telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule
telc’s German exam for university admission at C1 — listed in the 2025 HRK/KMK framework rules as proof of German for study, in place of the DSH or TestDaF.
Why practise on ScoreUp
- Mock exams in the official telc Deutsch format — the same parts, item counts and timing as the real exam
- Writing graded by AI against the official criteria, with feedback in your language
- Reading and listening scored instantly, every answer explained
- 3 free exam credits, no credit card — practice stays free
Who it is for and where it counts
telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule is built for people who want to study in German: school leavers on their way to a degree, and graduates heading for a master’s or a doctorate. The texts you read, hear and write about come from university life and popular science — lectures, interviews, research news.
The framework regulations for German exams for university entrance (RO-DT, adopted by the HRK on 4 November 2025 and by the KMK on 27 November 2025) list it in § 8 (2)(e) among the certificates that exempt you from the DSH or TestDaF. It is the only C1-level certificate on that list.
- Under the RO-DT, this exemption counts the same as a DSH or TestDaF result.
- Each university still sets its own admission rules, and some programmes ask for more. Check the Zulassungsordnung of your programme before you book.
The exam format at a glance
There is a written part and an oral part. The written part is taken in one sitting: Leseverstehen and Sprachbausteine share one 90-minute block, a 20-minute break follows, then Hörverstehen and Schriftlicher Ausdruck. The oral exam is taken in pairs and can be on a different day.
| Module | What you do | Time | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leseverstehen | 3 Teile — rebuild a text from given sentences, match statements to sections, judge statements as richtig / falsch / nicht im Text — plus a Makroaufgabe: pick the best heading. Items 1–24. | 90 min (with Sprachbausteine) | 48 |
| Sprachbausteine | One text with 22 gaps and four options each: grammar, vocabulary, spelling. Items 25–46. | within the 90 min | 22 |
| Hörverstehen | 3 Teile: short opinions, a radio interview, a lecture with slide notes to complete. Every text is played once; the 5 minutes for transferring your answers are part of the recording. | ca. 40 min | 48 |
| Schriftlicher Ausdruck | Choose one of two themes and write one text for a Seminararbeit — mindestens 350 Wörter. | 70 min | 48 |
| Mündlicher Ausdruck | Paired exam: Präsentation; Zusammenfassung of your partner’s talk with Anschlussfragen; Diskussion über ein Zitat. 20 minutes to prepare the presentation. | ca. 16 min + 20 min prep | 48 |
| Total | Written part 166 points, oral part 48 points. | 214 |
Item numbers run straight through the answer sheet: Leseverstehen 1–24, Sprachbausteine 25–46, Hörverstehen 47–74.
Points and pass mark
You pass only when all three conditions hold at the same time. A strong written result cannot make up for a weak oral exam, and the other way round.
Grades on the certificate
| Points | Grade |
|---|---|
| 193–214 | sehr gut (very good) |
| 172–192.5 | gut (good) |
| 151–171.5 | befriedigend (satisfactory) |
| 128–150.5 | ausreichend (sufficient) |
| below 128 | nicht bestanden (not passed) |
How it differs from the general telc C1
It is built on the skeleton of the general telc Deutsch C1: the same modules, the same number of items, the same times and the same 214 points. What changes is the content.
- Topics relate mainly to study and science — university life, research, teaching — rather than general topics.
- The writing task is framed as a Seminararbeit and asks for mindestens 350 Wörter: a minimum, where the general C1 asks for about 350 words.
- The oral exam uses its own task sheets, again with an academic slant.
Retake, certificate and exam formats
- Failed one part? Within 12 months of the date on your result sheet you can retake only the written part or only the oral part. You have to ask for this when you register.
- Single subtests cannot be retaken — it is always the whole written or the whole oral part.
- The certificate does not expire.
- The exam is offered on paper, as a hybrid exam and fully digital. The content is the same in every format.
Practise for telc C1 Hochschule on ScoreUp
ScoreUp has full mock exams for the four written modules, in the official format and scored with the official points:
- Leseverstehen — all 3 Teile plus the Makroaufgabe, 48 points
- Sprachbausteine — 22 items, 22 points
- Hörverstehen — 3 Teile, every recording played once, 48 points
- Schriftlicher Ausdruck — a Seminararbeit with two themes to choose from, mindestens 350 Wörter, rated on the four official criteria
The oral exam (Mündlicher Ausdruck) is not offered on ScoreUp. Prepare for it with a study partner or in a course.
Ready for telc C1 Hochschule?
Take a timed mock exam in Leseverstehen, Sprachbausteine, Hörverstehen or Schriftlicher Ausdruck and see your points per Teil.Frequently asked questions
Does telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule replace the DSH or TestDaF?
In the framework rules, yes: the RO-DT adopted by the HRK (4 November 2025) and the KMK (27 November 2025) lists telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule in § 8 (2)(e) among the certificates that exempt you from the DSH or TestDaF. Under the RO-DT, this exemption counts the same as a DSH or TestDaF result. Each university sets its own rules, though, and some programmes ask for more — check the admission rules of your programme first.
How many points do I need to pass?
At least 128 of 214 points overall, and at the same time at least 99 of 166 in the written part and at least 29 of 48 in the oral part. Missing any one of the three means the exam is not passed.
Is “mindestens 350 Wörter” a hard limit in Schriftlicher Ausdruck?
The task asks for mindestens 350 Wörter, so plan for at least 350 words. Your text is rated on four criteria — Aufgabengerechtheit, Korrektheit, Repertoire and Kommunikative Gestaltung — not on its word count. A text that misses both themes is rated “Thema verfehlt” and gets 0 of the 48 points.
How often do I hear each recording in Hörverstehen?
Once. Every text in all three Teile is played a single time, so read the tasks in the reading time and write while you listen. The 5 minutes for transferring your answers are part of the roughly 40-minute recording.
Can I retake only the part I failed?
Yes, within 12 months of the date on your result sheet: you retake either the whole written part or the whole oral part, and you have to ask for this when you register. Single subtests such as Hörverstehen alone cannot be retaken.
Can I take the exam digitally?
Yes. telc offers it on paper, as a hybrid exam (written on paper, oral exam by video) and fully digital (written on a computer, oral exam by video). The content is the same in every format.
telc C1 or telc C1 Hochschule — which one should I take?
Both have the same format and the same 214 points. If you need German for university admission, take C1 Hochschule: it is the C1 certificate the RO-DT names in place of the DSH and TestDaF; its texts come mainly from academic life, and its writing task is a Seminararbeit. The general telc C1 has general topics and a writing task of about 350 words.
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