What is the telc passing score?
Every level has its own total and its own pass rule. The table below shows the rule for all six levels live from our format files; below it, what the rules mean and what happens if you fail.
Last updated: 2026-09-14
'How many points do I need for telc A1', 'telc B1 pass mark' are among the most searched questions, because telc's rule changes by level and cannot be stated in one sentence. At A1 and A2 a single overall percentage is enough. From B1 the written and oral parts must each be passed separately. At C1 and C2 a grade band is added.
The table is generated live from the format files of the Level Exams mock exams and reflects the structure verified against the official practice tests. For the definitive, current rule, the information from your exam centre prevails.
Pass rule by level
| Level | Total points | Pass mark | Points needed | Points per section | Written / oral threshold | Grade bands |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| telc A1 | 60 pts | 60% | 36 pts | Hören 15 · Lesen 15 · Schreiben 15 · Sprechen 15 | none | none |
| telc A2 | 60 pts | 60% | 36 pts | Hören 15 · Lesen 15 · Schreiben 15 · Sprechen 15 | none | none |
| telc B1 | 300 pts | 60% | 180 pts | Leseverstehen 75 · Sprachbausteine 30 · Hörverstehen 75 · Schriftlicher Ausdruck 45 · Mündlicher Ausdruck 75 | Written part ≥ 135/225 · Oral part ≥ 45/75 | none |
| telc B2 | 300 pts | 60% | 180 pts | Leseverstehen 75 · Sprachbausteine 30 · Hörverstehen 75 · Schriftlicher Ausdruck 45 · Mündlicher Ausdruck 75 | Written part ≥ 135/225 · Oral part ≥ 45/75 | none |
| telc C1 | 214 pts | 59.8% | 128 pts | Leseverstehen 48 · Sprachbausteine 22 · Hörverstehen 48 · Schriftlicher Ausdruck 48 · Mündlicher Ausdruck 48 | Written part ≥ 100/166 · Oral part ≥ 29/48 | 5 bands |
| telc C2 | 160 pts | 60% | 96 pts | Leseverstehen 40 · Hörverstehen und Schreiben 40 · Schriftlicher Ausdruck 40 · Mündlicher Ausdruck 40 | Written part ≥ 72/120 · Oral part ≥ 24/40 | 5 bands |
'Points needed' is the total multiplied by the pass mark and rounded up; exam centres do not award fractional points. At levels with a written/oral threshold, the points needed are listed per group and both must be met.
Do wrong answers cost points?
No. There is no negative marking in telc; a wrong answer and a blank are worth the same, zero. So in multiple-choice, true/false and matching items there is never an advantage in leaving a blank; mark the items you are unsure about too.
Is there a minimum per section?
Not at A1 and A2: one overall percentage is enough, and a loss in listening can be made up in reading.
From B1 the rule changes: the written part (reading, language elements, listening, writing) and the oral part are separate groups, and each must pass its own threshold. A candidate with a very high written score who stays below the oral threshold has not passed. The points needed per group are in the table above.
What does 'borderline' mean?
The official result has no 'borderline' category; you passed or you did not. The 'borderline' warning in the Level Exams results report says that a mock exam just above the threshold is not safe for exam day: nerves, a bad day or an assessor's judgement could push you below the mark. The band is defined in each level's format file.
Grade bands (C1 and C2)
At the higher levels the official document shows a grade next to the pass decision: sehr gut, gut, befriedigend, ausreichend. The grade does not change the pass decision; it only indicates the level of achievement. The number of bands is in the table; the Level Exams report applies the same bands.
What happens if I fail one part?
From B1 the written and oral parts are assessed separately, so a failed part can be retaken on its own: within twelve months of the first result date, with the passed part credited when declared at registration, and the fee paid again. It cannot be requested afterwards.
At A1 and A2 there is a single total, so there is no separate 'part'; if you do not pass, you retake the whole exam. The exam can be retaken as often as you like; there is no waiting period.
How to raise your score: section weights
The 'points per section' column shows how much each section weighs in the total. The cheapest points are in the objective sections: reading, listening and language elements; these are about format and time management, not knowledge. Writing and speaking give fewer but more stable points; covering the given points fully earns more than writing at length.
From B1 the oral part is a separate group and cannot be compensated by the written part; if speaking practice is postponed, even the best written score will not save the exam.
Frequently asked questions
›How many points do I need for telc A1?
A set percentage of the total; the 'points needed' in the A1 row of the table gives the exact number. There is no minimum per section.
›What is the telc B1 pass mark?
The written and oral parts must each pass their own threshold; the B1 row of the table lists the points needed for both groups. The overall percentage alone is not enough.
›How does telc scoring work?
Objective items (multiple choice, true/false, matching, gaps) carry a fixed number of points each; writing and speaking are scored by assessors against the level's official criteria. At the higher levels the writing criteria are scored in discrete bands and converted to the final score with a multiplier.
›Do wrong answers lower my score?
No; wrong and blank are worth the same. Mark every item.
›When are the results published?
It depends on the exam centre; telc results usually reach the centre within a few weeks (most centres say four to six). On Level Exams the results report is ready the moment the mock exam ends.
›Does the Level Exams report use the same rule?
Yes. Total points, pass mark, written/oral threshold and grade bands are read from the level's format file; the report says 'passed', 'borderline' or 'failed' by that rule.
See your own score
Take the free mock exam; the report tells you whether you passed by the rule in this table and where you lost points.