telc B2 exam pass mark: points, format and retakes
Redaktion · 30 September 2026 · 6 min read
In short
The telc Deutsch B2 exam has 300 points: 225 in the written exam and 75 in the speaking exam. To pass, you need 60 percent in each part, which means 135 written points and 45 speaking points. A strong written result cannot make up for weak speaking. If you fail one part, you can retake only that part within twelve months.
What is the telc B2 exam format?
The exam has a written part (Leseverstehen = reading, Sprachbausteine = grammar and vocabulary gaps, Hörverstehen = listening, Schriftlicher Ausdruck = writing) and a speaking part (Mündlicher Ausdruck), usually taken in pairs. The table shows every part with its tasks, time and points, as telc states them in its own practice test and preparation guide.
| Part | Tasks | Time | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leseverstehen Teil 1 (reading) | match 5 headlines to texts, 5 points each | 90 minutes for reading and Sprachbausteine together (telc suggests about 15) | 25 |
| Leseverstehen Teil 2 | 5 multiple-choice questions on two articles, 5 points each | suggested: about 20 | 25 |
| Leseverstehen Teil 3 | 10 situations, 12 short info texts, 2.5 points each | suggested: about 20 | 25 |
| Sprachbausteine Teil 1 (gap fill) | 10 gaps, three words to choose from, 1.5 points each | suggested: about 15 | 15 |
| Sprachbausteine Teil 2 | 10 gaps, 15 words in a box, 1.5 points each | suggested: about 20 | 15 |
| Hörverstehen Teil 1 (listening) | 5 true or false statements on a news bulletin, heard once, 5 points each | about 20 minutes for all three parts | 25 |
| Hörverstehen Teil 2 | 10 true or false statements on a radio interview, heard once, 2.5 points each | within the 20 minutes | 25 |
| Hörverstehen Teil 3 | 5 true or false statements on short announcements, heard once, 5 points each | within the 20 minutes | 25 |
| Schriftlicher Ausdruck (writing) | one semi-formal email, choice of two tasks, at least 150 words | 30 minutes | 45 |
| Mündlicher Ausdruck (speaking) | talk about an experience, discussion, plan something together | 20 minutes preparation, then about 15 minutes (about 25 in a group of three) | 75 (25 per part) |
The written exam takes about 140 minutes in total (90 for reading and Sprachbausteine, about 20 for listening, 30 for writing). Dictionaries are not allowed at any point. telc offers the exam in digital, hybrid and paper form; which one you get depends on the test centre.
What is the telc B2 pass mark?
| Exam part | Maximum | Needed to pass (60 percent) |
|---|---|---|
| Written exam | 225 | 135 |
| Speaking exam | 75 | 45 |
| Total | 300 | at least 180, but only if both limits are reached |
Inside the written exam there is no separate minimum per section. Weak listening can be balanced by strong reading. Between written and speaking, that is not possible.
Which questions are worth the most points?
Not every question counts the same. Adding up telc's own values for reading, Sprachbausteine and listening (180 points together) gives this picture:
| Points per question | Where | Questions | Points in total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Leseverstehen Teil 1 and 2, Hörverstehen Teil 1 and 3 | 20 | 100 |
| 2.5 | Leseverstehen Teil 3, Hörverstehen Teil 2 | 20 | 50 |
| 1.5 | Sprachbausteine Teil 1 and 2 | 20 | 30 |
One correct headline in Leseverstehen Teil 1 is worth as much as two questions in Teil 3, or more than three Sprachbausteine gaps. Plan your 90 minutes so that Leseverstehen Teil 1 and 2 get enough time. telc itself advises never to leave a gap empty, even when you do not know the answer.
How are writing and speaking marked?
Writing: the email is marked on three criteria: task completion (Aufgabenbewältigung), communicative design (Kommunikative Gestaltung) and accuracy (Formale Richtigkeit). Each gets A (5), B (3), C (1) or D (0). The sum is multiplied by three, so the maximum is 45. For an A in task completion, cover three of the four bullet points (Leitpunkte), or two plus one point of your own.
Speaking: two examiners mark each of the three parts out of 25, on four criteria: range of expression (7), task completion (7), accuracy (7), and pronunciation and intonation (4). The short introduction at the start is not marked. In Teil 1 you speak for at most one and a half minutes about something you experienced, then your partner asks you questions.
What grades are there?
| Total points | Grade (German term) |
|---|---|
| 270 to 300 | very good (sehr gut) |
| 240 to 269.5 | good (gut) |
| 210 to 239.5 | satisfactory (befriedigend) |
| 180 to 209.5 | sufficient (ausreichend) |
| 0 to 179.5 | not passed (nicht bestanden) |
Can I retake only the speaking part?
Yes. Under the telc exam regulations (valid from 15 April 2025, section 7), for telc Deutsch B2 you can retake only the written or only the speaking exam within twelve months of your first attempt. The date on your results sheet counts. Keep in mind:
- Tell the test centre when you register that your passed part should be carried over.
- You cannot retake a single section such as listening only; it is the whole written or the whole speaking exam.
- Your latest result always counts, even if it is lower.
- You may take the full exam as many times as you like.
Older practice tests still give a different deadline (the exam year plus the following calendar year). The current regulations apply. This rule is for telc Deutsch B2; for two-level exams such as telc Deutsch B1·B2 Beruf, carrying over a part is not possible.
Does the telc B2 certificate expire?
The telc certificate has no expiry date printed on it. Whether an older certificate is still accepted is decided by whoever asks for it: the university, the employer, the embassy or the German authority. If you think your result is wrong, you can request a review within six weeks (40 euros).
How to prepare
- Do a full practice test under real time and add up your written and speaking points separately.
- Practise listening without replaying, because the B2 exam plays every recording only once.
- Write emails of at least 150 words in 30 minutes and check that three bullet points are covered.
- Practise speaking with a partner, especially the discussion in Teil 2.
You can run through the whole exam with the real timings in our telc Deutsch B2 practice test, and find more tasks in the practice area.
Frequently asked questions
What is the pass mark for telc B2?
You need 135 of 225 points in the written exam and 45 of 75 points in the speaking exam, which is 60 percent in each. Both limits must be reached.
How long is the telc B2 exam?
The written exam takes about 140 minutes: 90 for reading and Sprachbausteine, about 20 for listening and 30 for writing. The speaking exam takes about 15 minutes in a pair, plus 20 minutes of preparation.
Can I retake only the speaking part of telc B2?
Yes. Under telc's 2025 regulations you can retake only the speaking or only the written exam within twelve months. Tell the test centre when you register.
Can a good written score make up for weak speaking?
No. You need 60 percent in both parts. Within the written exam, however, the sections can balance each other.
How many times is the audio played in telc B2?
Once. All three listening parts are played only one time, which is a key difference from telc B1.
How many words do I need to write in telc B2?
At least 150 words. You choose one of two tasks and write a semi-formal email in 30 minutes.
Sources
- telc gGmbH: telc Deutsch B2, Übungstest 1 (PDF, in German), checked 30 September 2026
- telc gGmbH: Tipps zur Prüfungsvorbereitung Deutsch B2 (PDF, in German), checked 30 September 2026
- telc gGmbH: exam regulations, valid from 15 April 2025 (PDF, in German), checked 30 September 2026
- telc gGmbH: telc Deutsch B2 exam page, checked 30 September 2026
