German lessons · German exam guides · A1–C2
telc Deutsch exams: levels, parts and how to register
telc is one of the big providers of German exams in Germany, next to the Goethe-Institut. Its certificates cover every level from A1 to C2, and many people in Germany take them for a visa, a residence permit, naturalisation, university or work. Because telc exams are run by licensed exam centres, including many Volkshochschulen, they are often the easiest exams to find near your home.
Which telc exam?
- A1: Start Deutsch 1 / telc Deutsch A1
- A2: Start Deutsch 2 / telc Deutsch A2
- B1: Zertifikat Deutsch / telc Deutsch B1
- B2: telc Deutsch B2
- C1: telc Deutsch C1, and telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule for university admission
- C2: telc Deutsch C2
- Job-related, two-level exams: for example telc Deutsch B1·B2 Pflege (for nursing staff) and telc Deutsch B1·B2 Beruf (German at work). Depending on your score, you get a B1 or a B2 certificate.
Several exams, including B1 and B2, can be taken on paper or on a computer, depending on the centre.
Parts and timing
Most telc exams have a written part (reading, listening, writing; from B1 also "Sprachbausteine", short grammar and vocabulary tasks) and an oral part, usually taken in pairs. Timings below come from telc's official mock exams.
| Exam | Written part | Oral part |
|---|---|---|
| Start Deutsch 1 (A1) | Listening approx. 20 min; Reading + Writing 45 min | approx. 15 min, in a group |
| telc Deutsch B1 | Reading + Sprachbausteine 90 min; Listening approx. 30 min; Writing 30 min | approx. 15 min in pairs, 20 min preparation |
| telc Deutsch B2 | Reading + Sprachbausteine 90 min; Listening approx. 20 min; Writing 30 min | approx. 15 min in pairs, 20 min preparation |
| telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule | Reading + Sprachbausteine 90 min; 20 min break; Listening approx. 40 min; Writing 70 min | approx. 16 min in pairs, 20 min preparation |
| telc Deutsch B1·B2 Pflege | Listening 25 min; Reading + Sprachbausteine 60 min; Writing 30 min | approx. 16 min in pairs, 20 min preparation |
| telc Deutsch B1·B2 Beruf | Listening 25 min; Reading + Sprachbausteine 60 min; Writing 45 min | approx. 16 min in pairs, 20 min preparation |
How telc differs from Goethe
- One exam, not modules. The Goethe-Zertifikat B1 has four modules that you can take one by one. A telc exam is taken as a whole, and written and oral are scored separately.
- Sprachbausteine. From B1, telc has its own grammar and vocabulary section; Goethe B1 has only Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking.
- Retaking part of it. At B1 and higher, if you pass only the written or only the oral part, you can usually retake just the other part within a limited time. This is not possible at A1, A2 or in the two-level exams.
- No expiry date is printed on telc certificates, but an office, employer or university may ask for a recent one.
What the certificate is used for
- Spouse visa (A1): German missions list Start Deutsch 1 by telc as proof of A1. Some embassies accept only certain providers, so check with yours first.
- Naturalisation (B1): City naturalisation offices accept a B1 certificate (Zertifikat Deutsch); it can be taken at centres with a telc licence, such as Volkshochschulen. Ask your Einbürgerungsbehörde which certificates it accepts.
- University: telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule is recognised for university admission, and universities such as Kassel list it as proof of German. Always check your programme's rules.
- Work: Pflege and Beruf certificates show German for the workplace. For professional recognition, ask the responsible authority which level it requires.
How to register
You do not register with telc itself. You register with a licensed telc exam centre: a Volkshochschule, a language school or a university language centre. Use "Find a telc examination centre" on telc.net. Each centre sets its own dates and fees, so fees vary by test centre.
How to prepare
- Download the free Übungstest (mock exam with answers and audio) on the exam's page at telc.net. More versions are sold in the telc shop.
- Do one full mock exam under real time limits, including the break.
- Practise the oral part with a partner. Most telc oral exams are in pairs, and you also talk with each other.
- Read the scoring notes in the Übungstest, especially for writing and speaking.
Sources: telc – German exams · telc – Zertifikat Deutsch / telc Deutsch B1 · telc – B1·B2 Pflege · telc – Übungstest Start Deutsch 1 (PDF) · telc – Übungstest C1 Hochschule (PDF) · telc – Rules and Regulations (PDF) · Goethe-Institut – Goethe-Zertifikat B1 · German mission in Greece – German skills in the visa procedure (PDF) · City of Dortmund – language skills for naturalisation (PDF) · Universität Kassel – accepted German certificates (PDF)
