Zertifikat and Telc exams A1 to C1

The students’ voices – two case studies

Caro’s student: Stephen

Stephen is based in London and lives with his German partner. He sat the Telc B1 exam last December. His main motivation for preparing the exam was to formalise his language skills in case he might ever work for a German employer. He also wanted to see how he’d perform across all four skills: reading, writing, listening, and speaking.

Stephen spent just over a year preparing, which, with hindsight, felt a little long. That said, he scored 272 out of 300 points and achieved 100% in the writing section. He partly attributes this to Caro, a writer and creative-writing teacher whose skill she brings into lessons.

In terms of time investment, he had one lesson per week and usually matched it with two hours of homework or self-study. He noticed that when he didn’t manage the two hours, his progress slowed.

Asked what kind of materials he used, Stephen answered that he worked through lots of Telc test papers online, as well as using a Telc B1 textbook in class. Knowing the exam format is the key — however, he also recommends using other resources, such as German films.

Stephen’s tips & hacks:

Ask yourself why you want to sit the exam: work, visa, or personal interest? This will shape your focus. Use opportunities outside your learning environment – especially for the speaking part, as this is what your exam experience will feel like too. The examiner and your exam partner (in a pair exam) are people outside your usual setting. For the writing: Read the question carefully. Take care not to confuse Schreib einen Brief an einen Freund/ eine Freundin (mit „du“, „dein“ etc.) with Schreib einen Brief an Freunde/ Freundinnen (mit „ihr“, „euer“ etc.) — a small but crucial detail.

James (also Caro’s student)

James now lives in Frankfurt with his German partner and young child. He came to us in 2023 with a B1/B2 level. Before that, he had learned German with Duolingo, had private lessons for a year with a tutor, and practiced with his German partner. He took the Zertifikat C1 exam shortly after, combining two lessons per week with three hours of homework and self-study.

His plan to sit the Zertifikat C1 had been in the back of his mind for a while, and the final stretch between setting a date and sitting the exam was surprisingly short. He was motivated by his plan to move to Germany. He also wanted written proof of his German level.

James admitted he was very nervous in the days leading up to the exam. His remedy? Working under pressure by doing model papers in real time — which reminded me of Stephen’s emphasis on knowing the exam format inside out. James reassured himself: Not passing all four parts isn’t the end of the world, as each section can be repeated separately.

Advice he’d give to students:

You can test Reading and Listening on your own with the answer keys, then use your tutor to focus on Speaking and Writing.

James, of course, did well across all four skills. He was positively surprised by his oral exam result, though a little disappointed with his writing score.

Another important voice is Lucy's in her learner’s blog which we mention on a regular level as we really like it. Lucy will start on her Zertifikat C1-preparation in November helped by Claus. She recently posted on the B1 telc oral exam.

The team’s experience

What James said about expectations versus outcome resonated with our team’s experience: the exam gives you feedback on your level — but only up to a point.

Svjetlana recently had two students she thought weren’t quite ready. They proved her wrong — and we were thrilled when they passed. There’s a big difference in your German level depending on whether you just scrape through at 60–65 points (still level B1) or achieve 95–100 points — meaning your path to B2 won’t be long.

The team agreed: Speaking is often the most feared — and ultimately most rewarding part of the exam. Esther pointed out how first impressions count: making eye contact and presenting yourself confidently — you can memorise a great self presentation — sets a great tone for the Zertifikat/Telc B1 exam. The ability to communicate, ask when you don’t understand, and support your partner in a pair exam helps compensate for any small flaws. Plus, examiners can never be 100% objective, no matter how hard they try — a truth illustrated by this surprising story from October.

Our student Daniel came to us with a tested level of A2, yet needed B1 for the Swiss SDS exam. Two weeks and nine lessons later, he scored B2. A strange and wonderful outcome! Of course, he worked hard during those two weeks — but that alone can’t explain a leap from A2 to B2.

Final reflections

If you’re considering preparing for a German exam, ask yourself: What level should I aim for? The next one in reach or skip that one and go straight for a higher one. Why do I need the exam? For a visa application? Passing is enough — the rest will follow. To communicate better at work or in a relationship? Aim for strong marks and a comfortable pass. What is my time investment? Discuss a realistic timeline with your tutor. Too short = extra stress. Too long = you lose momentum. What is my budget? Simple rule: the more homework and self-study you do, the more you practise outside class, the faster you’ll progress — and the less you may need in paid tuition. Finally: Enjoy the preparation! Think of it as one jigsaw piece on an exciting journey to bring your German to the next level