DTZ Exam B1: How the Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer Works
The DTZ — Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer — is the standardised German test that certifies A2 or B1, and it is the language-test half of the integration-course final exam. It is one test with two possible levels: the same paper decides whether you leave with an A2 or a B1 certificate (or neither).
Since 1 January 2023 the DTZ is run by g.a.s.t. (Gesellschaft für Akademische Studienvorbereitung und Testentwicklung) on behalf of the BAMF — it was originally developed jointly by the Goethe-Institut and telc. You sit it at a BAMF-authorised test centre (Prüfstelle), it follows uniform standards nationwide, and it is scored centrally.
This page is the whole exam in one place: who takes it, how the one test produces three outcomes, the exact point bands for A2 and B1, every part with its timing, and the questions people ask most — fees, retakes, results. Every fact here is sourced from g.a.s.t. and the BAMF (see Sources at the foot).
One test, three outcomes — and Speaking decides
The single DTZ gives you one of three results: an overall B1, an overall A2, or — below A2 — no certificate at all, only a written notice of your result (Mitteilung über das Ergebnis). You do not choose a level in advance; the result follows from your scores.
Speaking is a hard gate. The target level must always be reached in the Sprechen part for that level to appear on the certificate — a strong written score cannot carry a weak oral one. So the oral exam is not points folded into a total; it is a pass/fail gate for the level you are aiming at.
Since 1 November 2026 the B1 rule is stricter (Verordnung zur Änderung der Integrationskurstestverordnung, BGBl. 2026 I Nr. 306). For an overall B1 you now need: Speaking at B1, one of the two written parts (Hören + Lesen or Schreiben) at B1, and the other written part at least A2. For an overall A2 you need the A2 level in Speaking and in at least one written part.
The points you need for A2 and for B1
The DTZ is marked not on a single pass line but in bands per skill group. Hören and Lesen are pooled into one score out of 45; Schreiben is marked out of 20; Sprechen is marked out of 100. Each group's band tells you whether that group reached A2, B1 or below. These are the official bands g.a.s.t. publishes.
| Level | Hören + Lesen (max 45) | Schreiben (max 20) | Sprechen (max 100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| B1 | 33–45 | 15–20 | 75–100 |
| A2 | 20–32 | 7–14 | 35–74,5 |
| below A2 | 0–19 | 0–6 | 0–34,5 |
Hören and Lesen are only ever read as one pooled score — g.a.s.t. publishes no separate A2/B1 threshold for listening alone or reading alone, so any per-skill estimate you see for those two is derived, not official. Read with the rule above: the band each group lands in, plus the Speaking gate, is what produces your overall A2 or B1.
The four parts, and how long each one is
| Part | Time | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Hören (Listening) 4 Teile, 20 tasks, from everyday exchanges to announcements. Each text is played once, with built-in pauses — no rewind. | approx. 25 min | 20 |
| Lesen (Reading) 5 Teile, 25 tasks over everyday texts (notices, letters, ads, a short cloze). Pooled with Hören into one score out of 45. | 45 min | 25 |
| Schreiben (Writing) One semi-formal letter or email, chosen from two prompts, covering four content points (Leitpunkte) and including a greeting and a sign-off. Marked out of 20 on four criteria. | 30 min | max 20 |
| Sprechen (Speaking) 3 Teile / 5 sub-tasks, as a paired exam with two licensed examiners and no preparation time. Marked out of 100 — and it is the gate that decides your level. | approx. 15–16 min, in pairs | max 100 |
The written parts are one 100-minute block
On the day, the three written parts run back to back with no break — about 100 minutes in total. Hören comes first (approx. 25 minutes), then Lesen and Schreiben share a single 75-minute window; transferring your reading answers to the answer sheet (Antwortbogen) counts inside that 75 minutes, so budget it. The paired Sprechen exam is held separately and lasts about 15–16 minutes with no preparation time.
FAQ
- What happens if I don't pass the DTZ? Can I retake it for free?
- The DTZ can be repeated as often as you like, but you always repeat the whole exam (written and oral) — partial results are not carried over. Who pays depends on your course: with course admission the BAMF covers your first attempt, and a second one only if you sat the first before your course hours ran out. After a literacy (Alphabetisierung) or low-literacy course it can also grant a one-off repeat of up to 300 teaching units, which includes one paid retake. In all other cases you pay for the retake yourself.
- How much does the DTZ cost?
- If you hold an integration-course admission (Berechtigungsschein), the BAMF covers the fee for your first attempt (and the one retake above). There is no single official price published for people who pay themselves — the test centre sets it — so ask your Prüfstelle for their fee rather than expecting one national figure.
- How long does the DTZ take?
- The written parts are one block of about 100 minutes with no break: Hören (approx. 25 min), then Lesen and Schreiben together in a 75-minute window. The paired Sprechen exam is separate and lasts about 15–16 minutes, with no preparation time.
- Can I take the DTZ without an integration course?
- The DTZ is tied to the integration-course system. To register you need either a valid integration-course entitlement or to have attended at least one course module at your own cost; you also need to know the Latin alphabet and be at least 16. People entirely outside the integration-course system normally cannot sit the DTZ.
- When and how do I get my DTZ result? Can I check it online?
- g.a.s.t. usually transmits results to the BAMF about two and a half weeks after the exam; once the BAMF has validated them, the certificate or result notice is made available through your Prüfstelle, where you collect it. There is no self-service online result lookup for candidates. Certificates have been digital (no stamp) since 2023, and their authenticity is checked through g.a.s.t.'s online verification form — a verification tool, not a result portal.
- What is a DTZ B1 certificate worth for naturalisation?
- An overall B1 is the language requirement for the Zertifikat Integrationskurs, which also requires passing the separate „Leben in Deutschland“ test (33 questions, 60 minutes, pass at 15 of 33). For naturalisation, an overall B1 can serve as language proof. The residence period is now 5 years, and the certificate does not shorten it; for the knowledge requirement the „Leben in Deutschland“ test must be passed with at least 17 of 33.
Sources: g.a.s.t. — der DTZ auf einen Blick, g.a.s.t. — DTZ FAQ, BAMF — Abschlussprüfung und Zertifikat, BGBl. 2026 I Nr. 306 (Regeländerung ab 1.11.2026) · Last updated: 2026-11-03