How many points do I need to pass Goethe B1?

You need 60 of 100 points in each module. The four modules are scored separately.

How many correct answers do I need in B1 Lesen and Hören?

Each has 30 tasks. The raw points are multiplied by 3.33, so 18 correct answers give 60 points.

Can I take only some B1 modules?

Yes. You can take the modules alone or together, and each passed module gets a certificate. Check which modules the office that needs your certificate asks for.

What if I fail one B1 module?

You keep the modules you passed. You retake only the failed module, as often as you want, and combine the certificates.

Is B1 enough for German citizenship?

For German citizenship you need German at level B1 (section 10 StAG). The Goethe-Institut states that the Goethe-Zertifikat B1 is accepted for citizenship and the settlement permit.

How long is the B1 writing module?

Schreiben takes 60 minutes for 3 tasks, with word targets of 80, 80 and 40 words.

Goethe-Zertifikat B1

How to pass the Goethe B1 exam

To pass Goethe B1 you need 60 of 100 points in each module you take: Lesen (65 minutes), Hören (40 minutes), Schreiben (60 minutes) and Sprechen (a paired exam). Each module counts on its own, so the plan is simple: find your weakest module and practise it with full papers under real time limits until you pass with a margin.

Updated 25 September 2026, Faust Academy team

B1 is the level that German law asks for the settlement permit and for citizenship. Because each module passes on its own, a strong module cannot rescue a weak one. You pass B1 by making all four modules safe, not by making one module perfect.

Below you find the format of each module, what costs candidates points in each part, and a four week plan built on scored practice papers.

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The Goethe B1 exam at a glance

Module	Time	Tasks	Pass mark
Lesen (Reading)	65 minutes	30 tasks in 5 parts	60 of 100 points
Hören (Listening)	40 minutes	30 tasks in 4 parts	60 of 100 points
Schreiben (Writing)	60 minutes	3 writing tasks	60 of 100 points
Sprechen (Speaking)	15 minutes to prepare	3 parts, paired exam	60 of 100 points

Lesen: manage the clock

Lesen has 5 parts and 30 tasks in 65 minutes. The raw points are multiplied by 3.33, so you need 18 correct answers for 60 points.

Give each part a time budget before you start, and move on when the budget runs out. A task you leave blank gives no points, so mark an answer for every task. Read the tasks before the text, so you know what to look for.

Hören: know which texts you hear twice

Hören has 4 parts and 30 tasks in 40 minutes. You hear part 1 twice, part 2 once, part 3 once, part 4 twice.

In the parts you hear once, read the tasks before the text starts. Decide while you listen, and do not wait for the end of the text. In the parts you hear twice, use the second time to check your answers.

Schreiben: answer every point of the task

Schreiben has 3 tasks. Task 1 takes 20 minutes, gives 40 points and asks for 80 words. Task 2 takes 25 minutes, gives 40 points and asks for 80 words. Task 3 takes 15 minutes, gives 20 points and asks for 40 words.

Each task tells you what to write about. Cover every point in the task, use the right form of address, and finish with a greeting where the text type needs one. Two examiners mark your text against fixed criteria, so a short text that covers every point beats a long text that misses one.

Plan your time. The three tasks have their own time budgets, and the module is one block of 60 minutes. Leave a few minutes to read your texts again for verb position and endings.

Sprechen: prepare with your partner in mind

Sprechen is a paired exam in 3 parts with two examiners. You get 15 minutes to prepare. You plan something together with your partner, you give a short presentation on a topic, and you answer questions and react to the presentation of your partner.

Learn set phrases for agreeing, disagreeing and making proposals, and practise the presentation structure until it is automatic. In part 1 you plan together, so react to what your partner says and do not just wait for your turn.

A four week plan with practice papers

Week 1: take one full practice paper for each of Lesen, Hören and Schreiben under real time limits. Write down your points in each module.
Week 2: work on your weakest module every day. Do one paper part at a time and check every wrong answer.
Week 3: do full papers again, one module per day, and add Sprechen practice with a partner or a recording of yourself.
Week 4: do a full exam simulation with all written modules in one sitting and the real breaks. Book the exam when every module passes with a margin.
After each paper: note the task types that cost you points. Those notes are your plan for the next day.

Practice papers for B1

Faust Academy has 48 Goethe B1 practice papers in the real exam format, for Lesen, Hören, Schreiben and Sprechen. Every online paper gets a score against the B1 pass mark of 60. One scored online paper per part is free, and every PDF is free.

Faust Academy is independent practice. It is not a product of the Goethe-Institut and issues no certificates.

B1 papers by module

Frequently asked questions

How many points do I need to pass Goethe B1?: You need 60 of 100 points in each module. The four modules are scored separately.
How many correct answers do I need in B1 Lesen and Hören?: Each has 30 tasks. The raw points are multiplied by 3.33, so 18 correct answers give 60 points.
Can I take only some B1 modules?: Yes. You can take the modules alone or together, and each passed module gets a certificate. Check which modules the office that needs your certificate asks for.
What if I fail one B1 module?: You keep the modules you passed. You retake only the failed module, as often as you want, and combine the certificates.
Is B1 enough for German citizenship?: For German citizenship you need German at level B1 (section 10 StAG). The Goethe-Institut states that the Goethe-Zertifikat B1 is accepted for citizenship and the settlement permit.
How long is the B1 writing module?: Schreiben takes 60 minutes for 3 tasks, with word targets of 80, 80 and 40 words.

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