DTZ Ratgeber

DTZ Exam: Process, Parts, and Evaluation Explained Simply

Von PreparaioAktualisiert am July 11, 2026

The Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer (DTZ) is a scaled language exam that measures your German language level between A2 and B1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference (GER). It is offered nationwide by g.a.s.t./telc and is the central language exam at the end of Integrationskurs.

This article explains how the exam works, which four parts to expect, how long they last, and how they are evaluated. All information refers to the official exam structure of the latest practice sets; exact times, breaks, and process details may vary slightly depending on the Prüfungszentrum.

Inhalt

What is the DTZ – and what is it not?

The DTZ is a scaled exam. This means there is only one exam, but two possible result levels. Depending on how well you perform in the individual parts, you will receive either A2 or B1 certification – or the certificate "unter A2" if you do not reach the A2 threshold.

Important to know: The DTZ covers exactly four skills – Hören, Lesen, Schreiben, and Sprechen. There is no separate grammar section or "Sprachbausteine," as you might know from telc B1. Grammar and vocabulary are implicitly tested through the four skills.

The DTZ is also the language exam with which you can, for example, prove your eligibility for Einbürgerung or a Niederlassungserlaubnis in many cases. For Einbürgerung, at least B1 is usually required – for other purposes, A2 is often sufficient.

Overview of the four exam parts

The exam consists of a written and an oral part. The written part is conducted as a group exam, the oral part in small groups (two or three people).

Hören – short announcements, everyday dialogues, and an interview or radio show. You listen to the recordings once or twice and answer multiple-choice questions.
Lesen – short everyday texts (emails, advertisements, notices), a newspaper article or factual text, and in part 5, a letter with gaps to fill in, with six multiple-choice items.
Schreiben – you write a coherent Brief or email for a given everyday occasion (e.g., complaint, request, apology).
Sprechen – three parts: introducing yourself, describing a photo, and planning something together in a dialogue (e.g., organizing an outing).

How long does the exam take?

The written exam lasts a total of approximately 100 minutes (around 25 minutes for Hören, 45 minutes for Lesen, and 30 minutes for Schreiben). This includes short transition times between parts and a break.

The oral part usually lasts about 16 minutes of active exam time per pair of candidates, plus a few minutes of preparation. Overall, you should plan for about half a day for the exam day, depending on the Prüfungszentrum and group size.

What you need to bring to the exam

The exact requirements are stated in the invitation from your Prüfungszentrum, but these points apply almost everywhere:

Valid photo ID (Personalausweis, passport, Aufenthaltstitel).
The invitation or registration confirmation from the Prüfungszentrum.
Two blue or black ballpoint pens (no pencil, no rollerball pen).
No cell phones in the exam room – cell phones are usually handed in at the entrance.
Dictionaries, notes, or your own papers are not allowed.

How is the DTZ evaluated?

Each exam part is evaluated individually and assigned a level (A2 or B1). Hören and Lesen are machine-evaluated according to a scoring key; Schreiben and Sprechen are assessed by trained examiners according to fixed criteria (e.g., task fulfillment, text structure, vocabulary, grammar).

Ultimately, the overall performance counts: The certificate indicates the achieved level for each of the four skills. It is possible that you achieve B1 in Hören, for example, but A2 in Schreiben – this will then be stated accordingly in the certificate. There is no single overall level; the profile of the four partial results counts.

Possible results

There are three result levels for the DTZ:

B1 – you have reached the higher level (e.g., relevant for Einbürgerung).
A2 – you have demonstrated basic everyday communication.
"unter A2" – the A2 threshold was not reached in all parts; the certificate is not issued in this form, but you will receive a results notification.

When will the result be available?

The evaluation usually takes a few weeks. How long exactly depends on the Prüfungszentrum and the current processing situation at g.a.s.t./telc – there are no reliable nationwide time estimates. Your Prüfungszentrum will inform you as soon as the certificate is ready for collection or has been sent.

How to prepare effectively

The most important component is the exam format itself. If you know the four parts, the typical task types, and the evaluation criteria, you can use your energy in the actual test exactly where it counts.

Use the official practice sets from g.a.s.t./telc to familiarize yourself with the tone, pace, and task instructions. In addition, structured training with immediate feedback helps – especially for Schreiben and Sprechen, where you can hardly assess yourself whether your text has already reached B1 level.

Häufige Fragen

How many parts does the DTZ have?

Four: Hören, Lesen, Schreiben, and Sprechen. There is no separate grammar section or "Sprachbausteine" in the DTZ.

What is the maximum achievable level?

B1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference. Higher levels (B2, C1) are not indicated in the DTZ.

What happens if I fail a part?

You can retake the Prüfung. If you have already achieved B1 in one part and failed another, a targeted partial Prüfung is also possible under certain conditions – you can clarify the details with your Prüfungszentrum.

How long does the written exam take?

A total of approximately 100 minutes of active exam time (Hören about 25, Lesen about 45, Schreiben about 30 minutes), plus breaks and transition times.

Am I allowed to use a dictionary?

No. Dictionaries, notes, or your own papers are not allowed in the DTZ.