Goethe, telc or DTZ: which B1 exam to choose

The figures come from the official exam descriptions. Prices aren't in the table: each exam centre sets its own.

The defining feature is the modules. Lesen, Hören, Schreiben and Sprechen are scored separately, out of 100 each, and you need at least 60 in every one. Points don't carry over between modules: 90 in reading won't rescue 55 in writing.

The modules have an upside, though. If you fail one module, you retake only that one, and your other results stand. You can even register for three modules first and take the fourth later.

For many people the hardest part is writing: three texts in 60 minutes — a letter to a friend, an opinion for a forum and a short formal letter — each marked against four criteria. Every Goethe format is covered in the article on the exam structure.

Who it suits: people sitting the exam abroad or before moving; people with one skill noticeably weaker than the rest who want to take it separately.

telc splits the exam into two parts: written and oral. The written part is reading, grammar tasks (Sprachbausteine), listening and one letter. The oral part is a conversation in pairs.

The key difference from Goethe: within the written part, the points are added together. You need 60% of the total, not 60% in each section. Strong reading can cover weak writing, and vice versa. At Goethe, that's not possible.

The second difference is the Sprachbausteine: gapped texts where you choose the right word or form. If grammar is your strong point, these are easy points. If it isn't, Goethe has no such section at all.

telc has one piece of writing, 30 minutes: a reply to a letter or message covering several points. That's noticeably less than Goethe's three texts.

If you fail only one part, written or oral, you can retake it on its own within a set period — usually until the end of the following calendar year. Check the exact conditions with your centre.

Who it suits: people living in Germany whose reading and grammar are strong and whose writing is weaker.

The DTZ is the exam at the end of an integration course, commissioned by the BAMF. It's a scaled test: the same test shows A2 or B1, depending on your result. If you fall short of B1, the certificate says A2 — enough to complete the course, but not for citizenship or permanent residence.

For integration course participants, the first attempt is usually free. Not every centre accepts external candidates.

DTZ writing is one short task: a letter or message on an everyday topic. The tasks overall are closer to everyday life in Germany — the authorities, work, housing, the doctor.

Who it suits: people taking an integration course. If you're not on a course, the DTZ usually isn't the most convenient option.

The short answer: if your writing is weak, telc or DTZ; if your skills are uneven and one module lags far behind, Goethe.

• If your writing is weak. At Goethe, writing is a separate 60-minute module that has to be passed on its own. At telc, there's one letter and its points are added to reading and listening. For many people, that settles it.
• If your grammar is strong. telc, with its Sprachbausteine, rewards that directly.
• If one skill lags far behind. Goethe lets you take three modules now and the fourth when you're ready. At telc, a weak oral part means retaking the oral part, and weak writing means retaking the whole written part.
• If it's your nerves. If you fail at Goethe, you retake one module; at DTZ, the whole test.

None of them makes the exam itself "easier": the level is B1 everywhere. The difference is where your points count and where they're lost.

1. Where will you sit the exam? Outside Germany, usually only Goethe is available.
2. Are you on an integration course? Then the DTZ is already part of the course — use it.
3. What's your weakest skill? If it's writing, look at telc. If it's any single skill, look at Goethe.
4. Ask your authority. All three count for citizenship if the result is B1 and every part is passed, but a particular authority may have its own questions about the certificate's format. The details are in the article on B1 for citizenship.
5. Check the dates. The next available exam date sometimes decides more than the format does.

Whichever exam you choose, writing is marked against similar criteria: whether the task is fulfilled, whether the text is coherent, whether the vocabulary is sufficient and whether the grammar is correct. A free Writing task in doch! will show you where you stand against these criteria before you pay for the exam.