before you register, check with your exam centre whether anything differs for your date.

Who is the telc B1 exam for?

Telc describes B1 learners as people who can communicate simply in everyday, work and travel situations, talk about familiar topics, and understand and write simple connected texts. According to telc, the certificate is recognised internationally by schools, universities, employers and authorities. Whether your university, employer or authority accepts exactly this certificate is best clarified with that body itself before you register.

How is the telc B1 exam structured?

The exam has a written and an oral part. The written part is made up of four subtests, the oral part of one. According to telc, it is available in digital, hybrid or paper-based form.

• Reading comprehension (Leseverstehen): three parts with 20 tasks in total (1–5, 6–10, 11–20).
• Language components (Sprachbausteine): two parts with 10 tasks each (21–30 and 31–40).
• Listening comprehension (Hörverstehen): three parts with 20 tasks in total (5, 10 and 5 tasks).
• Written expression (Schriftlicher Ausdruck): one task, an email that must address all four given points.
• Oral expression (Mündlicher Ausdruck): three parts as a pair exam: getting to know each other, talking about a topic, planning something together.

If you have worked through the task types in the practice test beforehand, you will lose less time on exam day understanding the instructions.

How long does the telc B1 exam take?

According to the practice test, the written exam takes 150 minutes in total. The sequence is fixed:

1. Reading and language components: 90 minutes together. This part of the answer sheet is then collected.
2. Listening: about 30 minutes. The recordings must not be interrupted.
3. Written expression: 30 minutes.

Dictionaries, mobile phones and other electronic devices are not allowed; any attempt to cheat leads to immediate exclusion.

The oral exam is in principle a pair exam and takes about 15 minutes for the pair: roughly 3 minutes for getting to know each other, 6 minutes for the conversation on a topic and 6 minutes for planning together. Before that, candidates have 20 minutes of preparation time. Our article on the German B1 oral exam describes the individual oral parts and how to prepare in detail.

How is the telc B1 exam scored?

A total of 300 points is possible. The distribution according to the practice test:

• Reading comprehension: 75 points (25 percent)
• Language components: 30 points (10 percent)
• Listening comprehension: 75 points (25 percent)
• Written expression: 45 points (15 percent)
• Oral expression: 75 points (25 percent), of which 15 points for part 1 and 30 points each for parts 2 and 3

The written exam thus counts for 225 points, the oral exam for 75.

When have I passed the telc B1 exam?

You need to reach 60 percent of the maximum score in both the written and the oral exam. That equals 135 points written and 45 points oral. A strong result in one part does not make up for a weak one in the other. So do not focus your preparation only on the skill that comes easily to you, but especially on the one you feel least sure about. Speaking is worth 75 points, and the 45-point threshold matters just as much in practice as the 135 points in the written part.

If you reach the minimum in both parts, you receive an overall grade:

• 270–300 points: very good (sehr gut)
• 240–269.5 points: good (gut)
• 210–239.5 points: satisfactory (befriedigend)
• 180–209.5 points: sufficient (ausreichend)
• 0–179.5 points: not passed (nicht bestanden)

What happens if I fail the telc B1 exam?

If you failed or did not take only one of the two parts, you can retake exactly that part in the same calendar year or in the following calendar year. Only the result of the retake then counts. According to the telc documents, you can in principle repeat the full exam as often as you like. If you do not pass, you receive a results sheet instead of a certificate.

Where do I find a practice test for the telc B1 exam?

The most reliable practice test comes from telc itself: on the official exam page, practice test 1 with audio files is available as a free download. It contains a complete test set with solutions and explains the exam procedure and how the written and oral parts are assessed.

We do not offer official practice tests ourselves and therefore point to the original source. Be careful with unofficial PDF collections from unknown sources, as they may be outdated or differ from the exam format.

How to use the practice test well:

1. First solve one subtest under exam conditions, timed and without aids.
2. Compare with the solutions and write down why you made each mistake.
3. Plan one full run-through so that you experience the 150 minutes in one sitting.

How do I find telc B1 exam dates?

You get telc exam dates from the individual exam centres, not centrally from telc. On the "find an exam centre" page you enter a country and postcode and choose a radius of 5 to 500 kilometres. According to telc, the exam centre you choose will tell you about the next exam dates.

Dates, registration deadlines and fees differ from centre to centre. Ask the centre directly and allow plenty of lead time, as popular dates can fill up early.

What is the difference to telc Deutsch A2·B1?

Telc Deutsch A2·B1 is a separate exam and not the same as telc Deutsch B1. According to telc it is "scaled": all parts contain tasks at levels A2 and B1, and you receive a certificate for either the lower or the higher level. The format differs too: the page lists four written subtests of 45, 35, 35 and 10 minutes and an oral part without preparation time.

The telc page for A2·B1 does not mention the Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer (DTZ), so we do not treat them as the same. If you are preparing for the DTZ, check the information of the respective provider, as format and scoring differ.

How do I prepare for the telc B1 exam?

A simple weekly plan is enough for most learners:

1. Get to know the format: work through the practice test once in full.
2. Find your weak spots: see which subtest costs you the most points. Language components are worth only 30 points, reading and listening 75 each.
3. Write regularly: practise the email with all four points and have your teacher or a study partner read it.
4. Train speaking: practise introductions, exchanging opinions and planning out loud, ideally with a partner. An oral exam simulation can complement this if nobody is available to practise with.
5. Train timing: 90 minutes for reading and language components is tight if you read the texts too slowly.
6. Review vocabulary: flashcards or short learning podcasts with vocabulary on everyday life, work and travel help you refresh what you have learned regularly. Plan ten to twenty minutes a day rather than one long block shortly before the exam.

If you later aim for the next level up, our article on the telc German B2 oral exam covers how the oral exam works there. More tips are collected in the exam preparation category.

Conclusion

The telc B1 exam is well plannable: the format is fixed, the points distribution is known and an official practice test is available for free. It is important to take both parts seriously, because 60 percent is required in each. LearnCastAI can help you review by turning your own study material into summaries and practice questions, but no tool can guarantee a pass.