telc · A1
telc Deutsch A1 model test
telc A1 covers the same CEFR level as the Goethe A1 exam but packages it differently, and the format is what catches people out rather than the German. Sitting one complete telc paper end to end removes that surprise before it costs you anything.
telc Deutsch A1 - full model test
A printable paper timed the way the real exam is timed, with an answer key. Pair it with the app to play the Hören audio and have every module marked for you.
Hören comes with the app. Install PassDeutsch to play the listening audio for this test, free - and it marks all four modules for you while you work through the paper.
PassDeutsch practice material is original content written to the published exam specification. It is not an official paper and is not affiliated with the telc. Official model papers are published by the exam board on its own site.
Inside the test
What the paper contains
Every module of the telc Deutsch A1, in exam order, with the timing you should hold yourself to.
| Module | Time | What it asks |
|---|---|---|
| HörenListening | about 20 minutes | Short everyday exchanges, announcements and recorded messages.Audio plays in the app |
| LesenReading | about 25 minutes | Signs, short emails and small ads, matching a need to the right notice. |
| SchreibenWriting | about 20 minutes | Complete a form, then write a short everyday message. |
| SprechenSpeaking | about 15 minutes | Introduce yourself, ask and answer simple questions, make and respond to a request. |
Marking: Sixty per cent, calculated across the whole exam - telc is not modular, so it is passed or failed as one. Timings are approximate - confirm the current specification with your test centre before booking.
Before you start
What catches people out at telc A1
The things that cost marks here are rarely the German itself.
It is one exam, not four
telc results are whole-exam. A weak module cannot be retaken on its own, so the practical goal is a level score with no gaping hole in it.
Answer sheets are marked, not the booklet
telc uses a separate Antwortbogen. Answers left in the question booklet score nothing, and transferring them takes real minutes you have to budget for.
Print it, do not read it on screen
The real A1 exam is on paper and handwritten. Reading a PDF on a phone while looking things up is a different task entirely, and it flatters your score.
Run the clock from the first page
Set a timer per module and stop when it stops, even mid-sentence. Almost everyone who fails a module fails it on pacing rather than knowledge.
After you have sat it
Score it honestly, then work on the weakest module rather than the whole exam. A certificate is decided by your worst skill, not your average.
FAQ
telc A1 questions
Is telc A1 easier than Goethe A1?
Neither is easier - both certify CEFR A1 and both need about 60% to pass. The task types and the answer-sheet handling differ, which is why practising in the format you have booked matters more than choosing between them.
Can I retake one part of telc A1?
No. telc exams are taken and certified as a whole. Only the Goethe-Zertifikat B1 offers module-by-module retakes.
Is telc A1 accepted for a visa?
telc Deutsch A1 is widely accepted for family reunification, but the accepting authority decides. Check with the embassy or office handling your application before you book.
Practise the telc A1 format properly
30 full model tests for this exam, all free, with AI feedback on your writing and speaking.
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