DTZ Guides
DTZ Exam: Procedure, Parts, and Assessment Explained
By PreparaioEditorial team & sourcesUpdated
Key facts at a glance
- Overall result
- B1, A2 or below A2 (Source: gast.de)
- Requirement for an overall B1
- B1 in Speaking plus B1 in at least one of Listening/Reading or Writing (Source: gast.de)
- Retaking the exam
- Always the complete written and oral exam; earlier partial results do not carry over (Source: gast.de)
The Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer (DTZ) is a scaled language exam in the A2 to B1 range according to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). The administration and execution of the DTZ have been with g.a.s.t. since January 1, 2023.
This article explains the current exam structure and, above all, the result logic: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking are tested, but on the result sheet, Listening and Reading are combined into a common area.
Contents
What is the DTZ – and what is it not?
The DTZ is a scaled exam. Depending on performance, B1, A2, or below A2 is shown as the overall result.
Four skills are tested: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. There is no independent grammar section or separate Sprachbausteine; vocabulary and grammar are implicitly tested within the tasks.
For official purposes, what matters is which language certificate is required for the specific process. If you wish to use the DTZ, for example, for a naturalization procedure, please check the current requirements of the competent authority.
Overview of the four tested skills
The exam consists of a written and an oral part. Listening, Reading, and Writing belong to the written part; Speaking is tested orally.
- Listening – 20 tasks related to everyday listening situations. Read the instructions for each task part carefully and practice with the current official practice material.
- Reading – 25 tasks related to everyday texts; this also includes the letter gap-filling text in part 5.
- Writing – a coherent letter or an email for a given everyday occasion.
- Speaking – three parts: introducing yourself, describing a photo, and planning something together.
How long does the exam take?
The written part includes Listening, Reading, and Writing. For your specific exam organization – start time, breaks, and chronological order – the invitation from your exam center is crucial.
The oral exam is usually conducted as a pair or small group exam. Plan extra time on the exam day for instruction, identity check, and organizational procedures.
What you need to bring to the exam
The binding requirements are stated in the invitation from your exam center. A valid identification document is particularly important; what other things you may or should bring depends on the exam information provided there.
How is the DTZ assessed?
Listening and Reading are objectively evaluated and then reported as a common result area, Listening and Reading. Writing and Speaking are assessed according to defined criteria and reported separately.
This means there are three result areas: Listening and Reading, Writing, and Speaking. An overall result is also reported. For overall B1, you need B1 in Speaking and B1 in at least one written result area – either Listening and Reading or Writing.
Possible results
The DTZ uses the result levels below A2, A2, and B1.
- B1 – the higher proficiency level reported by the DTZ.
- A2 – the lower proficiency level reported by the DTZ.
- below A2 – the requirements for A2 were not met in the respective result.
When will the result be available?
Processing time may vary. Your exam center will inform you as soon as your DTZ result is available; for queries, the exam center is the first point of contact.
How to prepare effectively
The most important component is the current exam format. If you know the task types and the result logic, you can train more effectively.
Use current official practice material from g.a.s.t. and supplement it with structured training with feedback – especially for Writing and Speaking.
Frequently asked questions
How many skills does the DTZ test?
Four: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. However, in the results, Listening and Reading are combined into a common result area.
What is the maximum achievable level?
B1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference. Higher levels are not reported in the DTZ.
What happens if I have to retake the DTZ?
If you retake it, you will retake the complete written and oral exam; individual exam parts cannot be retaken separately, and previous partial results are not carried over.
Do I need B1 in all four skills for overall B1?
No. For overall B1, you need B1 in Speaking and additionally B1 either in the common area of Listening and Reading or in Writing.
Sources & currency
- Exam version
- Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer (DTZ), as of 2026
- Editorial check
- Source check by the Preparaio editorial team ()
- Author
- Preparaio RedaktionEditorial team, fact-checking against official primary sources
- Reviewed by
- Source-checked by PreparaioSource comparison with the exam providers' own pages
- Fact-check status
- Checked against official primary sources ()
- Content version
- 2026-07-31
How we check: Every exam-relevant fact is compared with the exam providers' official pages (g.a.s.t./TestDaF-Institut, BAMF, ETS, IELTS Partners, telc). The check is editorial, supported by AI and automated test gates; it is not a review by certified examiners.
The hard exam facts in this article were verified against the official primary sources linked below on the date shown. This is not a review by an examination body and does not replace information from your test centre. Fees, dates and local procedures are set by the test centres themselves.
Official primary sources
- Der DTZ auf einen Blick — g.a.s.t. / TestDaF-Institut · gast.de · official primary source · checked on
- Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer (DTZ) – FAQ — g.a.s.t. / TestDaF-Institut · gast.de · official primary source · checked on Retake: the complete written and oral exam is taken again.
- Abschlussprüfung im Integrationskurs — Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge (BAMF) · bamf.de · official primary source · checked on
Changes to this article
- — Corrected against the g.a.s.t. FAQ and BAMF: a retake means sitting the complete exam again; earlier partial results are not carried over. Added: the DTZ reports an overall result of B1, A2 or below A2.
More on DTZ
Articles on the German A2–B1 exam DTZ (Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer): format, four sections, scoring, preparation and what happens after the result.
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Read articleDTZ Listening and Reading: Overview of Task Types and How to Practice Them
What to expect in Listening and Reading – and why both skills are ultimately combined into a single DTZ result area.
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