How long is a telc German exam?

It depends on the level. The written exam takes 150 minutes. The oral exam takes 15 minutes for a pair, after 20 minutes of preparation. At A2: The written exam takes 70 minutes. The oral exam takes 15 minutes for a pair, no preparation time.

How many points do I need to pass a telc exam?

From B1 to C2 you need 60 percent in the written and 60 percent in the oral exam, each on its own. At A2 all points count together, and at A1 the grade table sets the lowest pass grade.

How much does a telc exam cost?

Your exam centre tells you the exam fee. Each centre sets its own fee, so telc itself gives no prices.

How do I register for a telc exam?

You register at a telc exam centre, for example an adult education centre. Your telc exam centre runs exams regularly and can offer more dates on request. The centre registers each exam with telc 14 days before the exam date.

When do I get my telc result?

The result can take 4 to 6 weeks, depending on how many exams are written and marked.

Are the Faust papers official telc papers?

No. Faust Academy is an independent practice platform. The papers follow the parts, task types and timing of the telc exams.

telc Deutsch A1 to C2

telc German exams A1 to C2: format and pass marks

telc offers the general German exams telc Deutsch A1 to C2. Each exam has a written and an oral part. From B1 you pass with 60 percent in the written and 60 percent in the oral exam, and at A2 all points count together. The telc exam centre where you take the exam sets the dates and the fee and handles your registration.

Updated 21 October 2026, Faust Academy team

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telc gGmbH runs the telc language tests. This page covers its general German exams and puts the six levels side by side: exam name, timing, points and the pass rule. Every number comes from telc's own files for each level, the exam page on telc.net and the official practice test (Übungstest), listed under sources.

telc German exams at a glance

Exam	Written exam	Oral exam
telc Deutsch A1 (Start Deutsch 1)	You have 20 minutes for listening and 45 minutes for reading and writing together.	15 minutes for a group of four candidates as a rule, no preparation time
telc Deutsch A2 (Start Deutsch 2)	The written exam takes 70 minutes.	15 minutes for a pair, no preparation time
telc Deutsch B1 (Zertifikat Deutsch)	The written exam takes 150 minutes.	15 minutes for a pair, after 20 minutes of preparation
telc Deutsch B2	The written exam takes 140 minutes.	15 minutes for a pair, after 20 minutes of preparation
telc Deutsch C1	You have 90 minutes for reading and the language elements together, 40 minutes for listening and 70 minutes for writing, with a 20 minute break after the language elements.	16 minutes for a pair, after 20 minutes of preparation
telc Deutsch C2	The written exam takes 230 minutes.	15 minutes for one candidate, after 20 minutes of preparation

Points and pass mark by level

Exam	Total points	You pass with
telc Deutsch A1 (Start Deutsch 1)	60	Grade scale starts at 36 of 60
telc Deutsch A2 (Start Deutsch 2)	60	36 of 60 in total
telc Deutsch B1 (Zertifikat Deutsch)	300	135 of 225 written and 45 of 75 oral
telc Deutsch B2	300	135 of 225 written and 45 of 75 oral
telc Deutsch C1	214	99 of 166 written and 29 of 48 oral
telc Deutsch C2	160	72 of 120 written and 24 of 40 oral

telc Deutsch A1 (Start Deutsch 1)

telc Deutsch A1 (Start Deutsch 1) has 60 points: 45 written and 15 oral. From 36 points you get the grade ausreichend, the lowest pass grade. You have 20 minutes for listening and 45 minutes for reading and writing together. The oral exam takes 15 minutes for a group of four candidates as a rule, no preparation time.

telc Deutsch A2 (Start Deutsch 2)

You pass telc Deutsch A2 (Start Deutsch 2) with at least 36 of 60 points in total. The written exam gives 45 points and the oral exam 15. The written exam takes 70 minutes. The oral exam takes 15 minutes for a pair, no preparation time.

telc Deutsch B1 (Zertifikat Deutsch)

You pass telc Deutsch B1 with 60 percent in the written exam and 60 percent in the oral exam: at least 135 of 225 written points and at least 45 of 75 oral points. The written exam takes 150 minutes. The oral exam takes 15 minutes for a pair, after 20 minutes of preparation.

telc Deutsch B2

You pass telc Deutsch B2 with at least 135 of 225 points in the written exam and at least 45 of 75 points in the oral exam, which is 60 percent of each. The written exam takes 140 minutes. The oral exam takes 15 minutes for a pair, after 20 minutes of preparation.

telc Deutsch C1

You pass telc Deutsch C1 with at least 99 of 166 points in the written exam and at least 29 of 48 points in the oral exam, which is 60 percent of each. You have 90 minutes for reading and the language elements together, 40 minutes for listening and 70 minutes for writing, with a 20 minute break after the language elements. The oral exam takes 16 minutes for a pair, after 20 minutes of preparation.

telc Deutsch C2

You pass telc Deutsch C2 with at least 72 of 120 points in the written exam and at least 24 of 40 points in the oral exam, which is 60 percent of each. The written exam takes 230 minutes. The oral exam takes 15 minutes for one candidate, after 20 minutes of preparation.

Which telc level do you need?

The place that asks for the certificate decides the level: an authority, an employer or a university. Ask them which level and which exam they accept before you register.

The official telc practice tests use two names at three levels: telc Deutsch A1 is also Start Deutsch 1, telc Deutsch A2 is also Start Deutsch 2 and telc Deutsch B1 is also Zertifikat Deutsch. telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule for university entry is a separate exam with its own format.

The Goethe-Zertifikat works differently from B1 upward. Goethe B1, B2, C1 and C2: each module has 100 points. You pass a module with 60 points. At telc you take the written and the oral exam as one exam.

telc exam dates, registration, fees and results

telc names more than 3,000 exam centres worldwide, many of them adult education centres (Volkshochschulen). Some centres do not offer every telc exam.
Your telc exam centre runs exams regularly and can offer more dates on request. The centre registers each exam with telc 14 days before the exam date.
The centre sets the exam date. When the written and the oral exam are on different days, they must be no more than 7 days apart.
Your exam centre tells you the exam fee. Each centre sets its own fee, so telc itself gives no prices.
The exam is offered in a digital, a hybrid and a paper format.
The result can take 4 to 6 weeks, depending on how many exams are written and marked.

Practise with Faust Academy

Faust Academy has 144 practice papers in the telc Deutsch format from A1 to C2, for reading, listening, writing and speaking, each with a PDF and answers or marking guidance. One scored online paper per part is free, and every PDF is free.

Faust Academy is an independent practice platform.

telc exam guides by level

telc practice papers by level

Frequently asked questions

How long is a telc German exam?: It depends on the level. The written exam takes 150 minutes. The oral exam takes 15 minutes for a pair, after 20 minutes of preparation. At A2: The written exam takes 70 minutes. The oral exam takes 15 minutes for a pair, no preparation time.
How many points do I need to pass a telc exam?: From B1 to C2 you need 60 percent in the written and 60 percent in the oral exam, each on its own. At A2 all points count together, and at A1 the grade table sets the lowest pass grade.
How much does a telc exam cost?: Your exam centre tells you the exam fee. Each centre sets its own fee, so telc itself gives no prices.
How do I register for a telc exam?: You register at a telc exam centre, for example an adult education centre. Your telc exam centre runs exams regularly and can offer more dates on request. The centre registers each exam with telc 14 days before the exam date.
When do I get my telc result?: The result can take 4 to 6 weeks, depending on how many exams are written and marked.
Are the Faust papers official telc papers?: No. Faust Academy is an independent practice platform. The papers follow the parts, task types and timing of the telc exams.

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