German exams · B1

telc Deutsch B1 (Zertifikat Deutsch)

telc Deutsch B1 (also called "Zertifikat Deutsch"; sister versions telc Deutsch B1 Schule, telc Deutsch B1+. Run by telc; settlement permit and naturalisation; the exam most adult education centres offer.

The exam in detail

One exam with a written part (225 points) and an oral part (75 points), 300 points in total. Pass rule: at least 60 % in the written part (135 points) AND at least 60 % in the oral part (45 points). Grades by total: 300-270 sehr gut, 269.5-240 gut, 239.5-210 befriedigend, 209.5-180 ausreichend. A failed part (written or oral) can usually be repeated on its own within one year; ask the test centre.
Leseverstehen + Sprachbausteine: 90 minutes together (you divide the time yourself). Leseverstehen: 3 Teile, 20 items, 75 points: Teil 1 Globalverstehen (match 5 short texts to 10 headlines), Teil 2 Detailverstehen (a longer text, 5 multiple-choice items), Teil 3 Selektives Verstehen (match 10 situations to 12 advertisements; for some the answer is "x" = no suitable ad). Sprachbausteine: 2 Teile, 20 items, 30 points: Teil 1 a letter with 10 gaps, three options (a/b/c) for each gap, mostly grammar (connectors, prepositions, pronouns, verb forms, adjective endings); Teil 2 a text with 10 gaps to fill from a bank of 15 words (a-o), five words remain unused.
Hörverstehen: about 30 minutes, 3 Teile, 20 items, 75 points: Teil 1 Globalverstehen (5 short texts, richtig/falsch, played once), Teil 2 Detailverstehen (an interview or report, 10 richtig/falsch items, played once), Teil 3 Selektives Verstehen (5 short announcements, richtig/falsch, played twice).
Schriftlicher Ausdruck: 30 minutes, 45 points: one semi-formal or formal letter/e-mail replying to a given text (an advertisement, a letter, a notice) with FOUR Leitpunkte that all have to be addressed; about 100 words is a sensible length, there is no strict word limit. Rated on three criteria of 15 points each: I Berücksichtigung der Leitpunkte (all four points covered appropriately), II Kommunikative Gestaltung (register, salutation and closing, structure, connectors), III Formale Richtigkeit (grammar, spelling, punctuation). Missing a Leitpunkt costs heavily in criterion I.
Mündlicher Ausdruck: about 15 minutes for two candidates after 20 minutes of preparation (notes allowed), 3 Teile, 75 points: Teil 1 Kontaktaufnahme (15 points): get to know your partner - name, origin, family, work or studies, languages, free time, plans. Teil 2 Gespräch über ein Thema (30 points): each candidate gets a short text or statistic on a topic, tells the partner what it says, then both exchange experiences and opinions. Teil 3 Gemeinsam eine Aufgabe lösen (30 points): plan or organise something together (e.g. a farewell party, a trip, a visit) and agree on details.

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