Is the Integration Course Enough to Pass the DTZ with B1?

The short answer

The integration course is designed specifically to bring you to level B1 and ends with the Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer (DTZ). For many, the course alone isn’t enough to actually pass the DTZ at B1. The numbers are clear: in the general integration course, currently only about 58% of participants reach B1 level. Everyone else passes the test with A2.

That doesn’t mean the course is bad. It gives you a solid foundation. But whether it adds up to B1 in the end often depends on what you do additionally, especially in speaking and writing.

What is the integration course?

The general integration course comprises a total of 700 hours of instruction:

• 600 hours of language course: divided into a basic course and a follow-up course (300 hours each, with 3 modules of 100 hours each).
• 100 hours of orientation course: law, history, culture, and life in Germany.

The goal is clear: all participants should reach level B1 by the end. The course ends with two exams: the DTZ (language) and the test “Leben in Deutschland” (orientation).

How does the DTZ work?

The DTZ is a special exam because it measures two levels at the same time: A2 and B1. So you don’t simply fail. Instead, you get a result at the end: either A2 or B1.

The test has two large parts:

1. Written (individual exam, about 100 minutes): listening, reading, and writing.
2. Oral (pair exam): you speak together with another person.

Each part is graded separately. Your overall score then determines whether you reach A2 or B1 level. Important: for most major goals, especially naturalization, you need the B1 result. A DTZ with A2 isn’t enough for that.

Why isn’t the course enough for many?

If about 42% only reach A2, it’s rarely due to lack of effort. There are clear reasons:

• The pace is fast. Reaching B1 from zero in 600 hours is a lot of material in a short time. Once you fall behind, it’s hard to catch up.
• Speaking and writing are difficult. In class you listen and read a lot, but individual students often don’t get enough time for free speaking and letter writing because the class is large.
• Classes are very mixed. Some people have to learn the Latin alphabet first; others learn quickly. One teacher can’t find the perfect pace for everyone.
• Little practice at home. If you only practice German in class and speak your native language otherwise, you make slower progress.

Retakes show the problem clearly: those who take the DTZ again achieve B1 even less often. So it pays to be well prepared the first time.

How to increase your chance of B1

The course is the foundation. These steps make the difference between A2 and B1:

1. Study German every day. Even 20 to 30 minutes regularly does more than cramming just before the exam.
2. Practice speaking, not just reading. Speak aloud, record yourself, listen back. The oral exam matters.
3. Write letters and texts. The writing part of the DTZ is very formulaic (invitations, complaints, apologies). If you’ve practiced it, you collect sure points.
4. Train with real practice sentences. Do model tests so the format doesn’t surprise you on exam day.
5. Master one level thoroughly before moving to the next. If you really know A1 and A2, B1 is much easier.

This is exactly where an additional online course can usefully complement the integration course. If you want to practice speaking, pronunciation, and writing specifically, you’ll find in the Complete Package A1 through B1 a video course with a qualified, certified German-as-a-foreign-language teacher, the Hueber textbook “Schritte plus Neu,” and an AI trainer that corrects your speaking and letters. That way you practice exactly the areas that often get short shrift in the integration course, at your own pace and as often as you want.

What if B1 isn’t enough?

No need to panic. In many cases you can request a repetition of up to 300 hours from BAMF and another free exam. The rules have become stricter lately, so always ask your course provider or BAMF directly what applies to your situation.

And for naturalization, the rule remains: B1 is the standard. The 2024/2025 reform changed nothing about that. A higher level like C1 you only need for the rare, faster naturalization after three years with special integration achievements.

Conclusion

The integration course is a good foundation, but not automatic. Statistically, only a bit more than half of participants reach B1. The difference is usually made by you, through regular practice at home, especially in speaking and writing. If you complement the course strategically, for example with the V-IZ Complete Package, your chances of passing the DTZ with B1 on the first try are much better.