DTZ or telc B1: Which German exam is easier?

DTZ or telc B1: the key difference at a glance

The central difference is simple: the DTZ (Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer) assesses performance at A2 and B1. You take one exam, and your certificate shows B1, A2 or an insufficient result, depending on your performance. telc Deutsch B1, by contrast, is a B1-only exam: you either pass at B1 level or you do not.

In practice, a DTZ certificate may show B1, A2 or an insufficient result. To receive an overall B1 result, you need B1 in Speaking and also B1 in either the combined Listening and Reading section or Writing. telc Deutsch B1 has only two outcomes: pass or fail.

What is the DTZ?

The Goethe-Institut and telc GmbH developed the DTZ specifically for migrants on behalf of the German Federal Government. It is the final exam in the integration course. For a funded integration course, the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) normally covers the examination fee. Depending on their individual entitlement, participants may still have to pay part of the course costs themselves.

DTZ format:

• Written part (about 100 minutes): listening, reading and writing.
• Oral part: a short conversation in a group or with another candidate.

Scoring: Listening and Reading are worth 45 points in total (one question equals one point). Your level is determined as follows:

• 33 to 45 points → B1
• 20 to 32 points → A2
• 0 to 19 points → below A2

Writing and Speaking are assessed separately at A2 and B1. Your certificate states the level you reached in each area or whether your result was below A2.

What is telc Deutsch B1?

telc Deutsch B1, also known as the “Zertifikat Deutsch”, is an independent, internationally recognised B1 exam. It is not tied to an integration course and is often taken by people who need a B1 certificate for work, vocational training or higher education.

telc Deutsch B1 format:

• Written part (150 minutes): reading comprehension, language elements (grammar and vocabulary), listening comprehension and a letter-writing task.
• Oral part (about 15 minutes): making contact, discussing a topic and planning something together.

Scoring: You must achieve at least 60 percent in the written and the oral part. The two parts are assessed separately. If you score below 60 percent in either part, you have not passed the exam.

Which exam is easier?

For most migrants, the DTZ is the more accessible route, for three reasons:

1. Graduated result: Depending on your performance, the DTZ certificate may show B1, A2 or an insufficient result. To receive an overall B1 result, you must meet the requirements for the specified sections.
2. Familiar topics: The DTZ focuses on everyday life in Germany, such as housing, work and dealing with public authorities—the same topics practised in an integration course.
3. Funding and retakes: For a funded integration course, BAMF normally covers the examination fee. If the applicable conditions are met, BAMF may also cover the fee for a retake.

telc Deutsch B1 can be more demanding because it has only a pass-or-fail outcome and includes tasks such as Language Elements, which test grammar directly. On the other hand, it is better known internationally and can be taken independently of an integration course.

Important: “More accessible” does not mean “less valuable”. A B1 result in the DTZ is just as valid as a telc Deutsch B1 certificate when proof of B1 is required.

What about the Goethe-Zertifikat B1?

The Goethe-Zertifikat B1 is also often included in this comparison. Its main advantage is that it consists of four separate modules—Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking—each worth 100 points, with a pass mark of 60. You can take the modules separately and retake them individually. With telc Deutsch B1, the written and oral parts are assessed separately, and a part that you did not pass can be retaken.

Which exam do I need for naturalisation?

For German citizenship, B1 is the standard. Under current law, standard naturalisation generally requires at least five years of lawful habitual residence, provided the other requirements are also met. The former general option to shorten this period to three years through special integration achievements and C1 no longer applies. As a rule, therefore, you need B1, not C1.

All three exams can serve as proof of B1 if you achieve that level:

• DTZ with an overall B1 result
• telc Deutsch B1
• Goethe-Zertifikat B1

If you are attending an integration course, the DTZ is therefore the natural and usually most affordable route to obtaining proof of B1 for naturalisation.

How should I prepare?

Whichever exam you choose, the key is a solid B1 level. If you genuinely master the material, you can pass any of these exams. Structured preparation with a qualified teacher and realistic practice tasks is especially valuable for Writing and Speaking, where many points can be lost.

Create a free account and start →

In short: The DTZ is often the easier and more affordable route, especially if you are attending an integration course. telc Deutsch B1 and the Goethe-Zertifikat B1 are independent exams for learners who need a flexible or internationally recognised certificate. For naturalisation, what ultimately matters is that you achieve B1.