DTZ B1 Exam: Format, Parts, Points and Result

What is the DTZ and who offers it?

The Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer (DTZ, German test for immigrants) is the language exam at the end of the integration course. It tests German for everyday life in Germany at levels A2 and B1. Since 2023, g.a.s.t. (Gesellschaft für Akademische Studienvorbereitung und Testentwicklung e. V.) has organised the test. The format and the task types have stayed the same.

The final test of the integration course has two exams: the DTZ and the test „Leben in Deutschland“ (Life in Germany). According to the BAMF, taking the final test is free of charge. If you pass the DTZ with B1 and „Leben in Deutschland“, you get the „Zertifikat Integrationskurs“ (integration course certificate) (BAMF: Abschlussprüfung).

The DTZ is a scaled test. There is only one exam, but two possible results: certificate A2 or certificate B1. So you do not have to choose a level beforehand. All information on this page comes from the official Übungssatz 1 by g.a.s.t. (practice set, June 2024) and the BAMF website.

How does the DTZ B1 exam work?

The written exam takes 100 minutes without a break: listening about 25 minutes, reading 45 minutes, writing 30 minutes. You work on each part only in its own time; you do not get lost time back. The oral exam is a pair exam of about 16 minutes with two licensed examiners.

Important for exam day: the answer sheet already has your name on it. You confirm the details with your signature. There is one answer sheet for listening and reading and a separate writing sheet for the writing part. You mark and write only with a black or blue ballpoint pen that cannot be erased – pencils are not allowed.

Only your ID, a ballpoint pen (and a spare pen), the exam papers and a drink may be on the table. Dictionaries, mobile phones and other electronic devices are not allowed. At the end of listening and reading, the task booklet says „STOP“: you only turn the page when the examiners give the signal.

What tasks are there in listening?

Listening has four parts with 20 tasks in total. You hear phone messages, announcements, short radio reports, everyday conversations and opinions on a topic. The tasks are multiple choice (a, b or c), true/false and matching. Before Teil 4 you have one minute to read sentences a–f.

Our tip: before each text, read the task carefully and underline the question word (wann, wo, wer, was – when, where, who, what). Announcements are often about a time, a platform number or a phone number. Listen for changes: „nicht um 9 Uhr, sondern um 10 Uhr“ (not at 9 o’clock, but at 10 o’clock). At the moment LexDeutsch has no listening practice for the DTZ.

What comes up in DTZ Lesen Teil 1 to 5?

Reading has five parts with 25 tasks in 45 minutes. You read signposts or directories, adverts, newspaper texts and letters, an information brochure and a letter with gaps. For all five parts, LexDeutsch has exercises in the DTZ format – the first three tasks of every part are free and need no sign-up.

Teil 1 – directories. For example, you look for the right floor on the signpost of a town hall. Our tip: first read the situation and think about which office is responsible. Then look in the directory for a word with the same meaning, not for the same word: „heiraten“ (to get married) appears there as „Standesamt“ (registry office), „neuer Führerschein“ (new driving licence) as „Führerscheinstelle“ (driving licence office). The answer „anderes Stockwerk“ (another floor) is correct if the office is on neither of the two floors given. If the format is new to you, start with Lesen Teil 1 – easy.

Teil 2 – adverts. Five situations, eight adverts, and for one situation no advert fits – then you mark X. Our tip: each situation usually has two conditions, for example „am Wochenende“ (at the weekend) and „ohne Erfahrung“ (without experience). An advert only fits if both conditions are right. Cross out the adverts you have used, so the choice gets smaller.

Teil 3 – press and notices. Three texts, each with one true/false statement and one question with a, b or c. Our tip: read the tasks before the text. The answers are usually in the same order as the text. Numbers, dates and words like „nur“ (only), „immer“ (always) or „nicht mehr“ (no longer) often decide between true and false.

Teil 4 – brochure. A longer information text, for example about childcare or care services, rules or terms and conditions, with three statements. Our tip: for each statement, find the matching place in the text and compare word for word. „Immer innerhalb von fünf Tagen“ (always within five days) and „in der Regel innerhalb von fünf Tagen“ (usually within five days) are very different.

Teil 5 – gaps in a letter. A formal letter, for example a complaint, with six gaps. Often the gaps are small words: prepositions, connectors like „weil“ (because) or „aber“ (but), forms of articles and pronouns. Our tip: read the whole sentence to the end, because often only the verb at the end of the sentence shows whether „weil“, „dass“ or „denn“ fits. You can revise fixed phrases like „Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren“ (Dear Sir or Madam) in the Grammar Quiz B1.

What do you have to do in writing?

In writing you have 30 minutes for one task. You choose Aufgabe A or Aufgabe B (task A or task B) and write a semi-formal or formal message, for example an email to a further education centre or a letter to your landlord. Each task has four points that you should write about. There is no fixed word count: „Schreiben Sie möglichst viel.“ (Write as much as you can.)

Four criteria are marked: I task completion (did you cover the four points?), II communicative design, III accuracy and IV vocabulary. Each criterion gives up to 5 points, 20 in total. With 15–20 points you reach B1 in writing, with 7–14 points A2. Do not forget the greeting and the closing – the task says this clearly.

Our guide Writing a letter at B1 explains the structure, useful phrases and examples for B1 letters. You can practise with 85 Musterbriefe B1 on housing, work, school, health and public offices – all Musterbriefe (sample letters) are free and need no sign-up, with translations into six languages.

How does the oral exam work?

You take the oral exam in pairs with two examiners. About 20 minutes are planned for each pair: about 16 minutes of conversation in three parts and about 4 minutes in which the examiners discuss the marks. The DTZ practice set does not mention any preparation time.

Our tip for Teil 3: really talk to your partner, not to the examiners. Make a suggestion, ask for their opinion and react: „Gute Idee, aber …“ (Good idea, but …), „Was meinen Sie?“ (What do you think?), „Dann bringe ich die Getränke mit.“ (Then I’ll bring the drinks.) Every point on the task sheet should come up in the conversation.

The examiners mark independently of each other. They do not have to agree on a common mark; the final mark is the average.

How is the result calculated – A2 or B1?

Three partial results count: „Hören und Lesen“ (listening and reading) together, „Schreiben“ (writing) and „Sprechen“ (speaking). Each partial result is B1, A2 or „unter A2“ (below A2). You get a B1 certificate with B1 in speaking and B1 in at least one of the other two parts. With „unter A2“ in speaking there is no certificate.

1. Certificate B1: speaking B1 plus B1 in „Hören und Lesen“ or in writing.
2. Certificate A2: speaking at least A2 plus at least A2 in one of the other two parts, if it is not enough for B1.
3. No certificate: speaking „unter A2“ – no matter how good your listening, reading and writing are.

Two examples based on this table: 30 points in Hören und Lesen (A2), 16 in writing (B1) and 80 in speaking (B1) give you the B1 certificate. 35 points in Hören und Lesen (B1), 10 in writing (A2) and 60 in speaking (A2) give you only A2, because speaking is not B1.

In speaking there are points for task completion in every part (Teil 1A and 1B 5 each, Teil 2A and 2B 10 each, Teil 3 20) and for the whole conversation: pronunciation/intonation 10, fluency 10, accuracy 15, vocabulary 15. So speaking is the most important part – without B1 in speaking there is no B1 certificate.

What does the B1 certificate give you?

In German law, B1 is the level of „ausreichende Deutschkenntnisse“ (sufficient knowledge of German, § 2 Abs. 11 AufenthG). This knowledge is one of the requirements for the settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis, § 9 Abs. 2 Nr. 7 AufenthG) and for naturalisation (§ 10 Abs. 1 Nr. 6 and Abs. 4 StAG). But it is only one requirement among several.

• Settlement permit: under § 9 Abs. 2 Satz 2 AufenthG, knowledge of German and basic knowledge of the legal and social system are proven if an integration course was completed successfully – that is, with DTZ B1 and „Leben in Deutschland“.
• Naturalisation: § 10 Abs. 4 StAG requires the standard of a language exam at level B1. According to the BAMF, you can also use the test „Leben in Deutschland“ as the naturalisation test if you answer at least 17 of 33 questions correctly.
• With A2 you have „hinreichende“ (adequate) knowledge of German (§ 2 Abs. 10 AufenthG). That is a result, but not proof of B1.

Which documents you need is decided by the Ausländerbehörde (immigration office) or the Einbürgerungsbehörde (naturalisation office). This page is not legal advice. Please ask there or at your Kursträger (course provider).

How do I prepare for the DTZ with LexDeutsch?

LexDeutsch trains two parts of the DTZ: Lesen Teil 1–5 with 52 tasks and writing with 85 Musterbriefe (sample letters). At the moment there is no listening or speaking practice for the DTZ. In Lesen, the first three tasks of every part are free and need no sign-up, further tasks are part of VIP; the Musterbriefe are all free.

1. In every Lesen part, do the first three tasks (free) and note where you make the most mistakes.
2. After that, practise one task a day in your weakest part. After „Prüfen“ (check), the trainer shows which answers are correct.
3. For writing, learn fixed sentences for the greeting, the reason for writing, a request and the closing – for example from the Musterbriefe.
4. Write two letters of your own each week in 30 minutes and check: did I write something about all four points?
5. Practise speaking out loud with a partner from your course, especially Teil 3 „Gemeinsam etwas planen“ (planning something together).
6. Revise vocabulary with the Flashcards and grammar in the Grammar Quiz B1.

The complete official practice set with answers is a free download from g.a.s.t.: Übungssatz 1 and Übungssatz 2 (PDF). The exercises on LexDeutsch are our own tasks in the DTZ format, not tasks from the exam. Nobody can promise you will pass – but regular practice improves your chances.

If you want to know how the DTZ differs from telc Deutsch B1 and the Goethe-Zertifikat B1, read Which B1 exam is right for me?.