Prepare for your telc B1 exam

What the telc Deutsch B1 exam contains

The exam combines a written paper and a speaking test. Reading and Language Elements share a 90-minute block. Listening takes about 30 minutes, writing 30 minutes, and the paired speaking test about 15 minutes, with 20 minutes of preparation.

Use the exact sample for the exam you booked. A general B1 language level does not make the telc, Goethe and DTZ task formats interchangeable. The official download is linked at the end of this guide.

Start with one honest sample

1. First try: use a fresh official sample without a dictionary or a translated transcript. Keep a note of where you guessed.
2. Check the reason: for each wrong answer, underline the evidence you missed. Was the problem an unknown word, a connector, a distractor or running out of time?
3. Separate the skill from the format: if the untimed version is difficult too, work on the language. If it becomes clear without the clock, practise the task and your pacing.
4. Keep some material unseen: a remembered answer is useful review, but it no longer tells you how you will handle a new text.

Speaking and writing need a different check. Compare your message or recording with the task and a model. A reading score cannot tell you whether you can produce a clear email or respond in a conversation.

A weekly routine you can repeat

Use this as a pattern, not a promise that a certain number of weeks will produce B1. Your starting point and the work that your sample reveals decide how long to continue.

• Session 1: reading and useful language. Work through a short text. Write down a phrase you can use yourself, not just a translation of every unfamiliar word.
• Session 2: listening. Listen once for the situation and once for detail. Then compare with the transcript. Replay the sentence that changed your answer.
• Session 3: writing. Use the B1 email practice. Plan the requested points, write your response and check it before revealing the model.
• Session 4: speaking. Use the speaking prompts and planning exchange. Record yourself if you wish, then listen for complete answers and a response to the other person.
• A short return visit: retrieve the phrases from earlier sessions without looking. Use them in a new situation so they do not belong to just one task.

For a difficult skill, split the work: one short session to understand the model, another to try without it. An exhausted full paper is less useful than knowing exactly what to work on next.

What to check before booking

• You can explain the reasons for your reading and listening answers.
• You can write a new response covering every point, rather than reproduce one memorised email.
• You can ask a question, answer a follow-up and change a plan when a partner disagrees.
• You have tried an unseen official sample under its own timing and instructions.
• Your examination centre has confirmed the exact exam, identity-document rules, delivery format, date and fee.

These checks help you decide what needs practice. They do not predict a pass: writing and speaking are assessed in the real exam, and your performance on the day matters.

If the language itself still feels too difficult, return to a structured B1 learning route rather than repeat mock papers you already know.