Goethe A2 German certificate
Goethe-Institut
The Goethe-Zertifikat A2: four parts, pass rules and fees.
Soon
Goethe, ÖSD, telc, ÖIF, TestDaF German Certificates A2, B1, B2, C1: Exam Format and Preparation
15 exams, one page each: the parts, the times, the scoring and the fees. The course with feedback on writing and speaking is in preparation.
Exams in preparation
Goethe
Goethe B1 German certificate
Goethe-Institut
The Goethe-Zertifikat B1: four modules, pass mark and fees.
Soon
Goethe B2 German certificate
Goethe-Institut
The Goethe-Zertifikat B2: four modules, pass mark and fees.
Soon
Goethe C1 German certificate
Goethe-Institut
The Goethe-Zertifikat C1: four modules, pass mark and fees.
Soon
ÖSD
The ÖSD Zertifikat A2: two modules, pass marks and fees.
Soon
The ÖSD Zertifikat B1: four modules, pass mark and fees.
Soon
The ÖSD Zertifikat B2: written and oral module, fees.
Soon
The ÖSD Zertifikat C1: written and oral module, fees.
Soon
telc
telc Deutsch A2 (Start Deutsch 2): both parts and fees.
Soon
telc Deutsch B1 (Zertifikat Deutsch): written and oral parts, fees.
Soon
telc Deutsch B2: written and oral parts, points and fees.
Soon
telc Deutsch C1: written and oral parts, points and fees.
Soon
ÖIF
ÖIF A2 Integrationsprüfung
Österreichischer Integrationsfonds (ÖIF)
The Integrationsprüfung A2: German parts, values part and fee.
Soon
ÖIF B1 Integrationsprüfung
Österreichischer Integrationsfonds (ÖIF)
The Integrationsprüfung B1: German part, values part and fee.
Soon
TestDaF
The digital TestDaF for university: four parts, TDN levels, fees.
Soon
Guides and articles
Read about these exams before you start.
Article · 5 min
Goethe B1 Schreiben (and ÖSD B1): marking, a sample answer and Redemittel
Three texts in 60 minutes: an e-mail of about 80 words, an opinion of about 80 and a short note of about 40. How the 100 points split, what scores zero, a worked example and phrases for each part.
Read the article →Article · 5 min
Goethe B1 Sprechen (and ÖSD B1): planning, presentation, questions, Redemittel and marking
About 15 minutes in a pair: planning together, a five-slide presentation, then feedback and questions. How the 100 points split, what the presentation needs, an example and phrases for each part.
Read the article →Article · 5 min
Goethe B2 Schreiben: forum post and message, Teil 1 and Teil 2, marking, example and Redemittel
A forum post of about 150 words and a message of about 100 in 75 minutes. Teil 1 alone is worth 60 of 100 points: the criteria, what scores zero, a worked example and phrases.
Read the article →Article · 5 min
telc B1 Schreiben: the e-mail with four points, marking criteria, scores, example and Redemittel
One e-mail in 30 minutes, personal or semi-formal, with four guiding points. Three criteria worth up to 45 of 225 written points, what costs the top band, a worked example and phrases.
Read the article →Article · 8 min
How many points to pass German B1: pass marks for Goethe, ÖSD, telc, TestDaF and ÖIF
Goethe, ÖSD, telc, TestDaF and ÖIF each set the pass mark differently: per module, per written and oral part, or, at TestDaF, not at all. One table of the rules and the grade bands, and which part of your exam has to clear the bar.
Read the article →Article · 5 min
Goethe certificate validity: how long Goethe, telc, ÖSD and ÖIF B1 certificates count for visa and university
Goethe, telc, ÖSD and TestDaF certificates have no expiry date; the age limit is set by whoever asks for them. Uni Wien and WU accept C1 certificates up to three years old, TU Wien two, embassies and Austrian authorities often one.
Read the article →Article · 6 min
TestDaF vs DSH: which German certificate you need to study in Germany and Austria
TestDaF and DSH count at every German university; Goethe C1 and ÖSD C1 depend on the university, and only Goethe C2, ÖSD C2 and telc C1 Hochschule are exempt by the national framework. Vienna has its own lists, and there is no TestDaF centre in Austria.
Read the article →Article · 8 min
telc B1 exam: points, Sprachbausteine and partial retakes
telc B1 has 300 points, and you need 135 of 225 in the written part and 45 of 75 in the oral, each part on its own. The points split, a worked Sprachbausteine example and retaking one part within twelve months.
Read the article →Article · 8 min
TestDaF TDN 4: digital TestDaF format, scores and what universities require
The digital TestDaF has four parts, each converted to 0–20 points and a level of TDN 3, 4 or 5. Under the German framework rules TDN 4 in all parts opens every degree programme; some universities accept less.
Read the article →Article · 9 min
telc B2 Schreiben: complaint or request for information, 150 words, marking and a sample letter
telc B2 writing is one semi-formal e-mail of at least 150 words in 30 minutes. How the three criteria give up to 45 points, a sample complaint and Redemittel.
Read the article →Article · 9 min
Goethe B2 Sprechen: Vortrag and Diskussion, sample topics, points and Redemittel
How the Goethe B2 speaking module runs: a talk with questions and a discussion, 15 minutes of preparation, points from the score sheet and the 60-of-100 pass mark. With our own example talk, debate and Redemittel.
Read the article →Article · 8 min
Writing and speaking marking criteria: Goethe, telc and ÖSD compared at B1 and B2
How Goethe, telc and ÖSD mark writing and speaking at B1 and B2: the criteria and their weights, what makes a task score zero, and how two examiners' marks are combined.
Read the article →Article · 7 min
Failed the B1 German exam? What to retake at Goethe, ÖSD, telc and ÖIF, and by when
At Goethe you retake the failed module, at ÖSD B2 and telc the written or the oral part, at ÖIF the whole exam. telc gives twelve months from the date on the result sheet for a partial retake.
Read the article →Article · 7 min
German language requirement for visa, citizenship, study, nursing and work in Germany and Austria
Joining a spouse takes A1, permanent residence and the standard route to citizenship B1, registered nurses in Austria and Berlin B2. Of the language exams, only the ÖIF exam meets Austria’s integration modules.
Read the article →Article · 4 min
Goethe-Zertifikat B2 exam: pattern, pass marks and how to pass
Four modules, each passed with 60 of 100 points and retaken on its own. The exam pattern for Lesen, Hören, Schreiben and Sprechen, how many correct answers you need and where to find the official sample paper.
Read the article →Article · 4 min
Goethe-Zertifikat B1 exam: pattern, pass marks and how to pass
The Goethe-Zertifikat B1 and the ÖSD Zertifikat B1 are one exam: four modules, each passed with 60 of 100 points. Three texts in Schreiben, a five-slide talk in Sprechen, the marks and the official sample paper.
Read the article →Article · 7 min
Goethe vs ÖSD vs telc: how the German exams differ at B1, B2 and C1
At B1 Goethe and ÖSD run one exam; at B2 and C1 there are three different ones. What you can retake on its own, how the tasks differ, what they cost in Vienna and abroad, and how to choose.
Read the article →Article · 5 min
Goethe-Zertifikat C1 exam: the 2024 pattern, pass marks and how to pass
The modular Goethe C1 that replaced the old exam at the end of 2023: four modules, each passed with 60 of 100 points. Times, the 230-word forum post, the talk and discussion, retakes and what the University of Vienna accepts.
Read the article →Article · 5 min
telc Deutsch B2 exam: pattern, pass marks, partial retakes and how to pass
A written and an oral part, each passed with 60 %: 135 of 225 and 45 of 75 points. The letter, the pair speaking test, retaking one part within twelve months, fees in Vienna and the free practice test.
Read the article →Article · 5 min
ÖSD Zertifikat B2 exam: pattern, pass marks, Vienna dates and how to pass
Two modules scored separately: 42 of 70 written with a minimum in every subtest, 18 of 30 oral. Dictionaries allowed, the writing and speaking tasks, the full certificate within a year, and 2026 dates and fees in Vienna.
Read the article →