German B1 Exam: Goethe vs telc, Format and How to Prepare

The German B1 exam isn't one exam: B1 is a level, and several certificates prove it. The main two are the Goethe-Zertifikat B1 and telc Deutsch B1, and the DTZ at the end of an integration course can also show B1. To choose, start with why you need it: if an office or employer asks for B1, check which certificates they accept, then pick the format that suits you and a date near you.

Below: both exams part by part, how to choose and how to prepare. Details are correct at the time of writing (November 2026); your exam centre has the final word.

Goethe vs telc B1: The Quick Comparison

Same level, different format:

	Goethe-Zertifikat B1	telc Deutsch B1
Parts	4 modules: reading, listening, writing, speaking	Written exam (reading, Sprachbausteine, listening, writing) and oral exam
Timing	Reading 65 min, listening about 40, writing 60, speaking about 15	Reading and Sprachbausteine 90 min, listening about 30, writing 30, no break; speaking about 15
Speaking	Normally in pairs, 15 min preparation	Usually in pairs, 20 min preparation
Grammar gaps (Sprachbausteine)	No	Yes
Pass rule	60 of 100 points in each module	At least 60% in the written and the oral exam, separately
Modular?	Yes: any module alone or combined	No: one exam in two halves
Retakes	Any single module, as often as you like	Only the failed half, within 12 months
Where	Goethe-Instituts and partner centres, in Germany and worldwide	Licensed centres, very often Volkshochschulen (adult-education centres) in Germany

Fees and dates vary by country and centre. Both appear on German authorities' lists of accepted certificates.

What B1 Means and Who Asks for It

B1 is the third of the six CEFR levels (A1 to C2) and the first "independent user" level. In everyday terms, at B1 you can:

follow the main points when people speak clearly about familiar topics
handle most everyday situations alone: the doctor, your landlord, an appointment at an office
say what happened and talk about your plans
give your opinion and back it up with a reason
write a clear email: a request, an apology, a complaint

It doesn't mean understanding every dialect or writing without mistakes. It means getting things done in German.

Why People Need a B1 Certificate

As the law stood in November 2026:

Citizenship: under § 10 of the Nationality Act (StAG), you usually need 5 years of residence and German at B1, proven by a certificate, plus other conditions. Exceptions exist, for example for illness, disability or age. The new law (since 27 June 2024) allows dual citizenship, and the 3-year fast track was abolished in October 2025.
Settlement permit: the Niederlassungserlaubnis (§ 9 of the Residence Act, AufenthG) asks for "sufficient" German, which the law defines as B1. Passing the integration course counts, and exceptions exist.
Work and training: some employers and training programmes ask for B1 too.

The office decides which certificates it accepts. A typical list (Bavaria, 2024): telc Deutsch B1, the Goethe-Zertifikat B1 with all four modules, the DTZ at B1, the ÖSD Zertifikat B1 with all modules, and higher-level certificates. Check your office's list before you book.

Goethe-Zertifikat B1: Every Module Explained

The four modules are Lesen (reading), Hören (listening), Schreiben (writing) and Sprechen (speaking), said LAY-zen, HUR-en (with rounded lips), SHRY-ben and SHPREKH-en. You can take them alone or in any combination. Each is scored out of 100, and 60 is a pass.

Lesen: Reading (65 Minutes)

Five parts, 30 questions. B1 reading means finding the main point of an everyday text, a key detail, or what someone thinks. The official model test shows each part, so do one early.

Read the question first, so you know what to look for.
Don't trust word matches. The same word in the question and the text doesn't make it the answer. Watch the small words: nicht, kein, nur, erst (not until).
Keep moving: about two minutes per question. Stuck? Guess and come back.

Hören: Listening (About 40 Minutes)

Four parts, 30 questions. You follow everyday German at a clear, normal pace and catch both the main point and the detail that matters.

Read the questions before you listen and underline the key words.
Listen for the turn. Aber, doch and leider often signal a change of plan: Wir wollten uns um drei treffen, aber jetzt geht es erst um halb fünf. (We were going to meet at three, but now we can't meet until half past four.)

Schreiben: Writing (60 Minutes)

Three parts. Prepare for different readers: a friendly message with du, a polite one with Sie, and a short text giving your opinion.

Our example of a B1 writing task (written by us, not an official task):

Ihr Freund Tom konnte letzten Samstag nicht zu Lisas Geburtstagsfeier kommen. Schreiben Sie ihm: Wie war die Feier? Was hat Ihnen am besten gefallen und warum? Schlagen Sie ein Treffen vor.
(Your friend Tom couldn't come to Lisa's birthday party last Saturday. Write to him: How was the party? What did you like best, and why? Suggest meeting up.)

Our short sample answer covers all three points, in the du form. It is shorter than a real answer: the exam task tells you how many words to write.

Lieber Tom,
schade, dass du nicht da warst! Die Feier war wirklich schön: Wir haben gegessen, getanzt und viel gelacht. Am besten hat mir das Essen gefallen, weil Lisa alles selbst gekocht hat. Hast du nächsten Freitag Zeit? Dann können wir zusammen ins Kino gehen.
Viele Grüße
Sam
(Dear Tom, what a shame you weren't there! The party was really lovely: we ate, danced and laughed a lot. I liked the food best, because Lisa cooked everything herself. Are you free next Friday? Then we can go to the cinema together. Best wishes, Sam)

Cover every point. An email that skips one isn't a complete answer.
Match the reader: du and Viele Grüße for a friend, Sie and Mit freundlichen Grüßen for an office or a boss.
Connect your ideas with weil, deshalb and dass (see weil, denn and deshalb), and tell what happened in the perfect tense with haben or sein.

Sprechen: Speaking (About 15 Minutes)

Normally in pairs, after 15 minutes of preparation; solo only in exceptional cases. Three parts:

Plan something together with your partner.
Give a short presentation on a topic.
React to feedback and answer questions from your partner and the examiner.

Our example of a planning task (not an official one): your German course is going on a day trip, and you two are organising it.

A: Ich würde einen Ausflug an einen See vorschlagen. (I'd suggest a trip to a lake.)
B: Gute Idee, aber was machen wir, wenn es regnet? (Good idea, but what do we do if it rains?)
A: Dann könnten wir ins Museum gehen. Fahren wir mit dem Zug? (Then we could go to the museum. Shall we take the train?)
B: Ja, das ist am günstigsten. Ich kümmere mich um die Fahrkarten. (Yes, that's cheapest. I'll take care of the tickets.)

Each turn reacts to the other person and adds something new.

Note key words, not full sentences while you prepare.
Give your presentation a shape: the topic, your own experience, pros and cons, your opinion, a closing line.
Listen when your partner speaks. It's a conversation, not two speeches.

Goethe B1 Scoring, Certificates and Retakes

Points	Grade	In English
90-100	sehr gut	very good
80-89	gut	good
70-79	befriedigend	satisfactory
60-69	ausreichend	sufficient (a pass)
0-59	nicht bestanden	not passed

Each module you pass gets its own certificate. A failed module can be retaken as often as you like and combined with the ones you have. Pass all four within one year and you can get an overall certificate listing them; which centres' results count together varies, so ask first.

telc Deutsch B1: The Written and Oral Exam

telc Deutsch B1, also called Zertifikat Deutsch, is one exam with a written and an oral part. The format is on the official telc Deutsch B1 page, and our free telc B1 preparation guide turns it into a weekly study routine.

The Written Exam

It runs without a break:

Leseverstehen (reading, 3 parts) and Sprachbausteine (SHPRAHKH-bow-shty-nuh, "language building blocks": 2 parts of grammar and vocabulary gaps): 90 minutes together
Hörverstehen (listening, 3 parts): about 30 minutes
Schriftlicher Ausdruck (writing): one letter or email in 30 minutes

The Sprachbausteine are the part Goethe B1 doesn't have, and they reward solid grammar: prepositions, connectors, verb forms. Our example (not an official task):

Liebe Anna, vielen Dank ___ (1) deine Einladung. Ich komme gern, ___ (2) ich am Samstag frei habe. (Dear Anna, many thanks ___ your invitation. I'd love to come, ___ I'm free on Saturday.)

a) für, b) über, c) von
a) deshalb, b) weil, c) trotzdem

Answers: 1a für, as in danke für. 2b weil: only weil sends the verb habe to the end.

Own your 90 minutes. Reading and Sprachbausteine share the time, so learn your pace with a clock.
For the email, practise with our telc B1 writing task, model email and checklist.

The Oral Exam

About 15 minutes, usually in pairs, after 20 minutes of preparation. Three parts:

Kontaktaufnahme (getting to know each other)
Talking about a topic
Solving a task together: planning something with your partner

Our telc B1 speaking prompts and phrases let you practise all three, with model answers to compare.

telc B1 Pass Mark and Retakes

You pass the written and the oral exam separately, each with at least 60%. In telc's published model test, that's 135 of 225 written points and 45 of 75 oral points, out of 300. A strong written result can't make up for a weak oral one.

Under current telc rules, from B1 up you can redo just the failed half within 12 months of your result. Single subtests, such as only the listening, can't be retaken.

The DTZ: B1 Through the Integration Course

The Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer (DTZ) is the language test at the end of the integration course. It has a 100-minute written part (listening, reading, a short letter) and an oral part of about 15 minutes in pairs. Your certificate shows A2 or B1, depending on your results. B1 plus the Leben in Deutschland test gives you the Zertifikat Integrationskurs.

Goethe or telc: Which Should You Take?

Both test B1, so neither is easier on paper. Choose by your situation:

Need it for an office? Check its list first. If you choose Goethe for citizenship or a settlement permit, plan on all four modules.
One skill much weaker? Goethe lets you take that module later and retake only what you failed.
Prefer one exam to four modules? telc tests everything together, and if one half goes wrong, you redo only that half within 12 months.
Strong at grammar? telc's Sprachbausteine reward it. Dread grammar gaps? Goethe B1 has no Sprachbausteine.
Where and when? Often decisive: compare centres, dates and fees near you.

Still unsure? Try one part of each official model test and see which format feels right.

How to Prepare for the German B1 Exam

How Long Does It Take to Get From A2 to B1?

Goethe's guideline is about 350 to 650 lessons of 45 minutes from zero to B1, depending on what you already know, against 200 to 350 for A2. So A2 to B1 is a big jump: by that guideline, roughly another 150 to 300 lessons, or about four to seven months at an hour a day.

Not sure where you stand? Take our free German level assessment or the B1 German quiz, or start with the A2 German quiz. Just starting out? See our Goethe A1 exam guide.

A 12-Week Plan for the Last Stretch

This is for when you're comfortable at A2 and starting to manage B1 texts. It's a pattern to adapt, not a promise.

Weeks	Focus	What to do
1-2	Find your gaps	One official model test, untimed. Note every guess and grammar slip.
3-6	Build the language	Daily: 20 minutes of words and one text to read or hear. Weekly: one grammar topic, such as subordinate clauses or Konjunktiv II for polite suggestions.
7-9	Train the formats	Two writing tasks a week, checked against a model. Speaking three times a week, with a partner or recorded. Timed reading and listening.
10-11	Mock exams	One full timed mock a week, then fix what went wrong.
12	Ease off	Light review, ready phrases, sleep. Nothing new.

Further from B1 than that? Build the language first. Our self-study online German course from A1 to B1 takes you through every level, with practice for every part of telc Deutsch B1, and its B1 curriculum covers the emails, opinions and planning conversations you'll need. It prepares you, but it awards no certificate, and nobody can promise a pass.

Ready Phrases for Writing and Speaking

Learn these until they come without thinking, then fill them with your own content:

German	English	Use it for
Meiner Meinung nach ist das eine gute Lösung.	In my opinion, that's a good solution.	Your opinion
Ich finde, dass Homeoffice viele Vorteile hat.	I think working from home has a lot of advantages.	Your opinion
Einerseits ist das praktisch, andererseits kostet es viel.	On the one hand it's practical, on the other it costs a lot.	Pros and cons
Das sehe ich anders, denn …	I see that differently, because …	Disagreeing politely
Ich würde vorschlagen, dass wir uns um zehn treffen.	I'd suggest we meet at ten.	Planning
Wie wäre es mit Samstagvormittag?	How about Saturday morning?	Planning
Könnten Sie mir bitte mitteilen, ob …?	Could you please let me know whether …?	Formal emails
Ich freue mich auf Ihre Antwort.	I look forward to your reply.	Formal emails

More in our guides to giving your opinion in German and writing a formal email in German.

Learn the Goethe B1 Word List

The Goethe-Institut publishes the Goethe-Zertifikat B1 word list (PDF), a useful map of B1 vocabulary whichever exam you take. Don't learn it from A to Z: take one topic at a time, learn each noun with its article and plural, and put new words into sentences about your own life.

What is on the list, how to read it and how to learn it in a few months: see our guide to the Goethe B1 word list.

Booking and Exam Day

Goethe: choose your country on the Goethe-Institut exams page for centres, dates and fees.
telc: book with a licensed centre, in Germany often a Volkshochschule. Each centre sets its own fees and dates.
ID: ask which identity document your centre accepts, and bring exactly that.
Results come through your centre: ask when, especially if you have a deadline.

On the day, read every instruction twice. Missed something in the speaking exam? Ask: Können Sie das bitte noch einmal sagen? (Could you say that again, please?)

Common Mistakes

Booking Before Checking What Your Office Accepts

Look at the list first: if the office wants all four Goethe modules, three won't do.

Memorising One Perfect Email

A text learned by heart rarely fits the actual task. Learn flexible phrases, then answer the points you're given.

Giving a Speech Instead of Having a Conversation

React to your partner and ask questions: Was meinst du? (What do you think?) Da hast du recht, aber … (You're right there, but …)

Putting the Verb in the Wrong Place

Wrong: Ich lerne Deutsch, weil ich will hier arbeiten. Right: Ich lerne Deutsch, weil ich hier arbeiten will.

Wrong: Meiner Meinung nach das ist richtig. Right: Meiner Meinung nach ist das richtig.

After weil, dass and ob, the conjugated verb goes to the end. After an opener like Meiner Meinung nach, it comes next, in second place.

Mixing Du and Sie

Wrong: Sehr geehrte Frau Weber, kannst du mir bitte helfen? Right: Sehr geehrte Frau Weber, können Sie mir bitte helfen?

Practice

Try these, then check the answers below:

Fix the word order: Ich kann am Freitag nicht kommen, weil ich muss arbeiten.
Weil or deshalb? Ich habe am Samstag Zeit, ___ komme ich gern.
Your partner suggests Friday, but you can't make it. Say so politely and suggest Saturday morning.
You're writing to your landlord, Herr Wagner. How do you start and end the email?

Answers: 1. Ich kann am Freitag nicht kommen, weil ich arbeiten muss. 2. deshalb 3. Freitag passt mir leider nicht. Wie wäre es mit Samstagvormittag? 4. Sehr geehrter Herr Wagner, … Mit freundlichen Grüßen

Then test yourself with the B1 German quiz.

Keep learning:

FAQ

Is the German B1 exam hard?

It's a real step up from A2: longer texts, opinions with reasons, connected writing. At the right level and with practice in the format, it's a fair test of everyday German. See also is German hard to learn?

Goethe or telc: which is easier?

Neither is easier in principle: both test B1. Goethe is modular and has no Sprachbausteine; telc has them, and gives you 20 minutes of speaking preparation instead of 15.

What is the pass mark for the B1 exam?

Goethe-Zertifikat B1: 60 of 100 points in each module. telc Deutsch B1: at least 60% in the written and in the oral exam, passed separately (135 of 225 and 45 of 75 points in telc's model test).

Do I need all four Goethe modules for citizenship?

Usually, yes: offices that accept the Goethe-Zertifikat B1 for citizenship or a settlement permit typically want all four modules passed. Check your office's list first.

Does a B1 certificate expire?

Goethe certificates don't expire, and telc certificates show no expiry date. But whoever asks for one decides whether an older certificate is fine, and some institutions and employers want one no older than two years.

Can I retake only one part of the B1 exam?

At Goethe, yes: any single module, as often as you like. At telc, from B1 up you can redo only the failed half (written or oral) within 12 months, not a single subtest such as listening.