Is the DTZ easier than Goethe B1?

There is no official answer. No official source ranks the two tests by difficulty. The DTZ gives A2 or B1 from one exam. Goethe B1 is a B1 exam scored module by module.

Does the DTZ count for German citizenship?

Citizenship needs German at B1 (section 10 StAG). A DTZ certificate with the overall result B1 shows B1. The office that decides your case says which certificates it accepts.

What happens if I get A2 in the DTZ?

You get a certificate for A2. For B1 you need B1 in Sprechen and in at least one of the other two parts. Below A2 there is no certificate, only a letter with your result.

Can I retake one Goethe module?

Yes. You can retake single Goethe modules as often as you want.

Can I take Goethe B1 online from home?

The Goethe-Institut exam rules name three formats: on paper at a test centre, digital on a laptop at a test centre, and, under certain conditions, online on your own computer. The structure, content and grading are the same in all three formats. Ask your test centre which formats it offers.

Does Faust have DTZ practice papers?

Yes. Faust has 24 DTZ papers for Hören, Lesen, Schreiben and Sprechen, and 48 Goethe B1 papers. Faust is independent practice and not a product of BAMF or the Goethe-Institut.

Exam comparison

Goethe B1 vs DTZ: which German test do you need?

The DTZ is the final German test of the integration course and certifies A2 or B1 as the overall result. The Goethe-Zertifikat B1 is a separate exam that you pass with 60 of 100 points in each module. Citizenship and the settlement permit need B1.

Updated 25 September 2026, Faust Academy team

The Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer (DTZ) is part of the final test of the integration course of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF). One DTZ can end at A2 or at B1. The Goethe-Zertifikat B1 is a B1 exam from the Goethe-Institut that you book at a test centre.

Both can show B1. They are built for different situations, and this page shows the rules of each so you can pick the one that fits yours.

Faust has 24 DTZ practice papers and 48 Goethe B1 practice papers. One scored online paper per part is free, and every PDF is free.

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Goethe B1 and DTZ side by side

Values from the BAMF page on the final test and the Goethe exam rules.

Detail	Goethe-Zertifikat B1	DTZ
Set by	Goethe-Institut	Final German test of the BAMF integration course
Levels	B1 only	A2 or B1 as the overall result
Parts	Four modules: Lesen, Hören, Schreiben and Sprechen	A written exam (Hören, Lesen and a short letter) and an oral exam
Rule for the result	60 of 100 points in each module you take	You reach a level when you reach it in Sprechen and in at least one other part: the Hören und Lesen part or the Schreiben part
Below the level	The module is not passed	Below A2 there is no certificate, only a letter with your result
Written time	Lesen 65 minutes, Schreiben 60 minutes	100 minutes for the whole written exam
Speaking	Pair exam in 3 parts	You introduce yourself and talk with the examiners and one other candidate
Leads to	A B1 certificate per passed module	With B1 and the test Leben in Deutschland: the Zertifikat Integrationskurs
Faust practice papers	48	24

How the results work

BAMF describes the DTZ result as a level, not as a pass mark in points. To get B1 or A2, you need that level in Sprechen and in at least one of the other two parts, Hören und Lesen or Schreiben. This lets learners in literacy courses still show A2 as the overall result.

Goethe B1 has four modules with 100 points each. You pass each module with 60 points. You can take all four on one day or one at a time, and you get a certificate for each module you pass.

For the Zertifikat Integrationskurs you need B1 in the DTZ and a pass in the test Leben in Deutschland. BAMF states that this certificate confirms adequate German and basic knowledge of German society.

Which test fits which situation

You are in an integration course: the DTZ is the final German test of your course, and the course prepares you for it.
You are not in an integration course: you can book the Goethe-Zertifikat B1 at a Goethe test centre.
You need B1 for citizenship or the settlement permit: both laws ask for B1 (section 10 StAG and section 9 AufenthG). The Goethe-Institut states that the Goethe-Zertifikat B1 is accepted for both. Ask your office which certificates it takes.
You will need B2 or higher later, for work or study: the DTZ ends at B1. Goethe has one exam for each level up to C2.

How to prepare

The DTZ builds on the framework curriculum for integration courses that the Goethe-Institut developed. Its tasks follow the communication needs of people who have moved to Germany. Goethe B1 also tests German for everyday life, in a modular exam.

For both tests, practise writing a short letter or email by hand, and practise speaking about yourself in full sentences. Time each written paper.

Practise both tests

Frequently asked questions

Is the DTZ easier than Goethe B1?: There is no official answer. No official source ranks the two tests by difficulty. The DTZ gives A2 or B1 from one exam. Goethe B1 is a B1 exam scored module by module.
Does the DTZ count for German citizenship?: Citizenship needs German at B1 (section 10 StAG). A DTZ certificate with the overall result B1 shows B1. The office that decides your case says which certificates it accepts.
What happens if I get A2 in the DTZ?: You get a certificate for A2. For B1 you need B1 in Sprechen and in at least one of the other two parts. Below A2 there is no certificate, only a letter with your result.
Can I retake one Goethe module?: Yes. You can retake single Goethe modules as often as you want.
Can I take Goethe B1 online from home?: The Goethe-Institut exam rules name three formats: on paper at a test centre, digital on a laptop at a test centre, and, under certain conditions, online on your own computer. The structure, content and grading are the same in all three formats. Ask your test centre which formats it offers.
Does Faust have DTZ practice papers?: Yes. Faust has 24 DTZ papers for Hören, Lesen, Schreiben and Sprechen, and 48 Goethe B1 papers. Faust is independent practice and not a product of BAMF or the Goethe-Institut.

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