Sprachpass

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

150 minutes: 90 Lesen and Sprachbausteine, about 30 Hören, 30 SchreibenWritten paper
20 minutes preparation and about 15 minutes in pairsSpeaking
225 points with a 135-point minimumWritten score
300 points with 180 overall and 45 oral minimumsTotal score

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

The telc B1 task map
ModuleOfficial shapeWhat to rehearseSource
Lesen3 parts: 5 headings, 5 multiple-choice items and 10 situations matched to noticesRead the response set before the text and keep the 90-minute shared block movingtelc B1 PDF and exam shape
Sprachbausteine2 parts: 10 multiple-choice and 10 lexical language-elements itemsUse the sentence and the surrounding paragraph, not one familiar word in isolationtelc B1 PDF and exam shape
Hören3 parts and 20 prompts in about 30 minutes with part-specific play countsWrite the main point first, then one detail, and do not expect every part to repeattelc B1 PDF and exam shape
Schreiben1 written task in a 30-minute blockList the four requested points, set the register and leave a final line-by-line checktelc B1 PDF
SprechenThree parts: get acquainted, talk about a topic and plan together; 20 minutes preparation and about 15 minutes speakingUse short prompts for each part and respond to the partner instead of delivering one isolated talktelc B1 PDF
Bruno the clay bear, sitting and reading his passport booklet
Bruno's tip. Sprachbausteine is twenty decisions inside the written clock. Give the whole paragraph a chance before you let one gap decide the sentence.

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.

Bruno packing his exam bag while the chick sits on the alarm clock and the rabbit holds the checklist

Step 1 of 6: Split written and oral goals

Pass marks

How telc B1 is passed

How telc B1 is passed
CheckPublished rulePreparation implication
TotalAt least 180 of 300 pointsReview the whole score only after checking the two component minimums
WrittenAt least 135 of 225 pointsKeep Lesen, Sprachbausteine, Hören and Schreiben visible in the written plan
OralAt least 45 of 75 pointsPractise the paired speaking paper separately from the written mock
Mock boundarytelc mock composition is written only; Sprechen is a separate graded moduleNever call a written mock result a full oral certificate result
Certificate useThe receiving body decides board and recency requirementsConfirm 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.

How to read a telc B1 written mock
MomentWhat the product doesWhat to remember
TargetThe board and level stay attached to the written compositionA written telc B1 result belongs to telc B1, not to Goethe B1
Timing and audioBoth modes use the same section clocks and exam audio ruleUse Practice mode to learn the block, then use the same clocks for the check
LeavingPractice saves and resumes; Real exam mode ends after confirmationA resumed route and a single uninterrupted sitting are different evidence
BreaksPractice continues when ready; Real exam mode handles the handover as timedRecord mode and pause context next to the result
ScopeWritten paper only, with Sprechen separatePair the mock score with a real speaking practice result before booking
Free allowanceOne free mock is consumed at start under the current product rulesUse daily objective practice to learn a weak written part first

Worked telc B1 component result

  • Total196 of 300
  • Written139 of 225
  • Oral57 of 75
This illustration shows the three published checks and is not a predicted learner result.
Bruno's tip. A written score cannot speak for you. Pair the mock with a real partner session before you call the paper ready.

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.

telc B1 beside Goethe B1
Featuretelc B1Goethe B1
Reading3 parts: 5 headings, 5 selected-answer items and 10 situation-to-notice matches5 Teile and 30 prompts in 65 minutes
Language elements2 parts with 20 items: 10 multiple-choice and 10 lexicalNo separate Sprachbausteine block
Listening3 parts and 20 prompts in about 30 minutes4 Teile and 30 prompts in about 40 minutes
WritingOne written task in 30 minutes3 tasks in 60 minutes
SpeakingThree parts: get acquainted, talk about a topic and plan together; 20 minutes preparation and about 15 minutes speakingPair paper with 15 minutes preparation and planning, presentation, feedback and questions
Scoring300 overall, 180 total, 135 written and 45 oral minimums60 of 100 in each module
Mock boundaryWritten paper only; Sprechen separateGoethe 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 ...

Bruno. Pick the answer, then read why it fits.

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Bruno reads a green book while the gold chick perches on a stack of books and the rose rabbit sits beside them

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.

Sources: telc B1 exam page and Übungstest PDF; Sprachpass practice and mock rules.

All sources

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.