The DTZ exam (Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer) explained: the A2 and B1 scaled format, the four sections, and why a B1 result matters for status.
The DTZ exam is the German test at the end of the BAMF integration course. Its full name is the Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer, which means German Test for Immigrants. If you live in Germany and take a funded integration course, this is the exam you sit at the end. It is one test, but it measures two levels, A2 and B1. This guide explains the format in plain language, what each part asks, and why reaching B1 matters for your residence and citizenship.
What the DTZ exam is
The DTZ exam is the language test that ends the integration course run by the Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge (BAMF). When you pass at B1, you receive the certificate called the Zertifikat Integrationskurs, which shows you have reached B1 in the German Test for Immigrants (BAMF, last verified July 2026).
The test is produced by telc gGmbH together with G.A.S.T. It is built for people who live in Germany or are moving here, so the language is everyday and practical. You do not need to look for a topic outside daily life. The DTZ asks about the German you use to work, shop, deal with offices, and talk to neighbours.
What the A2 and B1 scale means for your result
The DTZ is one exam, but it is scaled across two levels. Every part is rated either A2 or B1, depending on how well you do. So your certificate does not just say pass or fail. It shows the level you reached in each area (BAMF, last verified July 2026).
To be certified at B1 overall, you need B1 in Speaking and B1 in at least one other area: Listening and Reading together, or Writing. If your result lands at A2, you still get a certificate. But A2 and B1 are not the same on paper, and B1 is the level that opens the most doors. That is why the whole exam is really a push to reach B1, not just to pass.
The four sections of the DTZ
The DTZ has four skills: Hören (listening), Lesen (reading), Schreiben (writing), and Sprechen (speaking). The written part lasts about 100 minutes and covers listening, reading, and a short letter. The speaking part is separate and takes about 15 minutes, usually with a partner (BAMF, last verified July 2026).
The writing task is a short everyday letter or message. You might reply to an invitation, ask for information, or explain a problem. Speaking has three parts: you introduce yourself and talk about your life, you describe a photo and share your own experience with the topic, and then you plan something together with your partner, like a party or a trip (telc, last verified July 2026).
| Section | What it asks | Rated |
|---|---|---|
| Hören (listening) | Announcements, phone messages, and short everyday conversations | A2 or B1 |
| Lesen (reading) | Signs, adverts, letters, and short articles from daily life | A2 or B1 |
| Schreiben (writing) | A short everyday letter or message with a clear purpose | A2 or B1 |
| Sprechen (speaking) | Introduce yourself, describe a photo, and plan something with a partner | A2 or B1 |
Because each skill is rated on its own, one strong skill cannot lift a weak one. If speaking is your weak point, that is where your result is decided. Plan your study around your weakest skill, not your best.
Why a B1 result matters for staying and citizenship
A B1 result matters because B1 is the standard German level for permanent settlement and for naturalisation. For citizenship, you must show sufficient German at level B1, and a B1 result in the DTZ counts as that proof (BAMF, last verified July 2026). This is one reason the A2 or B1 line on your certificate is worth so much.
Be careful with blanket statements here. The exact German level for a residence or settlement permit depends on your permit type, and some paths have their own rules and exceptions. Requirements vary by your permit and situation. Check the current rule on bamf.de before you rely on it. Our pages on the German level you need to stay and settle and the language requirement for citizenship set out the paths in more detail.
DTZ vs Goethe B1: what is the difference?
The DTZ and the Goethe-Zertifikat B1 have different purposes and different providers, but they share the same B1 skills. The DTZ is the integration course exam. It is scaled across A2 and B1, it focuses on everyday German, and it is produced by telc and G.A.S.T. The Goethe-Zertifikat B1 is a standalone exam from the Goethe-Institut. It is a single fixed B1 level, it is modular, and it is taken all over the world. Our guide to the Goethe B1 exam explains that format in full.
What matters for you is this. Both certify B1 German, and for many official purposes a B1 is a B1, whatever the logo. So if you are still at A2 and building toward the DTZ, the same reading, listening, and writing work also prepares you for a Goethe exam later. If you want to see where A2 sits on the road to B1, our Goethe A2 exam guide is a useful marker.
How to prepare for the DTZ
The best way to prepare for the DTZ is to practise the everyday German it tests, not grammar in the abstract. Focus on three things. First, messages. Learn to write both a friendly note to a person you know and a polite, clear message to an office or a company. The DTZ writing task is one short letter, so practise getting to the point. Our guide to formal and informal German letters gives you a template for each. Second, everyday topics: work, health, housing, shopping, family, and free time. These are the topics that come back again and again. Third, the speaking roleplay. Practise saying who you are, describing a photo in simple sentences, and planning something out loud with a partner, using phrases like "Wollen wir...?" and "Ich schlage vor, dass...".
Practise under time, and score each skill on its own so you know where you stand. The DTZ and the Goethe B1 share the same B1 skills, so exam-format B1 practice on SagaDeutsch builds the reading, listening, and writing that the DTZ tests. Do most of your work out loud and on paper, because producing German is what moves your result from A2 to B1.
Frequently asked questions
Not exactly. The DTZ is one exam scaled across two levels, A2 and B1. Each skill is rated A2 or B1 based on your performance. You are certified at B1 overall only if you reach B1 in speaking and in at least one other area. So the DTZ can give you a B1 result, but it is not a fixed B1 exam the way the Goethe-Zertifikat B1 is.
You still receive a certificate, but it shows A2, not B1. B1 is the level asked for in many residence and citizenship paths, so A2 may not be enough on its own. If you did not reach B1 after the full course, BAMF may allow you to repeat the course once, with an extra 300 lessons, and sit the test once more free of charge (BAMF, last verified July 2026).
If you take a BAMF-funded integration course, the DTZ is part of that course. You do not pay a separate exam fee for it. If you did not reach B1 and BAMF approves a repeat course, you may sit the test once more free of charge as well. Because rules and course funding can change, confirm your own case with your course provider or on bamf.de.
The DTZ is the exam at the end of the integration course, so most people sit it as course participants. If you are not in a funded course but need a B1 certificate, ask your provider which exam fits your case. A standard B1 exam such as the Goethe-Zertifikat B1 or a general telc B1 may be the better route for you, since those are open to anyone.
