telc B1 Deutsch-Prüfung
Free AI-graded mock exams for Lesen, Sprachbausteine, Hören & Schreiben — pass the real test on the first try.
telc Deutsch B1 word list as PDF
500 words · article, plural, example · print-friendly
telc Deutsch B1 exam guide as PDF
Format · strategy for every part · sample questions with answers
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- Mock exams in the official telc Deutsch format — the same parts, item counts and timing as the real exam
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telc B1 exam-day time plan
Worked sample questions
Click each subtest to expand the example items and explanations.
Lesen (Reading)
— 90 min combined with Sprachbausteine, 20 items, 75 pts
Lesen (Reading)
— 90 min combined with Sprachbausteine, 20 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 longer article 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; each ad can be used only once. If no ad fits a situation, mark x — how many ads stay unused varies from exam to exam.
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 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 opinions on one topic)
A presenter introduces a topic, then five people give their opinion on it, one after another. Decide for each statement whether it is Richtig (R) or Falsch (F). Audio plays ONCE.
Radio: "Unser Thema heute: Arbeiten Sie gern im Homeoffice?" — Sprecherin 1: "Am Anfang fand ich es toll, aber inzwischen fehlen mir die Kollegen. Jetzt gehe ich wieder drei Tage pro Woche ins Büro."
Statement: 41. Die Sprecherin arbeitet am liebsten nur zu Hause.
Answer: Falsch
She liked working from home "am Anfang" (at first), but "inzwischen" (by now) she misses her colleagues and is back in the office three days a week. Teil 1 statements test the speaker's CURRENT overall view — listen for time-shift words like "am Anfang … inzwischen" and "früher … heute" 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 everyday announcements (voicemail, weather, traffic, public-service announcements). Answer 1 R/F statement per announcement. Each text plays TWICE.
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.Ihr Freund Jonas hat Ihnen eine E-Mail geschrieben: „Hallo! Stell dir vor, ich ziehe im Mai nach Leipzig — neue Stelle, neue Stadt! Am 18. Mai feiere ich eine kleine Abschiedsparty. Kommst du? Und kannst du mir vielleicht beim Umzug helfen? Viele Grüße, Jonas“ Antworten Sie auf die E-Mail. Schreiben Sie etwas zu allen vier Punkten. Überlegen Sie sich eine passende Reihenfolge der Punkte, einen passenden Betreff, eine passende Anrede, Einleitung und einen passenden Schluss.
Leitpunkte:
- Reaktion auf die Neuigkeit
- Ob Sie zur Party kommen
- Wie Sie beim Umzug helfen können
- Tipps für die ersten Wochen in einer neuen Stadt
Grading rubric (3 criteria, each A–D = 5/3/1/0; the sum × 3 = max 45 points):
- I Aufgabenbewältigung (task fulfilment) (A–D = 5/3/1/0) — Write something on all four Leitpunkte: four treated adequately = A (5), three = B (3), two = C (1), one or none = D (0). One short sentence is enough for a point to count, so never skip one.
- II Kommunikative Gestaltung (communicative design) (A–D = 5/3/1/0) — This is a reply to a friend: Betreff, an informal greeting ("Lieber Jonas"), a short introduction, a closing ("Viele Grüße") — and the du-form throughout. Link the points with connectors (deshalb, außerdem, trotzdem) instead of starting every sentence with "Ich".
- III Formale Richtigkeit (accuracy) (A–D = 5/3/1/0) — Verb-final in subordinate clauses, correct case endings after prepositions, correct perfect tense. Errors that make a sentence hard to understand weigh most.
Frequently asked questions
How is the telc B1 Deutsch-Prüfung structured?
Four written subtests plus a separate oral exam: Leseverstehen + Sprachbausteine (90 minutes combined), Hörverstehen (~30 minutes), and Schriftlicher Ausdruck (30 minutes). To pass you need at least 60% of the aggregated written total (135 of 225 points, combining Lesen, Sprachbausteine, Hören and Schreiben) AND at least 60% of the oral exam (45 of 75). The two blocks are judged independently, but there is no per-subtest gate inside the written block — a strong subtest can offset a weaker one.
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, B2 and C1 — not A1/A2). 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. Hörverstehen tends to be the hardest to improve under time pressure, so prioritise timed listening practice if it is your weak point.
Can a strong Schreiben score compensate for a weak Hören result?
Yes — within the written exam. telc B1 adds the four written subtests (Leseverstehen 75, Sprachbausteine 30, Hörverstehen 75, Schriftlicher Ausdruck 45) into one written total of 225 points, and you pass the written part with 60% overall (135/225). So a strong Schreiben score genuinely can offset a weaker Hören result — there is no per-subtest 60% gate. The only separate hurdle is the oral exam, which is scored independently and needs its own 60% (45/75). Practising all skills still matters, because a very weak subtest can drag the written aggregate below 135.
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, licensed telc Prüfungszentren, and accredited language schools abroad. Each centre sets its own fee and telc gGmbH publishes none, so compare the price lists of a few centres. 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.