The telc German exam ladder runs A1 to C2. Learn the levels, the B1 and B2 format, how telc compares to Goethe, and how to pick and book the right one.
A telc German exam certifies your German at one fixed CEFR level, from A1 up to C2, and the standalone B1 certificate is used across Germany for residence, citizenship, and professional recognition. telc runs more than a dozen German exams, so the hard part is rarely the German itself. It is knowing which exam matches your goal, what each one looks like on the day, and how it stacks up against Goethe. This guide maps the whole telc ladder and the format of the exams most learners actually sit.
What is a telc German exam?
telc is a family of standardized German exams run by telc gGmbH, based in Bad Homburg near Frankfurt. Every telc exam is calibrated to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), so a telc B1 certifies the same level of German as any other B1.
telc language tests are recognized by schools, universities, employers, and government authorities, and telc is a full member of ALTE (the Association of Language Testers in Europe), which audits its quality standards. The standalone telc Deutsch B1, also called Zertifikat Deutsch, is the certificate many people use for a visa, residence permit, or citizenship application, or for official professional recognition in Germany (telc, last verified July 2026). Always confirm the exact requirement with the authority or institution that will receive your certificate, because the rule is set by them, not by telc.
The telc level ladder, A1 to C2
telc offers a general German exam at every level from A1 to C2, and adds purpose-built exams for the workplace, healthcare, and university admission. The general exam proves your all-round German; the purpose-built ones test the same CEFR level using tasks from a specific setting.
Alongside the general certificates, these purpose-specific telc German exams exist and are worth knowing (telc, last verified July 2026):
- telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule, the academic exam for university admission in Germany.
- telc Deutsch B1·B2 Beruf, a dual-level workplace exam.
- telc Deutsch B2·C1 Medizin, the job-related exam for doctors and medical staff.
telc also runs dual-level exams, where one sitting can award either of two levels, and dedicated versions for younger learners such as telc Deutsch A2 Schule and B1 Schule. The best known dual-level exam is telc Deutsch A2·B1, covered below. If you are certain of your level, the general single-level exam is the simplest choice; the dual-level format only helps when you are genuinely on the border between two levels.
| Level | What you can do (CEFR) | General telc exam at this level |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | Use basic phrases for simple, everyday needs | telc Deutsch A1 |
| A2 | Handle simple, routine exchanges on familiar topics | telc Deutsch A2 (and the A2·B1 dual exam) |
| B1 | Cope with most daily situations and give short opinions | telc Deutsch B1 (Zertifikat Deutsch) |
| B2 | Speak fluently and in detail on a wide range of topics | telc Deutsch B2 |
| C1 | Use German flexibly and effectively for study and work | telc Deutsch C1 (and C1 Hochschule for university) |
| C2 | Understand almost everything and express yourself precisely | telc Deutsch C2 |
telc Deutsch B1: the structure and the two B1 exams
The standalone telc Deutsch B1 has a written part and an oral part, and you must reach at least 60% in each part to pass. Written and oral are scored separately, so a strong essay cannot rescue a weak speaking result.
The written part has four sections: Leseverstehen (reading), Sprachbausteine (grammar and vocabulary in context), Hörverstehen (listening), and Schriftlicher Ausdruck (one written message with four required points). Reading and Sprachbausteine share a 90-minute block; listening runs about 30 minutes; the writing task gets 30 minutes. The oral part, Mündlicher Ausdruck, is taken with a partner after about 20 minutes of preparation and covers getting acquainted, talking on a topic, and planning something together.
Do not confuse this with telc Deutsch A2·B1, which is a separate, dual-level exam. There, one sitting is scaled across two levels, and telc states that "test takers will receive a certificate of either the lower or higher CEFR level" based on how they perform (telc, last verified July 2026). In other words, you can walk in aiming for B1 and, depending on your score, come away with an A2 or a B1. The standalone telc Deutsch B1 has no such A2 fallback.
telc Deutsch B2: what to expect
telc Deutsch B2 follows the same subtest shape as B1 (Leseverstehen, Sprachbausteine, Hörverstehen, Schriftlicher Ausdruck, and a paired Mündlicher Ausdruck), set at a higher level. The most visible difference on the day is listening: at B2 each listening part is played only once, whereas B1 replays some parts, so there is less room to catch a detail the second time.
The writing task at B2 is a semi-formal message rather than the more informal B1 email, and the reading and Sprachbausteine still share one timed block. telc sets the pass threshold for B2 in its official handbook. This changes by test centre and over time, so check the current pass detail on telc.net before you plan around it, and treat the 60% each-part rule as specific to B1 rather than assuming it carries over.
telc vs Goethe: same standard, different packaging
At the same CEFR level, telc and Goethe test the same German and are equally valid; the differences are format, availability, and which exam a given institution prefers, not difficulty. Both are calibrated to the CEFR, so a B2 proves B2 either way.
What varies is the paper in front of you. telc leans on the Sprachbausteine section and its dual-level and profession-specific exams; Goethe uses a modular structure at B1 and above, where you can sit and repeat single skills. For a full side-by-side of the providers, including ÖSD, read the Goethe vs telc vs ÖSD comparison, and if you are weighing a Goethe B1 instead, the Goethe B1 exam guide walks through that format module by module.
If your goal is a German university, the choice is a different one: an academic exam rather than a general certificate. telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule is one accepted route, sitting alongside TestDaF and the DSH. Compare them on telc C1 Hochschule vs TestDaF and TestDaF vs DSH, then confirm what your target university actually accepts.
Fees, test centres, and results
telc does not publish a single price for its exams. Each licensed test centre sets its own examination fee and its own dates, so telc itself cannot quote a cost; you register directly with a centre and it tells you the fee and the schedule (telc, last verified July 2026).
To find one, use the official telc examination centre finder (last verified July 2026), then contact the centre for the exact fee, available dates, and how long results take. Results timing changes by test centre and over time, so check the current detail on telc.net or with your centre before you plan around it. Book early either way, since seats at popular centres fill up weeks ahead of exam dates.
Frequently asked questions
A telc German exam is a standardized test run by telc gGmbH that certifies your German at one CEFR level, from A1 to C2. Each level has a general exam, and telc also offers purpose-built versions for work, healthcare, and university admission. telc certificates are recognized by employers, universities, and authorities across Germany and Europe.
No. At a given CEFR level, telc and Goethe measure the same standard, so neither is harder. What differs is the format: task types, timing, and how the speaking part is run. Some candidates find one provider's task types suit them better, which is a reason to try each provider's official sample papers before deciding, not a difference in difficulty.
telc Deutsch A2·B1 is a single dual-level exam that scales across two levels. It contains tasks at both A2 and B1, and you receive a certificate at either the lower or higher level depending on your score. It suits learners who are between A2 and B1 and want one sitting that certifies wherever they land, rather than committing to a single level in advance.
There is no fixed telc price. Each licensed test centre sets its own fee, so the same exam can cost different amounts from one centre or country to the next. telc cannot quote a cost centrally. Use the telc examination centre finder to locate a centre near you, then contact it directly for the current fee and dates.
