How to pass the German B1 exam: a four-week plan
Redaktion · 7 October 2026 · 3 min read
In short
Four weeks will not take you up a level, but they can teach you to collect your points. Week 1: one full mock exam with a timer to find your weak spots. Weeks 2 and 3: practise your two weakest parts, about one hour a day. Week 4: a second mock exam, then only review and rest.
What four weeks can do
Four weeks are not enough to go from A2 to B1. They are enough to know the exam, manage your time and avoid typical point losses. In telc B1 you need 60 percent in the written and 60 percent in the oral exam; in Goethe B1, 60 points in each module. If you are just below that, better technique often brings the missing points.
Week 1: where do you stand?
- One full mock exam under real conditions: with a timer, no breaks inside the parts, recordings played only as often as in the exam.
- Score each part separately: reading, Sprachbausteine, listening, writing, speaking. telc counts written and oral separately, Goethe each module.
- Write down your two weakest parts. They are your work for weeks 2 and 3.
Weeks 2 and 3: targeted practice
| If weak in … | About 60 minutes a day |
|---|---|
| Reading | one reading part a day with a timer; then find the proof in the text for every wrong answer |
| Listening | two listening parts a day without rewinding; mark key words first |
| Sprachbausteine (telc) | one gap task a day; collect prepositions, connectors and verbs with fixed patterns |
| Writing | every other day one text in the real time; tick off the guiding points, then correct |
| Speaking | 10 minutes out loud every day: introduce yourself, present a topic, plan something with a partner |
Week 4: second mock exam and rest
- Start of the week: second full mock exam. Compare the points with week 1.
- Middle of the week: only your mistake list and short exercises, no new topics.
- Two days before: check your ID, the registration confirmation and the way to the test centre. More in Exam day.
- The evening before: stop studying and sleep early.
How much time per day?
One focused hour on six days beats one long Sunday. Split the hour: 40 minutes for your weakest skill, 20 for vocabulary or the mistake list. Mock exams take half a day; put them in your calendar.
Full mock exams with real timing are available for telc German B1, the Goethe-Zertifikat B1 and the DTZ. Which recordings play only once is explained in German B1 listening.
Frequently asked questions
Can you pass B1 in four weeks?
Gaining a whole level in four weeks is unrealistic. If you are already close to B1, four weeks can teach you to pass: manage the time, know the tasks, avoid mistakes.
How many hours a day should I study for the B1 exam?
About one focused hour on six days a week, plus two full mock exams across the four weeks.
When should I take a mock exam?
Once at the start to find your weak spots, and once in the last week to see your progress.
What should I do the day before the exam?
Nothing new. Check your documents and route, read your mistake list once and go to bed early.
Sources
- telc: telc Deutsch B1, Übungstest 1 (PDF), checked 7 October 2026
- Goethe-Institut: sample test Goethe-Zertifikat B1, adults (PDF), checked 7 October 2026
- Goethe-Institut: Goethe-Zertifikat B1, Durchführungsbestimmungen, as of 1 September 2025 (PDF), checked 7 October 2026
