German B1 exam preparation
Goethe-Zertifikat B1, telc Deutsch B1 or DTZ: practise every part of the exam with real B1 audio, transcripts and exercises.
Which B1 exam are you taking?
- DTZ (Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer) — the final exam of the integration course in Germany, scored at A2 or B1.
- Goethe-Zertifikat B1 — a general certificate made of four modules you can also take separately.
- telc Deutsch B1 — a general certificate with a written and an oral part.
B1 is often the level asked for in work, study and residence applications. Requirements change, so confirm with the institution or authority which certificates they accept.
Hören — listening practice
The listening part is where most learners lose points. Play a B1 episode without reading, then again with the synced transcript to see exactly what you missed, and finish with one more listen without it.
- Das Phänomen der grünen Brille: Wie unsere Erwartungen die Wirklichkeit formen · 4 min
- Vier Pfoten auf Achse: Wenn Hunde im Ausland ein neues Zuhause finden · 6 min
- Stimme aus der Dunkelheit · 3 min
- Stiller Besucher im Sonnensystem: Die Jagd nach Kometen · 4 min
- Künstliche Kreativität: Malen Maschinen wie Meister? · 4 min
- Das Rätsel der tanzenden Bäume · 3 min
- Die Rückkehr der Ur-Wälder: Deutschlands geheime Wildnis · 3 min
- Die Macht der inneren Antreiber: Warum Perfektion uns ausbremst · 5 min
Lesen — reading practice
Read B1 texts on everyday topics and note the connectors (weil, obwohl, trotzdem) that carry the meaning.
- Erdbeben der Stärke 7,0 erschüttert Chinas Xizang-Region
- Dritter Jahrestag der Angriffe vom 7. Oktober: Gedenken in Israel, Krise in Gaza
- Kaffeepause mit Chef: Duzen oder Siezen?
- Können Maschinen wirklich fühlen?
- Kuscheltiere im Stall: Brauchen Schweine eigentlich Spielzeug?
- OpenAI sagt Börsengang 2026 ab: Sorge um KI-Sicherheit
Schreiben — writing practice
B1 writing tasks are usually short emails or messages: an invitation, a complaint, a request or an opinion. Practise with the email templates and the writing topics, and learn the connectors from conversation connectors.
Sprechen — speaking practice
You will introduce yourself, talk about a topic and plan something with a partner. Rehearse out loud with the German speaking prompts and the dialogues.
Grammar you need for B1
Subordinate clauses, the passive, zu-infinitives and prepositions with fixed verbs come up in every part. Review them in the B1 grammar cheat sheets or download a free workbook.
A 4-week plan
- Week 1: one B1 episode a day with the transcript method above; save every new word.
- Week 2: add one B1 text a day and write a 60–80 word email every second day.
- Week 3: speak for 3 minutes a day on a prompt; review saved words with flashcards.
- Week 4: do a full official model test under time pressure, then fix your weakest part.
Create a free account to save words from any transcript, track what you have listened to and review with flashcards.
Questions
Which German B1 exam should I take?
It depends on why you need it. The DTZ (Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer) is the final test of the integration course in Germany. The Goethe-Zertifikat B1 and telc Deutsch B1 are widely recognised general certificates. Check which certificates your employer, school or authority accepts before you register.
What does the B1 exam test?
All of them test the four skills: listening (Hören), reading (Lesen), writing (Schreiben) and speaking (Sprechen). Formats and timings differ by provider, so read the official model test of the exam you are taking.
How can I practise B1 listening?
Listen to B1 audio with a transcript: first without reading, then with the transcript to find what you missed, then once more without it. Short daily sessions work better than one long session a week.