TELC B1 Exam Pattern

The TELC B1 exam is a German language exam. It is for people who know basic German and want to improve their skills.

The exam checks four main areas:

• Reading.
• Listening.
• Writing.
• Speaking.

You may need to read simple texts, listen to German, write short answers, and speak about common topics. Knowing the exam pattern can make your preparation easier. It helps you understand the exam before you take it.

In this blog, you will learn about the TELC B1 exam pattern, exam parts, time, marks, passing rules, and simple preparation tips.

Learn German language in your own language! Get free Demo Classes Here!

TELC B1 Exam Pattern at a Glance

The TELC B1 exam checks your German skills. The exam has two main parts:

• Written exam.
• Speaking exam.

The written exam checks:

• Reading.
• Listening.
• Writing.
• Language elements.

The speaking exam checks your speaking skills.

Written Exam

In this part, you work with German texts and audio.

You may need to:

• Read short texts.
• Answer questions.
• Listen to conversations.
• Choose answers.
• Write a text.

Speaking Exam

In this part, you speak in German.

You may need to:

• Introduce yourself.
• Talk about a topic.
• Share your ideas.
• Ask and answer questions.
• Talk with another person.

B1 German Skills

At B1 level, you should be able to use German in common situations.

You should be able to:

• Understand simple information.
• Talk about daily life.
• Share your thoughts.
• Write simple texts.
• Have basic conversations.

TELC B1 Exam Structure

The TELC B1 exam has different parts. It checks how well you can read, listen, write, and speak in German.

The exam has:

• Written exam.
• Speaking exam.

Reading

The reading part checks if you can understand written German.

You may read:

• Emails.
• Short articles.
• Notices.
• Messages.
• Everyday information.

You answer questions about the texts.

Language Elements

This part checks your basic German language knowledge.

You may need to choose the right:

• Word.
• Grammar form.
• Sentence.

It helps show how well you understand German sentences.

Listening

In the listening part, you hear spoken German.

You may hear:

• Conversations.
• Short talks.
• Announcements.
• Everyday situations.

You listen and answer questions.

Writing

The writing part checks if you can write in German. You may need to write a short text.

The task may ask you to:

• Give information.
• Explain something.
• Share your opinion.
• Write about a common topic.

Try to make your writing clear and easy to understand.

Speaking

The speaking part checks your German conversation skills.

You may need to:

• Talk about a topic.
• Give your opinion.
• Ask questions.
• Answer questions.
• Speak with another person.
• Make a plan together.

TELC B1 Reading Exam Pattern

The TELC B1 reading part checks how well you can understand written German. You will read different types of texts. The texts can be about everyday life, work, travel, or other common topics.

What Can You Read?

You may see:

• Emails.
• Messages.
• Short articles.
• Notices.
• Advertisements.
• Information texts.

The texts are longer than A1 texts.

What Do You Need to Do?

Read the text and look for the needed information.

You may need to:

• Choose the right answer.
• Match information.
• Find important details.
• Understand the main idea.

What Should You Look For?

Pay attention to important words.

Look for:

• Names.
• Dates.
• Times.
• Places.
• Numbers.
• Main ideas.

These can help you understand the text.

You May See New Words

You may not know every word in the text. Do not stop at every new word.

Try to understand the sentence from the words around it. The main meaning is often more important than one difficult word.

How to Practise Reading

Read German regularly.

You can read:

• Simple news.
• Emails.
• Short articles.
• Online notices.
• German advertisements.

Also practise TELC B1 reading questions. Regular reading can help you understand texts more quickly.

TELC B1 Listening Exam Pattern

The TELC B1 listening part checks how well you can understand spoken German. You will hear different types of audio. The audio can be about normal daily situations.

What Can You Hear?

You may hear:

• Conversations.
• Short talks.
• Announcements.
• Radio talks.
• Everyday discussions.

The speakers may talk about different common topics.

What Do You Need to Do?

Listen to the audio and answer the questions.

You may need to:

• Choose the right answer.
• Find specific information.
• Match information.
• Understand the main idea.

What Should You Listen For?

Listen carefully for useful details.

Pay attention to:

• Names.
• Numbers.
• Dates.
• Times.
• Places.
• Important facts.

Also listen for the main point of the conversation.

You May Not Understand Every Word

You do not need to know every word. Some words may be new to you.

Do not stop listening because of one difficult word. Try to understand the meaning from the full conversation.

How to Practise Listening

Listen to German regularly.

You can use:

• Short German conversations.
• Simple German videos.
• German audio lessons.
• TELC B1 listening exercises.

Listen more than once when needed.

With regular practice, it can become easier to understand spoken German.

TELC B1 Writing Exam Pattern

The TELC B1 writing part checks how well you can write in German. You need to write a clear and simple text. The topic is usually related to a common situation.

What Do You Need to Write?

You may get a writing task such as:

• A letter.
• An email.
• A short message.

The task may ask you to give information or share your thoughts.

What Can the Topic Be About?

The topic can be about everyday life.

For example:

• A trip.
• An invitation.
• A problem.
• An event.
• A plan.
• A request.

Read the Task Carefully

Before you start writing, read the task.

Find the points you need to cover.

You can:

• Read the question.
• Find the important points.
• Think about your answer.
• Write your text.
• Check your work.

Use Simple Sentences

You do not need very difficult German. Use words and grammar that you know.

Try to make your sentences:

• Clear.
• Complete.
• Easy to understand.

Check Your Writing

Read your text once again after writing.

Check:

• Spelling.
• Grammar.
• Word order.
• Sentence endings.
• Important information.

Make sure you have answered all the points in the task.

How to Practise Writing

Write in German regularly.

You can practise:

• Short emails.
• Letters.
• Messages.
• Simple opinion texts.

Try different topics. Regular writing can help you feel more comfortable in the TELC B1 writing exam.

TELC B1 Speaking Exam Pattern

The TELC B1 speaking part checks how well you can speak German. You will speak about simple and common topics. You may also need to talk with another person.

What Happens in the Speaking Part?

You may speak with another candidate and the examiner.

You may need to:

• Talk about a topic.
• Give your opinion.
• Ask questions.
• Answer questions.
• Talk about your own experience.
• Make a plan with another person.

Talk About a Topic

You may get a topic to talk about. You should explain your ideas in simple German.

You can talk about:

• Your opinion.
• Your experience.
• The good points.
• The bad points.
• Your reasons.

Try to speak in a clear way.

Give Your Opinion

At B1 level, you may need to say what you think.

You can use simple phrases such as:

• Ich denke …
• Ich glaube …
• Meiner Meinung nach …

Give a short reason for your opinion.

Talk With Another Person

You may need to have a short conversation.

You can:

• Ask a question.
• Give an idea.
• Answer the other person.
• Agree or disagree.
• Make a simple plan.

Listen to the other person before you answer.

Speak About Your Experience

Some tasks may ask about something you have done or seen.

You can talk about:

• A trip.
• A hobby.
• An event.
• Your daily life.
• A past experience.

Use simple sentences to explain it.

How to Practise Speaking

Speak German regularly.

You can practise:

• With a friend.
• With a study partner.
• In front of a mirror.
• By recording your voice.

Practise different topics and try to speak without reading every sentence.

Simple Speaking Points

During the exam:

• Listen carefully.
• Speak clearly.
• Answer the question.
• Give your ideas.
• Ask questions when needed.
• Do not speak too fast.

Regular practice can help you speak with more confidence in the TELC B1 exam.

TELC B1 Marks, Duration & Passing Criteria

The TELC B1 exam has different parts. Each part has its own tasks and time.

The exam checks your German in:

• Reading.
• Listening.
• Writing.
• Speaking.
• Language elements.

Exam Duration

The written exam takes around 2 hours and 30 minutes. The speaking exam usually takes around 15 minutes. There can also be a short preparation time before the speaking part.

Marks

You get marks for the different exam parts. Your answers are checked based on the task. Reading and listening have questions with set answers. Writing and speaking are checked using set marking rules.

Passing Criteria

You need to get the required marks to pass the exam. The written and speaking parts are both important.

You should prepare for every part instead of focusing on only one section.

If You Make Mistakes

Do not worry about every small mistake. A few mistakes do not always mean that you will fail.

Try to:

• Answer all questions.
• Write clear sentences.
• Speak clearly.
• Follow the task.
• Use German that you know.

How to Prepare for a Good Score

Practise all exam parts regularly.

You can:

• Read German texts.
• Listen to German audio.
• Write short texts.
• Speak German.
• Take practice tests.

Checking your mistakes can also help you improve before the exam.

TELC B1 Preparation Tips

Preparing for the TELC B1 exam becomes easier when you have a simple plan. Study a little every day. Try to practise all parts of the exam.

Learn New German Words

Learn a few new words every day.

Choose words about:

• Work.
• Family.
• Travel.
• Food.
• Home.
• Daily life.

Use the new words in short sentences.

Practise Reading

Read German often.

You can read:

• Emails.
• Short articles.
• Messages.
• Notices.
• Simple stories.

Try to understand the main idea.

Practise Listening

Listen to German every day.

You can listen to:

• Short talks.
• Conversations.
• German videos.
• Audio lessons.

Listen again if you do not understand something.

Practise Writing

Write something in German regularly.

You can practise:

• Emails.
• Letters.
• Short messages.
• Opinion texts.

After writing, check your mistakes.

Speak German Often

Speaking needs regular practice.

You can speak:

• With a friend.
• With a study partner.
• In front of a mirror.
• By recording your voice.

Talk about simple B1 topics.

Review Grammar

Learn the grammar you need for B1. Focus on grammar that you often get wrong.

Practise with short questions and sentences.

Use TELC Practice Tests

Practice tests help you understand the exam.

They can show you:

• The question style.
• The exam tasks.
• Your weak areas.
• How well you are doing.

Try to use a timer when taking a full test.

Check Your Mistakes

Do not ignore wrong answers. Look at each mistake.

Try to understand why your answer was wrong. Then try the same type of question again.

Give More Time to Difficult Parts

Some skills may be harder for you.

• If reading is difficult, read more.
• If listening is difficult, listen more.
• If writing is difficult, write more.
• If speaking is difficult, speak more.

Follow a Daily Plan

Make a small study plan. You can study for a short time each day.

For example:

• Learn new words.
• Read a short text.
• Listen to German.
• Write a few sentences.
• Speak for a few minutes.

Start Early

Do not leave your preparation until the last week. Start early and practise regularly.

Small daily practice can help you improve your German step by step.

Learn German language in your own language! Get free Demo Classes Here!

Conclusion

The TELC B1 exam checks your German skills in different ways. Good practice can help you prepare better.

Try to practise every part of the exam:

• Read German texts.
• Listen to simple German.
• Write short texts.
• Speak German every day.
• Learn new words.
• Review grammar.
• Try practice tests.
• Check your mistakes.

Make a simple study plan and follow it regularly. You do not need to study everything in one day. Take small steps and keep practising.

Stay calm and believe in your practice. Regular study can help you feel more ready for the TELC B1 exam.

Related Articles
How to Prepare for the TELC Exam		Best TELC Preparation Books: Top Picks for A2, B1, B2 & C1		Which TELC Level is Required for Germany?
TELC A1 Exam Pattern