What is the telc exam?

If you are unsure of your level, take the free placement test first; registering for the wrong level is the most expensive mistake. There are also B2·C1 Medizin for health professions and Junior and Schule versions for children and teenagers; this page covers the general exams.

Every level has a written and an oral part. A1 and A2 have four sections: listening, reading, writing and speaking. From B1 to C1 a language elements section (Sprachbausteine) is added: grammar and word choice inside a text. At C2 listening and writing are combined in one task.

The written sections are taken back to back in one sitting, and the listening recording cannot be paused. Speaking is a separate session: together with other candidates from A1 to C1, on your own at C2. The table is generated live from the format files of the Level Exams mock exams and shows sections, items and timing for each level.

A1 and A2 have a single total, and sixty per cent of it is enough; points lost in one section can be made up in another. From B1 the written part and the oral part must each reach sixty per cent: a candidate with a very high written score and an oral score below the threshold has not passed.

Wrong answers cost nothing, so never leave an item blank. From A2 the certificate also shows a grade next to the pass decision. The points table for every level is in the guide on the telc passing score, and the score calculator works out your own result.

The exam is taken at an exam centre. Some centres run it on a computer (digital) instead of on paper; the centre decides which format it offers. According to telc, since the first quarter of 2026 the certificate is sent by e-mail as a PDF by default.

Exams taken from home (telc REMOTE) are a different product: according to telc's own page these certificates are currently not recognised for visa or residence permit applications. If you need the certificate for an official procedure, sit the exam in person at a centre.

You register with a licensed exam centre, not with telc. There is no central calendar and no single price: every centre publishes its own dates and fee. Adult education centres in Germany charge roughly €155 to €185 for B1; private schools charge €160 to €250.

Registration usually closes weeks before the exam and uses your name exactly as in your passport. The steps, cancellation terms and the usual ways to lose money are in the guide on telc exam fees and dates.

telc does not publish a fixed turnaround; in practice most centres say four to six weeks. The result comes through your exam centre and can be verified on results.telc.net.

You can sit the exam as often as you like, with no waiting period. From B1 you may retake only the part you failed (written or oral) within twelve months. At A1 and A2 the whole exam is repeated. The fee is paid again each time.