telc Deutsch B1 explained: the papers and timing, how it is marked, fees and session dates, who needs it, and the vocabulary and phrases to learn for it.
| Paper | Time | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| Leseverstehen + Sprachbausteine | 90 min | Reading five texts and two gap texts testing grammar and vocabulary (the Sprachbausteine). |
| Hörverstehen | 30 min | Three parts: short statements, a longer conversation or interview, announcements and messages. |
| Schriftlicher Ausdruck | 30 min | One semi-formal or personal letter answering four points. |
| Mündlicher Ausdruck | 15 min | In pairs: getting to know each other, talking about a topic, planning something together. |
Each paper, the kit sections that prepare you for it, and why.
| Paper | Kit sections | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Leseverstehen + Sprachbausteine | Reading and the gap texts test topic words, fixed word combinations, word forms and grammar in context. | |
| Hörverstehen | Recordings use the same topic words and everyday spoken phrases; knowing them by ear, with the audio, is what makes listening easier. | |
| Schriftlicher Ausdruck | The writing tasks reward ready phrases for each text type, linking words, natural word combinations and accurate grammar. | |
| Mündlicher Ausdruck | Speaking goes more smoothly with phrases for giving opinions, agreeing, disagreeing and planning, and with linking words to structure what you say. | |
| All papers | Instructions, paper names and the words around registration and the exam itself, so nothing on the day is new. |
You need 60% in the written part and 60% in the oral part.
Set by each licensed telc centre (adult education centres, language schools).
Dates are set by each centre; many hold the B1 several times a year.
telc.net → Prüfungszentrum finden
Official information ↗
Facts last checked on 2026-09-30. Rules and fees change: confirm with the official page before you register.
telc Deutsch B1 certifies B1. B1 is the language level for German naturalisation and a settlement permit, and many employers ask for it. Check which certificates your authority or employer accepts.
Commonly quoted estimates are about 350–400 hours of guided learning to reach B1 from scratch. If you are already one level below, expect a few months of regular study. The German B1 Exam Kit has 3,881 cards: at 20 new cards a day, about 16 minutes with reviews, you see every card in about 28 weeks. Enter your exam date on the kit page for your own daily number.
No. The certificate has no expiry date. Some authorities, universities or employers only accept certificates up to a certain age, so check what the place you apply to asks for.
Partly. The written and the oral part are passed separately; if you pass only one of them, you can usually retake just the other within a set period. Ask your telc centre for the current rule.
telc marks the written papers centrally. The certificate reaches you through your exam centre, usually several weeks after the exam.
Vocabulary for the exam topics, writing and speaking phrases, connectors, collocations, grammar in context and the words around exam day: 3,881 cards in 17 decks. The table above shows which part helps with which paper. It is our own list, not an official one, and it does not replace model tests.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by the Goethe-Institut, telc gGmbH, ÖSD or the BAMF.