telc B1 Deutsch-Prüfung
Free AI-graded mock exams for Lesen, Sprachbausteine, Hören & Schreiben — pass the real test on the first try.
⏱️ telc B1 exam-day time plan
Worked sample questions 📚
Click each subtest to expand the example items and explanations.
Lesen (Reading)
— 75 min combined with Sprachbausteine, 25 items, 75 pts
Lesen (Reading)
— 75 min combined with Sprachbausteine, 25 items, 75 ptsTeil 1 — Globalverstehen (Headlines)
Read 5 short articles and 10 candidate headlines (a-j). Match the correct headline to each article. Each article uses ONE headline; some headlines are distractors.
📰 Last year, twice as many German families chose camping holidays over hotel stays. Rising fuel costs, the appeal of unplugged time outdoors, and a 22% increase in family-friendly campsites all contributed to the trend, which is expected to continue into 2026.
- a) German hotel sector reports record losses
- b) Camping is the new family vacation
- c) Fuel prices push travel out of reach
- d) New rules for German campsites
✅ Answer: b
💡 The article's focus is the SHIFT to camping, not hotel decline (a) or fuel prices (c) or campsite rules (d). The headline must capture the article's main claim, not a supporting detail.
Teil 2 — Detailverstehen (Long Article + MC)
Read one long article (~600 words) and answer 5 multiple-choice questions with 3 options each (a/b/c). Questions test specific factual comprehension, not gist.
📰 According to a 2025 study by the German Hiking Federation, 43% of hikers under 30 now plan their routes primarily through smartphone apps, while 58% of hikers over 60 still prefer paper maps. The study surveyed 8,400 hikers across all 16 Bundesländer.
Question: How do hikers under 30 typically plan their routes?
- a) With paper maps
- b) With smartphone apps
- c) Through a tour guide
✅ Answer: b
💡 The number "43%" is a distractor; the meaningful information is "primarily through smartphone apps". Reading skill: locate the specific subgroup (under 30) and ignore the unrelated 58% statistic.
Teil 3 — Selektives Verstehen (Ad Matching)
Read 12 short ads (a-l) and 10 situations. Match each situation to the most relevant ad. Two ads will be unused (distractors).
Situation: You are looking for a German conversation partner who speaks Spanish — you teach each other in exchange.
Match: k) Sprachtandem gesucht: Ich (Anna, 28) lerne Spanisch, biete Deutsch im Tausch. Treffen 1× pro Woche im Café. WhatsApp: 0157-...
✅ Answer: k
💡 Keyword match: "Sprachtandem" (language exchange) + "Deutsch im Tausch" (German in exchange) maps directly to the situation. Ads about purely paid German lessons or one-way tutoring would be wrong matches.
Sprachbausteine (Grammar & Vocab)
— 20 items, 30 pts. Unique to telc.
Sprachbausteine (Grammar & Vocab)
— 20 items, 30 pts. Unique to telc.Teil 1 — Multiple-Choice Gap Fill (10 questions)
A short text (~150 words) has 10 numbered gaps. For each gap, choose the correct word from 3 options (a/b/c). Tests grammar (cases, prepositions, verb forms) and vocabulary in context.
Ich freue mich __(21)__ unseren Urlaub in Italien.
- a) für
- b) auf
- c) über
✅ Answer: b
💡 The fixed verb-preposition pair is "sich freuen AUF + accusative" (to look forward to). "Sich freuen ÜBER" means to be glad about something already happening or done. Memorise these verb-preposition combinations — they appear in almost every Sprachbausteine Teil 1.
Teil 2 — Letter Pool Matching (10 questions, 15 candidates a-o)
A short text has 10 gaps. Match each gap to the correct word from a 15-item pool (a-o). Five pool entries are distractors. Each pool word is used at most once.
Liebe Frau Schneider, vielen __(31)__ für Ihre Einladung zum Geburtstag. Leider __(32)__ ich an diesem Tag nicht kommen, weil ich auf Geschäftsreise __(33)__.
a) bin b) Dank c) habe d) kann e) komme f) wäre g) Glück h) wird i) sein j) konnte k) Glückwünsche l) Bitte m) Grüße n) gewesen o) müsste
✅ Answers: 31=b (Dank — fixed expression "vielen Dank"), 32=d (kann — modal verb negation), 33=a (bin — present "ich bin auf Geschäftsreise")
💡 Strategy: locate fixed expressions FIRST ("vielen Dank", "auf Geschäftsreise sein"), then fill in modals and forms by surrounding context.
Hören (Listening)
— 30 min, 20 items, 75 pts
Hören (Listening)
— 30 min, 20 items, 75 ptsTeil 1 — Globalverstehen (5 short audio segments)
Listen to 5 short conversations or announcements (each ~30-45 seconds). Decide for each whether the statement is Richtig (R) or Falsch (F). Audio plays ONCE.
🔊 Announcement at Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof: "Achtung, Reisende! Der ICE 875 nach München, planmäßige Abfahrt 14:32 von Gleis 7, fährt heute ausnahmsweise von Gleis 11 ab."
Statement: 41. The ICE 875 to Munich is leaving from track 7.
✅ Answer: Falsch
💡 "Heute ausnahmsweise von Gleis 11" overrides the scheduled track 7. The announcement uses a common pattern: scheduled info first, exception last. Train your ear to listen through to the end before judging.
Teil 2 — Detailverstehen (1 longer interview)
Listen to a single 4-5 minute interview or discussion. Answer 10 R/F statements about specific details. Audio plays TWICE.
Context: Interview with a German bakery owner about her decision to close on Sundays after 22 years
Statement: 46. The bakery has been closed on Sundays for 22 years.
✅ Answer: Falsch
💡 The bakery has been OPEN for 22 years; the Sunday-closure decision is recent. Trap: the number 22 attaches to "open" duration, not "closed" duration. Note keywords like "seit" (since) and "ab" (starting) — they pin down which side of the timeline applies.
Teil 3 — Selektives Verstehen (5 short audio + R/F)
Listen to 5 short monologues (each ~30 seconds — voicemail, weather, traffic, public-service announcements). Answer 1 R/F statement per monologue. Audio plays ONCE.
🔊 Voicemail: "Hallo Petra, hier ist Markus. Können wir das Treffen heute Abend auf morgen Mittag verschieben? Mir ist etwas dazwischen gekommen. Ruf mich zurück."
Statement: 56. Markus wants to move the meeting to tomorrow at noon.
✅ Answer: Richtig
💡 "Auf morgen Mittag verschieben" = move to tomorrow noon. "Verschieben" is a high-frequency telc B1 verb (to postpone) — drill it.
Schreiben (Writing)
— 30 min, 1 task, 45 pts. Hit all 4 Leitpunkte.
Schreiben (Writing)
— 30 min, 1 task, 45 pts. Hit all 4 Leitpunkte.Sie haben vor sechs Monaten in einem Online-Shop ein Fahrrad gekauft. Jetzt ist das Schaltsystem kaputt. Schreiben Sie eine E-Mail an den Kundenservice (ca. 120-150 Wörter).
Leitpunkte:
- Beschreiben Sie das Problem.
- Nennen Sie die Bestellnummer und das Kaufdatum.
- Erklären Sie, was Sie sich als Lösung wünschen.
- Bitten Sie um eine schnelle Antwort.
Grading rubric (4 criteria × 25%):
- Inhalt (content) (25%) — Hit ALL FOUR Leitpunkte. Missing one = automatic 0/5 on that criterion.
- Kommunikative Gestaltung (style) (25%) — Use a formal register: "Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren", "Mit freundlichen Grüßen". No first names, no informal contractions.
- Formale Richtigkeit (grammar) (25%) — Subordinate clauses with verb-final, correct case marking on nouns/articles. One major grammar error per 30 words is the rough threshold for full marks.
- Aufbau (structure) (25%) — Greeting → context → details → request → closing. Roughly 30 words per section keeps you within the 150-word ceiling.
Frequently asked questions 🤔
How is the telc B1 Deutsch-Prüfung structured?
Four independent subtests across one test day: Leseverstehen (75 minutes for Lesen + Sprachbausteine combined), Hörverstehen (~30 minutes), Schriftlicher Ausdruck (30 minutes), and a separate oral exam. The pass mark is 60% in EACH subtest independently — a strong score on writing cannot offset a failing score on listening.
What are Sprachbausteine and why does telc include them?
Sprachbausteine ("language building blocks") is a 20-question grammar and vocabulary subtest unique to telc Deutsch (B1 and B2 levels only). Teil 1 has 10 multiple-choice gap-fills; Teil 2 is a letter-pool matching task with 10 gaps and 15 candidate words (a-o). Goethe-Zertifikat does not include Sprachbausteine — this is the most distinctive structural difference.
How many practice exams should I complete before the real test?
Aim for at least 3-5 full timed mock exams under realistic conditions. The first one establishes a baseline; the next 2-4 target your weakest subtest. Real-world data: candidates who do fewer than 2 timed mocks fail Hörverstehen at roughly twice the rate of those who do 4+.
Can a strong Schreiben score compensate for a weak Hören result?
No. Unlike Goethe-Zertifikat B1 where modules can be retaken individually, telc B1 requires 60% in EACH of the 4 subtests as a single test sitting. A fail in any one subtest = fail overall. This makes practice across all 4 skills equally important — there are no "carry" points between subtests.
What is the difference between telc B1 and Zertifikat Deutsch B1?
They are the same exam. "Zertifikat Deutsch (ZD)" was the legacy name; "telc Deutsch B1" is the current name. Certificates issued under either name carry equal recognition for German naturalisation, university admission, and employer language requirements.
How do I register for the official telc B1 exam?
Register through any licensed telc test centre — there are over 3,000 worldwide. Common providers include Volkshochschulen (VHS) in Germany, Goethe-Institute (which administers both Goethe-Zertifikat and telc), and accredited language schools abroad. Fees range €110–€180 depending on the centre. Bring valid photo ID and a printed registration confirmation.
Is there an online or at-home version of telc B1?
No. telc Deutsch B1 is exclusively administered in-person at licensed test centres. The oral component requires two examiners present and is paired with another candidate. Online proctoring is not currently approved by telc gGmbH for the B1 certification.
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