telc B2 Reading Part 4: Tasks, Responsibilities & Multiple Choice
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Who does what by when? 5 multiple-choice questions on a workplace text: net vs. gross traps, date traps, role assignments and the 5-step method.
What do you need to know about Reading Part 4?
How do you solve the 5 questions in Part 4 reliably?
How to solve multiple-choice questions on a workplace text quickly while dodging distractor traps.
Work Out What the 5 Questions Ask For
Read the 5 sentence beginnings or questions (a/b/c) first. Note what is being asked: a date, an amount, a person – or who takes on which task and by when? Knowing the questions gives you a focused search radar for the text.
Find Paragraphs with Dates, Names, Figures and Tasks
Skim the text and jump straight to signal words: dates ("14. Oktober"), times ("06:45 Uhr"), plates ("HH-TL ..."), amounts and phrases such as "übernimmt", "kümmert sich um", "bis Freitag". Mark each passage in the task booklet.
Separate Competing Figures Through Context Checks
Texts of this kind often name two similar pieces of information: two people (e.g. the driver and the shift supervisor writing the report), two vehicles, two amounts (net and gross) or a proposal and a decision. This is exactly where the wrong options come from. Work out which of the two the question means.
Check Numbers, Names, Deadlines and Responsibilities Word by Word
Compare each option with the marked passage: does the number match digit by digit? Is it the right person taking on the task? Is the deadline right ("by Friday" or "by the end of the month")? The correct option often paraphrases the content, while the wrong ones often contain the original words but with a swapped person or deadline.
Transfer All 5 Answers Before Time Is Up
Check that all 5 questions are answered and that the numbers on answer sheet S30 match the questions in the booklet. Mark your answers neatly and follow the instructions of the invigilators.
Which traps are hidden in reports and minutes?
A close look at typical confusions: figures, dates, roles and vehicles.
Confusion of Pre-tax Sum, Net Amount & Total Invoice
Reports often mention three figures: the net sum (e.g. €3,400.00), the VAT (19% = €646.00) and the gross total (€4,046.00). Sometimes an insurance deductible (€500.00) is added as extra bait. If the question asks for the net costs, the other figures are exactly the wrong options.
Confusing the Event Day with the Report Drafting Date
An incident report typically opens with its filing header: "Drafted on: October 15, 2026 at 09:30 AM". The body then says: "On the previous day (October 14, 2026) around 06:45 AM a shunting collision occurred". Careless readers pick the option with the header date instead of the event date.
Role Confusion Between Shift Lead & Involved Driver
Reports are written by managers (e.g. shift lead Thomas Jansen). The person who actually caused the accident is often another worker (e.g. temporary worker Marek Kowalski), and the next task may be taken on by someone else again. If the question asks who caused the accident, the option with the shift lead is wrong.
Confusing License Plates of Colliding Units
Two vehicles collide: Electric forklift 3 (plate HH-TL 4820) and a company truck (plate HH-VK 1190). One vehicle suffers severe structural damage; the other sustains mere paint scratches. Scrutinize which license plate belongs strictly to the unit requiring the €3,400 repair.
Exam-Style Practice: Report with Measures & 5 Questions
Read the report and choose the matching option for each of the 5 questions.
LOGITECH LOGISTIKZENTRUM HAMBURG INTERNER UNFALL- UND SCHADENSBERICHT Erstellt am: 15. Oktober 2026 um 09:30 Uhr durch Schichtleiter Thomas Jansen. HERGANG: Am Vortag (14. Oktober 2026) ereignete sich gegen Ende der Frühschicht um 06:45 Uhr ein Rangierunfall im Ladebereich Tor 4. Der Leiharbeitnehmer Marek Kowalski stieß beim Rückwärtssetzen mit dem Elektrogabelstapler 3 (internes Kennzeichen: HH-TL 4820) gegen die rechte Hecktür des firmeneigenen Lkw (HH-VK 1190). SCHADENSBEURTEILUNG: Der Lkw HH-VK 1190 wies lediglich minimale Lackkratzer auf. Am Gabelstapler HH-TL 4820 wurde jedoch die hydraulische Hebevorrichtung gravierend verzogen. Werkstattmeister Weber schätzt die Instandsetzungskosten auf 3.400,00 Euro netto (entspricht 4.046,00 Euro brutto inkl. 19% MwSt.). Die betriebliche Haftpflichtversicherung übernimmt den Schaden abzüglich einer Selbstbeteiligung von 500,00 Euro. MASSNAHMEN: Herr Weber lässt den Gabelstapler bis 21. Oktober reparieren. Schichtleiter Jansen meldet den Schaden bis Freitag der Versicherung. Marek Kowalski nimmt am 18. Oktober an einer Sicherheitsunterweisung zum Rangieren teil.
1. The accident happened …
Time of the incident2. Severely damaged was …
Damaged vehicle3. The net repair cost is …
Amount (net)4. The accident was caused by …
Person responsible5. The damage is reported to the insurer by …
Who does whatInteractive Knowledge Check for Reading Part 4
4 practical questions on distractors, numbers, people and decisions.
1. The text says: "Reparaturkosten 2.500 Euro zzgl. 19 % MwSt. (Gesamtbetrag 2.975 Euro)". The question reads: "The net repair cost is …". Which option is correct?
2. The report was written on 20 September. The text says: "Am Vortag um 16:30 Uhr kam es zur Kollision." Which option fits "The collision happened …"?
3. One employee writes the report, another drove the vehicle. Which option is correct for "The accident was caused by …"?
4. In meeting minutes, a proposal is rejected and then something else is decided. Which option is correct for "It was decided that …"?
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Frequently asked questions
What do you have to do in telc B2 Beruf Reading Part 4?
You read a longer workplace text about tasks and responsibilities, such as meeting minutes or a report with follow-up measures, and answer 5 multiple-choice questions with three options each (a, b, c). You are asked, for example, what was decided, who takes on which task and by when.
How much time do you have for Reading Part 4 and how does it count towards your score?
Reading Parts 1–4 take 45 minutes together; plan about 12 minutes for the 5 questions in Part 4. Part 4 counts towards reading (60 points). You pass with at least 144 of 240 points in total and at least 36 of 60 in at least three of the four skills; one weaker skill is compensated if it has 24–35 points.
What should you watch for with numbers and names in the options?
Wrong options often differ from the correct one by just one digit, date or name. So compare amounts, times, plates and names character by character with the passage.
Do the questions in Part 4 follow the order of the text?
Mostly yes: the questions go through the text section by section, in minutes often agenda item by agenda item. So work from top to bottom and mark where you found the last answer.
What should you do when several people are mentioned in the text?
Check the verb and the role: who acted, who only documented the incident or presented a topic, and who takes on the next task? The questions often ask about exactly this responsibility, and the wrong options name the other people.
Are points deducted for wrong answers?
No, points are only given for correct answers, and a wrong answer takes nothing away. So never leave a question unanswered.
Ready for Reading Part 4 in Exam Format?
Practise exam-style Reading Part 4 tasks with instant checking and the correct answers.