German B1 Exam Pattern ( Experts Guide )

Passing German B1 exam indicates an intermediate language proficiency, where speakers can comfortably express themselves in everyday situations. This level paves path to a wide array of opportunities and cultural understanding. The German B1 exam pattern is such that it tests the language proficiency of the speaker in all aspects.

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Understanding German B1 Level

Attaining German B1 level shows that you have learnt around 2400 words and that you have a good understanding of the grammar. At this level, a person will be able to communicate with others about daily life situations. You will be able to talk about personal interests, report events and deal with most situations encountered in day to day life.

Overview of German B1 Exam

This is the third level in the Common European Framework of References (CEFR) for foreign languages. German B1 exam consists of four main components: Reading, writing, listening and speaking. The exam can be done in two parts, the written and oral. Both the parts can be done on the same day or different days but make sure to complete it within the calendar year or the following calendar year. The exam can be taken in a computer or paper-based format.

German B1 Exam Pattern

Test takers skills are assessed using tasks such as multiple choice or text matching. The total marks for B1 level exam is 100 and you need to score 60% to pass the test. This is equal to 135 points in the written and 45 points in the oral test. The timings for each session are as follows:

• Reading – 90 minutes
• Listening – 30 minutes
• Writing  – 30 minutes
• Speaking – 15 minutes

You also get 20 minutes preparation time before the speaking test.

Reading

This section consists of five teils. The timing for each teil is as follows:

• Teil 1: 10 minutes . You have to read the given paragraph and mark true or false for the questions given.
• Teil 2: 20 minutes. Read the paragraph given and answer the multiple choice questions.
• Teil 3: 10 minutes
• Teil 4: 15 minutes
• Teil 5: 10 minutes

Writing

This section is of 60 minutes and consists of 3 teils.

• Teil 1: 20 minutes. Write a formal or informal email of 80 words.
• Teil 2: 25 minutes. Read the blog and write either a negative or positive feedback about it.
• Teil 3: 15minutes. Write a formal or informal email of 40 words.

Speaking

This section is of 9 to 10 minutes and consists of 3 teils.

• Teil 1: 2 to 3  minutes. Normal introduction and questions based on that.
• Teil 2: 3 to 4 minutes. You will be given 2 topics. You have to choose one topic and prepare a presentation based on that.
• Teil 3: 1 to 2 minutes. This involves asking a question to your partner. The question should be regarding the presentation you made in teil 2.

You will be given 20 minutes to prepare for the speaking test.

Listening

This section is of 40 minutes (35 minutes for listening and 5 minutes for writing) and consists of 4 teils.

• Teil 1: 10 minutes. Listen to the announcement and cross out the wrong answer.
• Teil 2: 5minutes. Listen to the lecture and choose the correct answer from the multiple options given.
• Teil 3: 8 minutes. Listen to the conversation and mark true or false to the questions given.
• Teil 4: 12 minutes. A radio program will be played where you will listen to three people speaking, the moderator and two others. You have to listen to the audio and mark the correct speaker for the given sentences.

Preparation Strategies

• Invest in good course books. There are course books that prepare you specifically for the language level B1.
• Familiarize yourself with the procedure and types of subtests of the B1 examination. Prepare a study plan and adjust it according to your needs. Spend more time of sections that you find difficult.
• Understand your limitations and set realistic goals.
• Attempt mock tests and try to practice previous question papers.
• Practice reading a variety of texts to understand different writing styles and topics.
• You should have strong vocabulary and grammar skills. Read and listen to podcasts, songs, watch movies, news etc to learn new words and to understand the structure of sentences.
• Practice speaking in front of a mirror. This helps you evaluate yourself and understand your mouth movements.
• Practicing in group is also an effective way of improving your speaking skills.
• Get good rest, eat healthy and keep yourself stress free.
• Prepare for the test by joining a language courses or studying on your own. Entri app’s online German course provides comprehensive preparation and assistance in preparing for the test. The mentors provide personalized feedback which helps students to identify their strengths and weaknesses

Click here to join the Entri online German language course! Watch demo classes here!

The salient features of our German course are:

• Live interactive classes
• Recorded classes after live sessions
• PDF notes and assignments
• Local language tutor
• Goethe Test assistance and mock test