The third level in theCommon European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for Languages is level B1. It is definitely a step beyond the A1 and A2 exams. Passing a levelB1 exam means that you are entering the intermediate level of your journey through the German language.
B1 Certifies IntermediateLevel Language Skills
According to the CEFR, B1 levels means that you:
- Can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc.
- Can deal with most situations likely to arise while travelling in an area where the language is spoken.
- Can produce simple connected text on topics that are familiar or of personal interest.
- Can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes, and ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.
To prepare, you may want to review videos of a B1 exam in progress.
What Use Is a B1 Certificate?
Unlike the A1 and the A2 exam, the level B1 exam marks a significant milestone in your German learning process. By proving that you have language skills on this level, the German government may grant you the German citizenship one year earlier, which is 6 instead of 7 years. It's the final stage of any so-called integration course because reaching B1 shows you can handle most daily situations like going to the doctors or ordering a taxi, booking a hotel room, or asking for advice or directions, etc. Attaining B1 level in German is something to be proud of.
How Long Does It Take to Reach the B1 Level?
It is difficult to come up with reliable numbers. Many intensive German classes claim to help you reach B1 in six months, at five days a week with 3 hours of daily instruction plus 1.5 hours of homework. That sums up to 540 hours of learning to finish B1 (4.5 hours x 5 days x 4 weeks x 6 months). This assumes you are taking group classes in most German language schools in Berlin or other German cities. You could possibly achieve B1 in half the time or less with the help of a private tutor.
Why Are There Different B1 Exams?
There are two different kinds of B1 exams:
the "Zertifikat Deutsch" (ZD) and the "Deutschtest für Zuwanderer" (German exam for migrants or short DTZ).
The ZD is the standard exam created by the Goethe-Institut in cooperation with the Österreich Institut and only tests you for level B1. If you don't reach that level, you fail.
The DTZ exam is a scaled exam meaning that tests for two levels: A2 and B1. So if you are unable to reach B1 yet, you won't fail this exam. You would just pass it on the lower A2 level. This is a far more motivating approach for test takers and is used often with BULATS. Unfortunately, it isn't that widespread in Germany yet. The DTZ is the final exam of an Integrationskurs.
Is Language School Necessary to Reach B1 Level?
Although we usually advise learners to seek at least a bit of guidance from a professional German tutor, B1 (like most other levels) can be reached on one’s own. However, working on your own will require a lot more self-discipline and organizational skills. Having a reliable and consistent timetable will help you with learning autonomously. The most critical part is to keep up with your speaking practice and make sure you get corrected by a qualified party. That way, you won’t risk acquiring bad pronunciation or grammatical structure.
How Much Does It Cost to Reach B1 Level?
The cost of instruction from select language schools is subject to change. Here is a basic idea of what it costs to reach B1 level proffiency:
- Volkshochschule (VHS): 80€ /month totalling 480€ for A2
- Goethe Institut (during summer in Berlin, varying prices worldwide): up to 1,200€ /month totalling up to 7,200€ for B1
- German integration courses (Integrationskurse) as little as 0€/month at times, or they ask you to pay 1€ per lesson received resulting in 80€ per month or 560€ total (those courses last approx. 7 months).
- Course within an ESF program: 0€
- Bildungsgutschein (education voucher) issued from the Agentur für Arbeit: 0€
How Can I Prepare Efficiently for the B1 Exam?
Begin preparation by looking for any available sample exams you can find. They will show you the kinds of questions asked or tasks required and will familiarize you with the material. You can find those on TELC or ÖSD (check the right sidebar for the model exam) or conduct an online search for modellprüfung deutsch b1. There may be additional material for purchase in case you feel the need to prepare more.
Practice Writing
You can find the answers to most exam questions in the back of the sample sets. However, you will need a native speaker or advanced learner to check your written work called „Schriftlicher Ausdruck,“ which consists mainly of three short letters.A good place to find help for this problem is the lang-8 community. It is free,yet, if you get their premium subscription, your texts will get corrected faster. You will also need to correct other learners’ written work to gain credits that you then can use to get your work corrected.
Practice for the Oral Exam
Here's a tricky part. You will eventually need a conversation trainer. We did not say a conversation partner because a trainer specifically prepares you for an oral exam, while a partner simply converses with you. Those are "zwei paar schuhe" (two different things). You will find trainers on Verbling or Italki or Livemoccha. Until B1, it is totally sufficient to hire them for just 30 mins per day or if your budget is very limited, 3 x 30 mins per week. Use them only to prepare you for the exam. Don't ask them grammatical questions or let them teach you grammar. That should be done by a teacher, not a conversation trainer. Teachers want to teach, so make sure the person you hire emphasizes that they are not too much of a teacher. They don't have to be a native speaker, but their German should be at C1 level. Anything below that level and the risk of learning wrong German is too high.
Mental Preparation
Taking any exam can be an emotional stressor. Due to the importance of this B1 level, it might make you more nervous than the earlier levels. To prepare mentally, simply imagine yourself in the exam situation and imagine that calm is flowing through your body and mind at that time. Imagine that you know what to do and that you can answer any question given. Also, imagine that the examiners are sitting in front of you and are smiling. Imagine the feeling that you like them and that they like you. It might sound silly, but these simple imaginative exercises can do wonders for your nerves. We wish you the best of luck with the B1 exam!
FAQs
What is CEFR level B1 German? ›
The B1 level is the third level in the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for Languages. It is certainly a step beyond the A1 & A2 exams. Passing the B1 level German exam means that you are on the intermediate level of your journey.
How to get B1 level in German? ›To achieve lower intermediate, B1, German you need to be able to express more complex needs in a wider range of situations. The bursts of language that you hear, read, say or write are expected to include a wider range of vocab, to relate to more different siuations and be longer, structurally more varied too.
How long does it take to get to level B1 in German? ›Hi, B1 is the beginning of the Intermediate level as a Deutsch speaker. So, by this time you should be able to carry out basic level conversations and form simple sentences since you would have already completed A2. B1 takes you further deeper in verbs and complex sentence structure.
Is B1 fluent in German? ›The third level in the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for Languages is level B1. It is definitely a step beyond the A1 and A2 exams. Passing a level B1 exam means that you are entering the intermediate level of your journey through the German language.
Is CEFR level B1 good? ›However, a B1 level is not adequate to function fully in the workplace in English. According to the official CEFR guidelines, someone at the B1 level in English: Can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc.
Can I reach B1 German in 3 months? ›If you take intensive classes (around 20 hours per week), you can reach the B1 level of day-to-day fluency. Fluency takes more than 3 months, but you can still learn in less time if you adjust your strategy.
How much does the B1 German test cost? ›...
Goethe Institut Language Exam Registration.
| Exam | Price |
|---|---|
| B1/ZD neu | $130 |
| B2 | $150 |
| C1 | $180 |
B1 is one of the central requirements for non-EU-citizens to start working in Germany directly. With B1 you also may apply for an apprenticeship in order to learn a German profession in Germany.
Can I self study B1 German? ›You can learn German B1 by yourself. For learning GERMAN B1 all by yourself, you need to know the study material, syllabus, and curriculum that is being taught at that level by professionals. In comparison to C1, German B1 is much easier as it does not go into the very depths of the language.
How long is a German B1 certificate valid for? ›
Lifelong. This certificate does not have an expiry date. The exam has 4 modules (reading, writing, listening and speaking) which are graded from 0 to 100. to A minimum score of 60/100 is required to pass each of them.
Can I take German B1 exam directly? ›You can therefore take the exam directly with us. The telc B1 German exam is a recognized German exam that you need, for example, if you want to become a naturalized German citizen. Together with the naturalization test, you need a B1 German language certificate to apply for German citizenship.
How many hours does it take to get B1? ›| Level of English (CEFR) | Number of hours of instruction |
|---|---|
| Zero to A1 | 70 hours |
| A1 to A2 | 150 hours |
| A2 to B1 | 300 hours |
| B1 to B2 | 200 hours |
To pass the Deutsch Zertifikat B1 exam you must have achieved 60% of the maximum points in both the written and oral tests. This equates to 135 points in the written and 45 points in the oral test.
Is B1 test difficult? ›Passing the B1 writing exam is not an easy task. You need advanced preparations to successfully complete this English test. Languages are the most complex subjects. You need lots of patience and practice to learn a new language.
Can you get to B1 German in a year? ›They say that you need to have completed at least 350 45-minute German lessons/practice sessions to reach B1, which would take roughly a year and a half since most people can't take a lesson every single day in a row.
Can I learn German B1 in one month? ›The German B1 level, also known as the intermediate level, It will take you at least 80 hours per week (a total of 4 weeks) to finish your German B1. According to Goeth Institut, you'll take at least 350 and 650 45-minute units of teaching depending on what you have retained from your previous A1 to A2 level.
Can duolingo get you to B1 German? ›By reaching the end of Unit 5, Duolingo learners have completed all the lessons in the beginner sections of our courses, called A1 and A2, and are starting intermediate B1 material.
Is B1 a fluent level? ›Level B1 corresponds to independent users of the language, i.e. those who have the necessary fluency to communicate without effort with native speakers.
Does CEFR level B1 1 expire? ›If your qualification has run out
Some recognised test qualifications only last for 2 years. You can still use a B1 level qualification that you took more than 2 years ago in 2 situations.
Is B1 beginner or intermediate? ›
B1 English (Intermediate)
Level B1 corresponds to users who can understand and produce text on familiar topics and give opinions and descriptions.
Does the certificate/my exam expire? Goethe-Zertifikats A1 through C2 do not expire.
Can I take B1 test online? ›If you want to know your current level of English, we recommend that you take a B1 English test online as part of your preparation process. At ABA English, we have the ideal test for each level, which you can take for free, online, and which will only take a few minutes.
How long does it take to go from B1 to C1 in German? ›You need approximately 4–6 months depending on your interest to complete upto B1 level, C1 will take another 6 months to complete if you do it at a stretch. So if you take everything into count, it would take about 1 year to get C1 level of proficiency in German language.
What can I do with German B1 certificate? ›First, it's accepted to meet the minimum for citizenship of the BRD. Second, the B1 certificate enables admission to one of the year-long Studienkolleg preparation to study any discipline at a German university.
What level of German is fluent? ›B2 is the first level that means that you can speak really fluent and understand 80% of the situations that you find yourself in repeatedly. You can prepare yourself for the exam and even see a sample of the language level here.
What level of German is required for citizenship? ›Applicants for naturalization are required to have a sufficient command of the German language: oral and written German language skills equivalent to level B 1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for languages.
Do I need B1 for German citizenship? ›You have sufficient knowledge of the German language: you do not need to have a perfect command of the German language to obtain naturalisation. It is enough to be able to prove your oral and written German skills in a language exam at a minimum level of B1 (Common European Framework of Reference).
Which books is best for b1 German? ›- “German Short Stories for Beginners” ...
- “Emil und die Detektive” ...
- “Die unendliche Geschichte” ...
- “Momo” ...
- “Die Verwandlung” ...
- “Homo Faber” ...
- “Der Richter und Sein Henker”
The total duration of the German exam, without counting breaks and intermediate times between test and test, amounts to 180 minutes, or what is the same, three hours. The duration of each separate test is: - Reading: 65 minutes. - Writing: 60 minutes.
Can I study in Germany with B1 certificate? ›
Commonly accepted English language certificates as a proof of your proficiency in English language for academic studies in Germany are: Educational Certificate of an English-Speaking School. You must have completed at least 5 (B1) /6 (B2) schooling years in a school whose main language of instruction was English.
Which German exam is the easiest? ›Of the three different levels DSH-1, DSH-2 and DSH-3, the former is the easiest. When the DSH-2 level is reached (67%), the graduate can enrol in many different courses of study, as this means that he or she is admitted to almost all German universities.
Which German certificate is best? ›Level C is the most advanced level, and is split between C1 (Advanced) and C2 (Proficient (near-native)). Level C2 is recognised by all German universities as the level of language competence required for entrance into German-language courses, although some might accept students with B2 or C1 certificates.
What happens if you fail B1 test? ›The result is either pass or fail. If you receive a fail, then you cannot use the test result in your application for a visa. This test lasts a total of 22 minutes.
How many words are in German B1? ›If you're aiming at the Goethe Institut's B1 exam, you need at least another thousand words. That's a total of 2,400 words. That's quite a jump and it gets even more complex, because you have gender and plurals to remember.
How is B1 exam done? ›The B1 English test is a one to one speaking and listening test that will last 10 minutes and consists of two separate parts. The first portion will include the topic section where you must choose a topic to prepare before you take the test.
How to study for German B1 exam? ›Get together with a tandem partner or a native German friend and just talk. The test exams include the speaking section. Go over them to get a feel for the types of things you need to be able to talk about. However, I can't stress enough the value of getting in as much speaking practice as possible.
What level is B1 German language test? ›The Goethe-Zertifikat B1 is a German exam for young people and adults. It certifies that candidates are independent users of the German language and corresponds to the third level (B1) on the six-level scale of competence laid down in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
What is asked in German B1 exam? ›The Goethe-Zertifikat B1 exam comprises reading, listening, writing and speaking modules. The speaking module of the exam is completed in pairs. The exam is administered and evaluated in the same way all over the world.
How many times can you take the b1 test? ›Both versions of the speaking and listening test can be used in your application for indefinite leave to remain (settlement) or citizenship. For both tests, the results last for 2 years. If you fail, there is no limit to how many times you can retake the test, so you can simply try and try again!
Is B1 German enough to work? ›
Working in Germany
If you´d like to work in Germany you´ll get by if your German is on level B1/B2 (online test). The certificate issued by GLS is recognized by many employers and even some universities in Germany.
To pass the Deutsch Zertifikat B1 exam you must have achieved 60% of the maximum points in both the written and oral tests. This equates to 135 points in the written and 45 points in the oral test.
What is the difference between B1 and B2 German level? ›How Does it Work? These levels are classified as A1 for beginners, A2 for elementary, B1 for intermediate, B2 for upper intermediate, C1 as advanced, and C2 as mastery.
What is the CEFR level for German? ›There are 6 German levels determined by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). These levels are expressed as A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, and C2. The CEFR German levels are widely accepted as the global standard for grading an individual's language proficiency.
Can I learn German B1 in 3 months? ›If you take intensive classes (around 20 hours per week), you can reach the B1 level of day-to-day fluency. Fluency takes more than 3 months, but you can still learn in less time if you adjust your strategy.
How long is B1 German valid? ›The telc B1 certificate does not lose its validity. The certificate is therefore valid indefinitely. However, some institutions and employers require a certificate that is no more than two years old.
What is the pass mark for B1 exam? ›B1 Preliminary – Level B1
If you achieve a scale score of 140–159 (Pass, Pass with Merit) in your exam, you will receive the Preliminary English Test certificate at Level B1.
You need lots of patience and practice to learn a new language. Begin your English course learning slowly and steadily. Solving exercises, practicing reading, writing and listening are the key aspects of passing the B1 level exam.
What can I do with B1 in Germany? ›What can I do with B1 in Germany? B1 is one of the central requirements for non-EU-citizens to start working in Germany directly. With B1 you also may apply for an apprenticeship in order to learn a German profession in Germany.
Do I need B1 to study in Germany? ›Commonly accepted English language certificates as a proof of your proficiency in English language for academic studies in Germany are: Educational Certificate of an English-Speaking School. You must have completed at least 5 (B1) /6 (B2) schooling years in a school whose main language of instruction was English.
Is B1 German intermediate? ›
It starts at A1 considered the beginner level and moves through to C1 for advanced or native-level speakers. A B1 level German speaker is considered an Intermediate language speaker.
What is B1 language level? ›Level B1 corresponds to independent users of the language, i.e. those who have the necessary fluency to communicate without effort with native speakers.
How long does it take to do German CEFR levels? ›For each language level you need 8 weeks (= 160 lessons) of intensive training plus 1-2 hours of homework per day. A 4-weeks-course (= 80 lessons) covers one half of a language level of the CEFR.
How do I check my CEFR level? ›The best way to find out your CEFR level is to take a well-designed standardized test. In English, the EF SET is the best choice because it is free and the first standardized test to be fully aligned to the CEFR. You will need to set aside 50 minutes to complete the test and find out your CEFR level.