A2 · B1 · model tests

DTZ preparation: Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer

The DTZ is the exam at the end of the German integration course, and for many people it is the single most important German test they will ever take: the result is what residence and naturalisation offices look at. It is a scaled exam - one test, and each skill is certified at either A2 or B1. PassDeutsch prepares you for exactly that format, with the paired speaking test and the semi-formal letter that decide most results.

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What the DTZ exam is

The DTZ is run for the Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge (BAMF) and is the standard final exam of the Integrationskurs.
It is a scaled test: everybody takes the same paper, and your certificate shows A2 or B1 for the written part and for the oral part.
It is deliberately practical - the texts, letters and conversations are about doctors’ appointments, landlords, schools, work and authorities.
You do not need to have attended an integration course to sit it; you can register as a self-payer at an approved test centre.

Who usually takes it

Participants finishing a BAMF integration course.
Anyone who needs documented B1 for a permanent residence permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis).
Applicants for German citizenship, where a B1 result is typically required.
Learners who want a practical, everyday exam rather than an academic one.

Commonly accepted for

Certificate of the integration course (Zertifikat Integrationskurs) together with the Leben in Deutschland test
Permanent residence applications
Naturalisation (Einbürgerung) applications
Proof of language level for employers and authorities

Exam format

DTZ structure, module by module

Durations and part counts are approximate - your test centre gives you the binding version when you book.

Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer (A2–B1)

One exam, graded A2 or B1 per part. The written block runs about 100 minutes; the oral exam is taken in pairs with preparation time beforehand.

Module	Time	Parts	What you do
HörenListening	approx. 25 min	4 parts	Answerphone messages, public announcements, everyday conversations and short radio items.
LesenReading	approx. 45 min	5 parts	Small ads, timetables, letters from authorities, workplace notices and short articles.
SchreibenWriting	approx. 30 min	1 of 2 tasks	A semi-formal letter - a complaint, a request, an apology or a reply to an official letter - covering all given points.
SprechenSpeaking	approx. 16 min	3 parts	Talk about yourself, describe a picture and discuss it, then plan something together with your partner.

Note: The A2 and B1 results are shown separately for the written and oral parts.

How the DTZ exam is scored

Each skill is graded on the A2/B1 scale - you can, for example, receive B1 for the oral part and A2 for the written part.
The certificate shows both results, so an office that requires B1 “overall” usually means B1 in both parts. Check exactly what your case worker needs.
If you reach A2 only, you can normally repeat the exam once with additional funded course hours - ask your course provider.
The oral exam is taken in pairs and is worth as much as the whole written part in most people’s outcome, because it is where B1 is won or lost.

Practise the right format

The most common preparation mistake is practising generic German and meeting an unfamiliar task type on exam day. In PassDeutsch you choose DTZ first, and every test, timer and task follows from that.

DTZ A2 model tests
DTZ B1 model tests

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Model test in PassDeutsch showing the four DTZ exam modules with timers

In the app

What PassDeutsch gives you for DTZ

DTZ model tests in the real A2/B1 scaled format
Timed Hören, Lesen and Schreiben blocks that mirror the exam day
Semi-formal letter practice with AI marking against the given content points
Sprechen practice for all three parts, including the picture task and the planning task
Everyday vocabulary - health, housing, work, authorities, school
Progress analytics so you can see whether you are currently landing at A2 or B1

Preparation

Four things that move a DTZ score

Ordinary advice, in the order it pays off.

Aim for B1 in both parts, not “a pass”

There is no fail as such - there is A2 and there is B1. If you need B1 for a residence permit or citizenship, then A2 in one part means repeating the exam. Plan your preparation around the part you are weakest in.

The letter is a formula you can learn

Almost every DTZ writing task is a complaint, a request, an apology or a reply. Learn one reliable structure - greeting, reason for writing, the given points in order, a polite request, closing - and practise slotting content into it.

Practise the picture task out loud

In Sprechen Teil 2 you describe a photo and then talk about your own experience with the topic. Two minutes of structured speech beats ten memorised sentences: say what you see, what is happening, what it reminds you of, and what you think about it.

Study the vocabulary of everyday officialdom

Kündigung, Mahnung, Termin vereinbaren, Krankmeldung, Elternabend, Nebenkosten. The DTZ lives in this world - the more of it you recognise instantly, the more reading time you have left for the questions.

FAQ

DTZ questions

What level is the DTZ exam?

The DTZ is a scaled exam covering A2 and B1. Everyone takes the same paper and the certificate shows, separately for the written and the oral part, whether you reached A2 or B1. That is why it is sometimes listed as “A2–B1”.

Do I need B1 in the DTZ for permanent residence or citizenship?

A B1 result is the level normally expected for a permanent residence permit and for naturalisation, but the exact requirement depends on your permit type and personal circumstances. Confirm what you need with the Ausländerbehörde or the office handling your application before you book.

What happens if I only reach A2?

The exam is not “failed” - your certificate simply shows A2 for that part. Integration course participants can usually repeat the exam once, often with additional funded lessons. Ask your course provider or the BAMF about repeating.

Can I take the DTZ without an integration course?

Yes. You can register as a self-payer with an approved test centre. In that case preparing with realistic model tests matters even more, because you will not have gone through the course’s exam training.

Keep reading

Goethe-Institut preparation telc Deutsch preparation German A1 guide German A2 guide German B1 guide Goethe vs telc vs DTZ

PassDeutsch is an independent study tool. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the Goethe-Institut, telc gGmbH, the Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge (BAMF), or any official examination body. Goethe-Zertifikat, telc Deutsch and DTZ are trademarks of their respective owners. Exam formats and requirements can change - always confirm the current specification with your test centre before booking.

Take a free DTZ model test

Two full model tests per level are included free - sit one under exam conditions and find out where you actually stand.

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