telc · B1
telc Deutsch B1 model test
telc B1 has a section no other provider uses: Sprachbausteine, a grammar and vocabulary cloze that decides a meaningful share of the reading mark. If you have prepared with Goethe material and booked telc, that section is the one that will surprise you.
telc Deutsch B1 (Zertifikat Deutsch) - 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 B1 (Zertifikat Deutsch), in exam order, with the timing you should hold yourself to.
| Module | Time | What it asks |
|---|---|---|
| LesenReading | about 90 minutes with Sprachbausteine | Reading parts plus Sprachbausteine Teil 1 and Teil 2, taken as one block. |
| HörenListening | about 30 minutes | Global, detailed and selective listening across three parts.Audio plays in the app |
| SchreibenWriting | about 30 minutes | One letter or email covering the given content points. |
| SprechenSpeaking | about 15 minutes | Getting acquainted, talking about a topic, then planning a task together. |
Marking: Sixty per cent across the exam as a whole. telc B1 is not modular - the certificate is passed or failed in one. Timings are approximate - confirm the current specification with your test centre before booking.
Before you start
What catches people out at telc B1
The things that cost marks here are rarely the German itself.
Sprachbausteine is telc-only
Teil 1 is multiple choice from three options, Teil 2 picks from a long word bank. It rewards recognising fixed expressions and connectors rather than translating.
Reading and Sprachbausteine share a clock
They run as one 90-minute block, so time spent agonising over a cloze gap is time taken from the reading texts. Most people should do the reading first.
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.
Do the Sprechen part out loud
Record yourself on your phone rather than reading the prompts silently. Speaking is the module people skip in practice and lose most marks on.
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 B1 questions
What is Sprachbausteine in the telc B1 exam?
A cloze section unique to telc, testing grammar and vocabulary in context. Teil 1 offers three options per gap; Teil 2 asks you to choose from a longer list of words. It is taken together with the reading module.
Is telc B1 the same as Zertifikat Deutsch?
Yes - telc Deutsch B1 is the exam previously known as Zertifikat Deutsch, and you will still see both names used by schools and employers.
Is telc B1 accepted for naturalisation?
telc Deutsch B1 is widely accepted as proof of B1 for naturalisation, but the deciding authority is the office handling your application. Confirm before booking.
Practise the telc B1 format properly
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