telc B1 exam guide
Keep the telc B1 written paper and oral paper distinct
telc B1 has a 150-minute written exam (Lesen, Sprachbausteine, Hören and Schreiben) and a separate Sprechen of about 15 minutes, usually in pairs, after 20 minutes of preparation. You pass with at least 135 of 225 written points and 45 of 75 speaking points, and if you miss one part you can retake just that part within 12 months.
telc B1 is an Independent User paper for clear standard language on familiar work, school and daily topics. The format asks you to move between headings, selected answers, notices and language elements without losing the task purpose.
The written paper uses 90 minutes for Lesen and Sprachbausteine together, about 30 minutes for Hören and 30 minutes for Schreiben. Sprechen is a separate paired paper with 20 minutes of preparation and about 15 minutes of speaking.
The telc B1 mock boundary matters: the product composition is written only, while Sprechen remains a separate graded module. Read the paper facts and current product availability as two different decisions.
Who chooses telc B1 and what the written score leaves out
Independent User B1
B1 means clear standard input on familiar matters and connected language for experiences, plans and opinions. The exam checks that through several response types.
A three-part Lesen and two-part language-elements map
Lesen has three parts: headings, selected answers and ten situation-to-notice matches. Sprachbausteine has two parts: ten multiple-choice and ten lexical items.
Written and oral minimums
The official B1 score uses 300 points, with 180 overall, 135 written and 45 oral minimums. A written-only mock cannot answer the oral part for you.
A separate three-part speaking paper
Sprechen has a get-acquainted opening, a topic exchange and a joint planning part, with 20 minutes of preparation and about 15 minutes in pairs. Practise the partner route rather than turning every answer into a solo recording.
A receiving body's rule
A programme or authority decides which certificate and recency rule it accepts. Confirm that rule before interpreting a 180-point result as ready for an application.
The numbers
The exam in four numbers
Hardest part in our practice data: Hörverstehen Teil 2 (49% of answers missed)See where learners lose marks
The parts
Every part has its own page
telc B1 uses two Sprachbausteine parts inside the written block and Sprechen outside the written mock. Practise the three Lesen parts and two language-elements parts in their board order, then reserve a separate partner session for the oral.
The telc B1 task map
| Module | Official shape | What to rehearse | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lesen | 3 parts: 5 headings, 5 multiple-choice items and 10 situations matched to notices | Read the response set before the text and keep the 90-minute shared block moving | telc B1 PDF and exam shape |
| Sprachbausteine | 2 parts: 10 multiple-choice and 10 lexical language-elements items | Use the sentence and the surrounding paragraph, not one familiar word in isolation | telc B1 PDF and exam shape |
| Hören | 3 parts and 20 prompts in about 30 minutes with part-specific play counts | Write the main point first, then one detail, and do not expect every part to repeat | telc B1 PDF and exam shape |
| Schreiben | 1 written task in a 30-minute block | List the four requested points, set the register and leave a final line-by-line check | telc B1 PDF |
| Sprechen | Three parts: get acquainted, talk about a topic and plan together; 20 minutes preparation and about 15 minutes speaking | Use short prompts for each part and respond to the partner instead of delivering one isolated talk | telc B1 PDF |


Exam day
What happens, in order
The 90, 30 and 30-minute written blocks are official telc B1 paper facts. The centre controls arrival and local room flow, while the speaking preparation and paper remain separate from the written mock composition.
Step 1 of 6
Split written and oral goals
Keep a written score sheet and an oral practice sheet. The product mock covers the written composition, while the paper result includes a separate speaking requirement.
Step 2 of 6
Lesen and Sprachbausteine, 90 minutes
Move through the three Lesen parts and two Sprachbausteine parts under one shared block. Decide where a gap needs the whole text before you reread it.
Step 3 of 6
Hören, about 30 minutes
Follow the part-specific play count and mark a short claim. Do not spend a one-play section searching for a second chance.
Step 4 of 6
Schreiben, 30 minutes
Cover every requested point in one clear response. Check register, connectors and the closing before the clock ends.
Step 5 of 6
Preparation and Sprechen
Use 20 minutes for prompts for the topic exchange and joint plan. The three-part paper starts with getting acquainted, so respond to the other candidate before moving the plan forward.
Step 6 of 6
Result review
Check 180 overall, 135 written and 45 oral as separate lines. A written-only practice result is evidence for the written route, not a full certificate verdict.

Step 1 of 6: Split written and oral goals
Pass marks
How telc B1 is passed
| Check | Published rule | Preparation implication |
|---|---|---|
| Total | At least 180 of 300 points | Review the whole score only after checking the two component minimums |
| Written | At least 135 of 225 points | Keep Lesen, Sprachbausteine, Hören and Schreiben visible in the written plan |
| Oral | At least 45 of 75 points | Practise the paired speaking paper separately from the written mock |
| Mock boundary | telc mock composition is written only; Sprechen is a separate graded module | Never call a written mock result a full oral certificate result |
| Certificate use | The receiving body decides board and recency requirements | Confirm its rule before using the score for a deadline |

How the Sprachpass result maps onto the paper
A telc B1 mock is the written paper only, with Sprechen kept as a separate graded module. When that board and level is offered, Practice mode and Real exam mode share section clocks and exam audio, reveal results at the end, and differ only in leaving and break handling.
| Moment | What the product does | What to remember |
|---|---|---|
| Target | The board and level stay attached to the written composition | A written telc B1 result belongs to telc B1, not to Goethe B1 |
| Timing and audio | Both modes use the same section clocks and exam audio rule | Use Practice mode to learn the block, then use the same clocks for the check |
| Leaving | Practice saves and resumes; Real exam mode ends after confirmation | A resumed route and a single uninterrupted sitting are different evidence |
| Breaks | Practice continues when ready; Real exam mode handles the handover as timed | Record mode and pause context next to the result |
| Scope | Written paper only, with Sprechen separate | Pair the mock score with a real speaking practice result before booking |
| Free allowance | One free mock is consumed at start under the current product rules | Use daily objective practice to learn a weak written part first |
Worked telc B1 component result
- Total196 of 300
- Written139 of 225
- Oral57 of 75
Goethe or telc
telc B1 beside Goethe B1
Goethe B1 and telc B1 share the CEFR level, but telc adds Sprachbausteine and uses written and oral component floors. Choose from the board named by the receiving body and the paper you have rehearsed.
| Feature | telc B1 | Goethe B1 |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | 3 parts: 5 headings, 5 selected-answer items and 10 situation-to-notice matches | 5 Teile and 30 prompts in 65 minutes |
| Language elements | 2 parts with 20 items: 10 multiple-choice and 10 lexical | No separate Sprachbausteine block |
| Listening | 3 parts and 20 prompts in about 30 minutes | 4 Teile and 30 prompts in about 40 minutes |
| Writing | One written task in 30 minutes | 3 tasks in 60 minutes |
| Speaking | Three parts: get acquainted, talk about a topic and plan together; 20 minutes preparation and about 15 minutes speaking | Pair paper with 15 minutes preparation and planning, presentation, feedback and questions |
| Scoring | 300 overall, 180 total, 135 written and 45 oral minimums | 60 of 100 in each module |
| Mock boundary | Written paper only; Sprechen separate | Goethe paper for the board and level currently offered |
Try one
One item from the easiest part
The sample comes from telc B1 Lesen Teil 2. It is an objective multiple-choice task inside the three-part Lesen map of headings, selected answers and situation-to-notice matches.
telc B1 · Lesen Teil 2
Die Praxis kommt ins Dorf Ein Gesundheitsbus fährt durch kleine Orte in der Eifel und bietet Beratung dort an, wo der Weg zur nächsten Praxis weit ist. Seit März hält der blaue Gesundheitsbus jede Woche in acht Dörfern. An Bord arbeiten eine Pflegefachkraft und an zwei Tagen zusätzlich ein Hausarzt. Sie messen Blutdruck, prüfen kleine Beschwerden und erklären, welche weitere Behandlung sinnvoll ist. Notfälle können im Bus nicht versorgt werden und gehören weiterhin in eine Klinik. Das Projekt entstand, weil in den vergangenen Jahren mehrere Praxen auf dem Land geschlossen hatten. Besonders ältere Menschen mussten für einfache Kontrollen lange Busfahrten in Kauf nehmen. Der Kreis bezahlt deshalb den Gesundheitsbus für zunächst zwei Jahre. Die Untersuchung ist für gesetzlich und privat Versicherte ohne zusätzliche Gebühr möglich. Wer den Bus besuchen möchte, bucht telefonisch oder online einen Termin. Freie Zeiten am selben Tag werden morgens auf der Internetseite veröffentlicht. Ohne Termin darf man nur kommen, wenn kein anderer Patient wartet. Medikamente verkauft das Team nicht, es kann aber ein Rezept an die eigene Hausarztpraxis schicken. Nach den ersten drei Monaten wurden 640 Beratungen gezählt. Etwa die Hälfte betraf Blutdruck oder Fragen zu Medikamenten. Projektleiterin Lea Novak ist mit dieser Zahl zufrieden. Überraschend war für sie, dass auch viele jüngere Menschen kamen, weil sie den Termin gut mit dem Weg zur Arbeit verbinden konnten. Im Herbst soll der Fahrplan leicht verändert werden. Zwei wenig genutzte Haltestellen fallen weg, dafür kommt ein neuntes Dorf hinzu. Die Verantwortlichen wollen aber noch nicht über eine Verlängerung nach den zwei Testjahren entscheiden. Zuerst müssen sie prüfen, ob der Bus wirklich Wege in reguläre Praxen spart. Bis zum Herbst bleibt der aktuelle Bus noch auf allen bisherigen Strecken unterwegs. Neue Termine werden jeweils vier Wochen vorher freigeschaltet.
Das Team im Bus ...
Sample paper (Modelltest) and answers
Start with the official telc B1 practice test (Übungstest 1), then practise in the same format. Sprachpass questions are written in the board's format, but they are not past papers.
Keep going
Study plan and speaking topics
Not ready for the exam yet? Learn B1 with Bruno

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Other levels
Every guide on Sprachpass
- A1GoethePractice and mocks live
- A2GoethePractice and mocks live
- B1GoethePractice and mocks live
- B2GoethePractice and mocks live
- A1telcPractice and mocks live
- A2telcPractice and mocks live
- B1telcPractice and mocks live
- B2telcPractice and mocks live
- C1Goethe or telcLevel guide
- C2Goethe or telcLevel guide
Hover or tap a cell to keep its board and level in the button.
Questions
What candidates ask about this exam
What is Sprachbausteine in telc B1?
It is a two-part language-elements block inside the shared Lesen and Sprachbausteine paper: 10 multiple-choice items and 10 lexical items. Read the surrounding text before selecting a gap answer.
What happens in telc B1 Sprechen?
The three parts move from getting acquainted to talking about a topic and planning together. Use the preparation window to make short prompts, then respond to your partner's direction.
Does the telc B1 mock include Sprechen?
The telc mock composition is written only. Sprechen remains a separate graded module, so a written mock result does not settle the oral requirement.
What are the telc B1 pass checks?
The official result uses 300 points with 180 overall, 135 written and 45 oral minimums. Check all three lines instead of stopping at the total.
How long is telc B1 Sprechen?
The official guide facts use 20 minutes of preparation and about 15 minutes in pairs. Practise getting acquainted, talking about a topic and planning together as one partner route.
Where are telc B1 dates and fees?
BookGermanTest carries live dates, fees and centres. The receiving organisation decides which certificate rule applies to you.
Is telc B1 accepted everywhere Goethe B1 is?
The receiving authority, employer or programme decides which certificate it accepts. Ask it directly and keep the board-specific format in your preparation.
Is there a telc B1 sample paper (Modelltest) with answers?
Yes, telc publishes an official practice test for telc B1 (Übungstest 1) as a PDF with the answers for the reading and listening parts and the marking criteria for writing and speaking, and the sample paper card on this page links it. Sprachpass questions are written in the same format and are not past papers: try the sample question on this page, then take a timed mock exam, where your first mock is free.
Check the live booking details
Fees, dates and centres change; BookGermanTest keeps the live list. Check the receiving organisation's certificate rule before you choose a seat.
Continue preparing
Sources: telc B1 exam page and Übungstest PDF; Sprachpass practice and mock rules.
All sources
- Official telc Deutsch B1 exam page
- Official telc Deutsch B1 Übungstest 1 PDF, result thresholds
- telc Deutsch B1 mock examination (Übungstest 1)
- telc rules and regulations, valid from 15 April 2025, section 7 and Appendix 1
- Goethe-Zertifikat B1 exam rules (Durchführungsbestimmungen)
- Goethe-Zertifikat B1 Modellsatz Erwachsene
- Sprachpass mock timing, audio, break and feedback rules (src/lib/app/mock-fidelity.ts)
- Sprachpass mock composition and written-only result handling (src/lib/api/mock.ts)
- Sprachpass practice allowances and lifetime mock rule (src/lib/entitlements/rules.ts)
- Sprachpass public capability and mock readiness matrix (src/lib/site/capability-matrix.ts)
- Sprachpass exam shape registry (src/lib/exam-shape-data.ts)
- Council of Europe CEFR 3.3 Global Scale
Ready when you are
Practise the telc B1 lesen format
Open the target-specific lesen route to keep the board and level attached to your practice. Use the booking handoff below for current dates, fees and centres.














