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telc Deutsch preparation: A1, A2 and B1

telc Deutsch - The European Language Certificates - is one of the most common German exams inside Germany itself. Integration courses, employers, Jobcenter measures and many authorities accept it, and it is offered by thousands of language schools and adult education centres (Volkshochschulen). PassDeutsch gives you telc-format model tests at A1, A2 and B1, including the Sprachbausteine section that trips up most learners.

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What the telc exam is

telc is a non-profit exam board based in Frankfurt with test centres across Europe.
Its German exams are aligned to the CEFR and are available from A1 up to C2, plus occupation-specific versions such as telc Deutsch B1·B2 Pflege.
The exam is split into a written part (all candidates together) and an oral part, usually taken in pairs.
telc B1 is often listed under its older name, Zertifikat Deutsch.

Who usually takes it

Learners finishing a course at a Volkshochschule or private language school in Germany.
Anyone whose employer, Jobcenter or training provider explicitly asks for telc.
Learners who prefer a written exam with a clear structures section they can drill.
Candidates taking a profession-specific German exam later and wanting the same format now.

Commonly accepted for

Integration and language courses in Germany
Employers, apprenticeships and Jobcenter requirements
Residence applications where a general CEFR certificate is accepted
Entry to further telc exams at B2 and above

Exam format

telc structure, module by module

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

telc Deutsch A1

Proof that you can handle simple, predictable exchanges: understanding slow, clear speech, reading short notices and writing a few sentences about yourself.

Module	Time	Parts	What you do
HörverstehenListening	approx. 20 min	3 parts	Short everyday dialogues, announcements and messages.
LeseverstehenReading	approx. 25 min	3 parts	Signs, small ads, short emails and simple notices.
SchreibenWriting	approx. 20 min	1 task	Fill in a simple form and write a short message using given points.
SprechenSpeaking	approx. 15 min	3 parts	Introduce yourself, ask for and give information, make simple requests.

Note: Speaking is normally taken in a small group.

telc Deutsch A2

You show that you can deal with routine tasks: understanding short conversations and texts, writing a simple message and taking part in an everyday conversation.

Module	Time	Parts	What you do
HörverstehenListening	approx. 20 min	3 parts	Announcements, short conversations and radio-style messages.
Leseverstehen + SprachbausteineReading + Structures	approx. 30 min	3 + 1 parts	Short texts and adverts, plus a gap-fill section testing everyday grammar and vocabulary.
SchreibenWriting	approx. 20 min	1 task	A short personal message covering the three or four points you are given.
SprechenSpeaking	approx. 15 min	3 parts	Talk about yourself, exchange information about everyday topics, plan something with your partner.

Note: Speaking is taken in pairs, with preparation time before you go in.

telc Deutsch B1 (Zertifikat Deutsch)

The workhorse certificate for life in Germany: work, residence, further training. The written exam is long, so pacing matters as much as language.

Module	Time	Parts	What you do
Leseverstehen + SprachbausteineReading + Structures	approx. 90 min	3 + 2 parts	Longer articles, matching tasks and adverts, followed by Sprachbausteine Teil 1 (grammar, multiple choice) and Teil 2 (vocabulary gap-fill from a word bank).
HörverstehenListening	approx. 30 min	3 parts	Global understanding, detailed understanding and selective understanding - some recordings are played only once.
SchreibenWriting	approx. 30 min	1 task	A semi-formal letter or email answering all four given content points, with correct opening and closing formulas.
SprechenSpeaking	approx. 15 min	3 parts	Kontaktaufnahme (small talk), a conversation about a topic from a text or picture, and a joint planning task with your partner.

Note: The written modules are sat in one block of roughly 150 minutes.

How the telc exam is scored

The written and oral parts are scored separately and combined into an overall result; around 60% is normally needed to pass.
The written exam covers Leseverstehen, Sprachbausteine, Hörverstehen and Schreiben in one sitting.
Sprachbausteine is pure accuracy work: grammar in Teil 1, vocabulary and collocation in Teil 2. Points here are the cheapest points in the whole exam once you have drilled the patterns.
The oral exam is taken in pairs with about 20 minutes of preparation beforehand.

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 telc Deutsch first, and every test, timer and task follows from that.

telc A1 model tests
telc A2 model tests
telc B1 model tests

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

In the app

What PassDeutsch gives you for telc

telc-format model tests at A1, A2 and B1
Dedicated Sprachbausteine practice for telc B1 - the section with the fastest score gains
Timed written modules so the 150-minute B1 block stops being a shock
AI marking of your telc letter, including whether you covered all four content points
Speaking practice for Kontaktaufnahme, topic conversation and the joint planning task
Vocabulary and grammar sets aligned to the level you booked

Preparation

Four things that move a telc score

Ordinary advice, in the order it pays off.

Treat Sprachbausteine as free points

The structures section tests a finite set of patterns: connectors, cases after prepositions, verb complements, fixed collocations. Twenty minutes of drilling a day for two weeks moves this section further than any amount of general reading.

Answer all four content points in the letter

telc writing is marked on task fulfilment first. A grammatically perfect letter that ignores one of the given points loses more than a slightly clumsy letter that covers all four. Tick them off as you write.

Learn the letter formulas by heart

Openings, closings and polite request phrases are predictable - memorise a small set that works for both semi-formal and formal letters and you buy yourself minutes for the content.

Rehearse the paired tasks

In the oral exam you have to react to a partner, not deliver a monologue. Practise agreeing, disagreeing politely and making suggestions so that the planning task feels like a conversation.

FAQ

telc questions

What is Sprachbausteine in the telc exam?

Sprachbausteine (“language building blocks”) is a gap-fill section in the telc written exam. Teil 1 tests grammar with multiple-choice options; Teil 2 tests vocabulary and collocations, where you choose from a bank of words. It is pure accuracy work, which makes it the most trainable part of the exam. PassDeutsch includes Sprachbausteine practice for telc B1.

Is telc Deutsch B1 the same as Zertifikat Deutsch?

Yes - telc Deutsch B1 is the current name of the exam that was long known as Zertifikat Deutsch. If a form or job advert asks for Zertifikat Deutsch B1, a telc Deutsch B1 certificate is what is meant.

How long is the telc B1 exam?

The written part runs about 150 minutes in one block (reading and Sprachbausteine, then listening, then writing), and the oral exam takes roughly 15 minutes in pairs after about 20 minutes of preparation. Exact timings are printed on the Prüfungsordnung you receive from your test centre.

Can I practise telc tests for free?

Yes. PassDeutsch is free to download and includes model tests at each level so you can see the format before deciding whether to subscribe. telc also publishes official sample papers (Übungstests) on its own website - use both.

Keep reading

Goethe-Institut preparation DTZ 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.

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