telc Deutsch B1 Guides
Marking and passing the telc Deutsch B1
By PreparaioEditorial team & sourcesUpdated
The telc Deutsch B1 is scored across a written and an oral part. Each part has its own point total and is passed independently. This guide keeps the explanation stable across exam versions.
Concrete percentage thresholds change over time. For binding figures rely on the current official practice tests or on your exam centre.
Contents
Two parts, two separate grades
You receive two separate results: one for the written and one for the oral part. The exam is passed only when both parts are passed.
This split matters: an excellent oral score cannot rescue a written total below threshold. Budget training time for both parts.
What counts in the written part
Written points come from Reading, Language Elements, Listening, and Writing. Exact allocation is in the current model test.
Multiple-choice items are binary: right or wrong. Writing is graded on multiple criteria (content, communicative design, formal accuracy); each maps to points.
- Reading and Listening are closed formats — guessing at the end costs nothing.
- Language Elements test grammar and vocabulary in short gap-fills.
- Writing uses a rubric; salutation and closing count toward communication.
What counts in the oral part
You are graded on expressive ability, task fulfilment, formal accuracy, and pronunciation. Both examiners follow a calibrated rubric.
Interaction matters: the exam is communicative, so uninterrupted monologues without addressing your partner cost points.
If only one part passes
telc rules allow one repeat of the failed part under certain conditions, without redoing the whole exam. Deadlines are set by the centre.
Take the feedback seriously: ask the centre which sub-area cost you the points, and train it deliberately.
Frequently asked questions
What percentage do I need to pass?
Percentage thresholds are documented per exam version in the official practice tests. Rely on the current model test, not on forums or older course materials.
Does handwriting count?
Handwriting counts indirectly: illegible answers cannot be marked. Write clearly with a blue or black ballpoint pen.
Sources & currency
- Exam version
- telc Deutsch B1, 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
- Source check in progress ()
- 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
- telc Deutsch B1 – Zertifikat Deutsch — telc gGmbH · telc.net · official primary source · checked on
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