The DTZ exam (Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer)
The DTZ is the final exam of the German integration course. One exam certifies A2 or B1, and since 1 November 2026 a stricter rule applies to B1.
By Olcay Sari, founder of Level Exams
Last updated: 2026-11-04
The Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer (DTZ) is the language exam at the end of the integration course (Integrationskurs) in Germany. It was developed jointly by the Goethe-Institut and telc and is run by course providers authorised by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF).
Unlike telc B1 or Goethe B1, the DTZ is scaled: you sit one exam and the certificate states A2 or B1. This guide explains the sections, how the result is worked out, and the B1 rule that changed on 1 November 2026.
Sections and timing
The exam has two parts: a written group exam of about a hundred minutes (listening, reading, writing) and an oral exam in pairs of about fifteen minutes, usually straight afterwards. Aids such as dictionaries are not allowed.
| Section | Time | Tasks | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening (Hören) | About 25 minutes | 4 tasks, 20 items; each recording is played once | Together with reading, out of 45 items |
| Reading (Lesen) | 45 minutes | 5 parts, 25 items | Together with listening, out of 45 items |
| Writing (Schreiben) | 30 minutes | A letter or email with a situation and four content points | Two examiners: A2 or B1 |
| Speaking (Sprechen) | About 15 minutes, in pairs | 3 parts: introducing yourself, talking about an experience, planning something together; no preparation time | Two examiners: A2 or B1 |
A2 or B1: how the result is decided
Example: speaking B1, writing B1, 18 of 45 correct in listening and reading. Before 1 November 2026 this counted as B1; now it does not, because listening and reading fall below A2. The rule is in section 10 of the Integrationskurstestverordnung, as amended by BGBl. 2026 I No. 306.
Listening and reading are scored together: at least 20 of 45 items correct gives A2 in this area, at least 33 gives B1. In writing and speaking, two examiners decide against criteria (in speaking: pronunciation, accuracy, expression and task completion) whether the performance is A2 or B1.
Since 1 November 2026, an overall B1 result requires all three of the following:
- B1 in speaking; this has not changed.
- B1 in at least one of listening/reading or writing.
- At least A2 in the remaining area. This is new: before, there was no minimum in the third area.
DTZ vs. telc B1
In the DTZ one exam certifies A2 or B1; with telc B1 you either clear the B1 threshold or you do not. telc B1 has a separate language elements section (Sprachbausteine), and its written and oral parts must each clear their own threshold; the DTZ has no language elements section. Who should sit which exam, including fees and retakes, is covered in our guide to the B1 exam for German citizenship.
What the DTZ certificate is for
- A DTZ with a B1 result is among the language certificates accepted for German citizenship. Citizenship also requires the 'Leben in Deutschland' test (at least 17 of 33 correct).
- Finishing the integration course with B1 and the 'Leben in Deutschland' test earns the 'Zertifikat Integrationskurs'.
- For residence permits the required level depends on the permit; ask the immigration office.
- An A2 result is not enough for citizenship. Participants who attended regularly but did not reach B1 can apply for up to 300 additional lessons and a repeat exam.
How to prepare
This page is for information and is not legal advice. Exam rules can change; for binding information ask your course provider or the BAMF.
- Speaking first. An overall B1 needs B1 in speaking; practise introducing yourself, describing an experience and planning something with a partner out loud.
- Do not leave your weakest area below A2. Under the new rule, if listening/reading or writing falls below A2, the overall result cannot be B1, however strong the rest is.
- In writing, cover all four content points; a missing point costs marks.
- In listening, each recording is played once; read the questions before it starts.
- Level Exams has no DTZ-specific mock exam. Timed telc B1 and A2 mock exams test the same skills, and the 'planning something together' speaking part also exists in telc B1, so they are useful for measuring your level, but they do not replicate the DTZ format.
Frequently asked questions
›How many correct answers do I need for B1 in the DTZ?
In listening and reading, at least 33 of 45 items gives B1 in that area (20 gives A2). Writing and speaking are not scored in points: examiners decide between A2 and B1 against criteria. An overall B1 also needs B1 in speaking, B1 in one of the other two areas and at least A2 in the remaining one.
›What changed in the DTZ on 1 November 2026?
An overall B1 now also requires at least A2 in the third area. Before, B1 in speaking and in one written area was enough, whatever the result in the remaining area. The change is in section 10 of the Integrationskurstestverordnung.
›Does the DTZ cost anything?
For integration course participants the exam is part of the course and usually involves no separate fee. Where it can be taken without attending the course, the exam provider sets the fee; ask the provider.
›I got A2 in the DTZ. What now?
A2 is not enough for citizenship. If you attended the integration course regularly, you can apply to the BAMF for up to 300 additional lessons and a repeat exam; you may not need to pay for a telc B1 before using this.
›Can I retake only the part I failed?
No, in the DTZ the whole exam is taken again.
›Does Level Exams have a DTZ mock exam?
No, we have no DTZ-specific mock exam. The telc B1 and A2 mock exams test the same skills under real timing and show which area is weak; they do not replicate the DTZ format.
Measure how close you are to B1
We have no DTZ-specific mock exam, but the free telc B1 mock exam shows, under real timing, where you stand in listening, reading, writing and speaking.
Sources
- Integrationskurstestverordnung section 3 — scope and duration of the exam
- Integrationskurstestverordnung section 10 — the B1 rule (since 1 November 2026)
- Amending regulation to the IntTestV, BGBl. 2026 I No. 306 (text: buzer.de)
- BAMF — DTZ handbook and exam objectives (PDF)
- g.a.s.t. — Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer (DTZ) at a glance