German B1: test, examples and what you can do at B1
Last checked: 25.10.2026
German B1 is the first level of independent language use on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). At B1 you manage everyday life and work on your own, as long as the topics are familiar, and you can tell stories, give reasons and ask follow-up questions.
You receive your result and certificate after purchase (from €14.99). Taking the test costs nothing.
Verification ID and QR code · Instantly as a PDF · No subscription
In short
B1 · Intermediate. The CEFR describes B1 as the level at which you understand the main points of clear standard language on familiar matters from work, school or leisure. You handle most situations while travelling, write simple connected texts and can briefly explain experiences, plans and opinions.
What you can do at B1
Listening
- You understand a station announcement about a delay and a change of platform.
- You follow colleagues talking about rotas, holidays or a problem at work, as long as they speak clearly.
Reading
- You read a letter from your health insurer and understand what you have to do and by when.
- You understand a short newspaper article about a local topic, even if some words are new.
Speaking
- At the doctor’s you explain which symptoms you have had since when, and you understand what you should do.
- You talk about your last holiday or your training and explain why you liked something.
Writing
- You write an email to your child’s school to excuse them for a day.
- You write a short job application with your background and motivation.
Typical grammar and vocabulary at B1
These topics come up again and again at B1. In our test, 10 of the 50 questions are at B1; most of them check grammar and vocabulary like this.
Grammar
- Subordinate clauses with „weil“, „dass“, „wenn“, „obwohl“: the verb goes to the end.
- Perfect and simple past of common verbs: „Ich bin umgezogen“, „Ich hatte keine Zeit“.
- Subjunctive II for wishes and advice: „Ich würde gern …“, „Sie sollten …“
- Relative clauses in nominative, accusative and dative: „der Kollege, dem ich geholfen habe“
- Two-way prepositions and prepositions with dative: „auf dem Tisch“ and „auf den Tisch“
- Reflexive verbs and verbs with prepositions: „sich freuen auf“, „sich kümmern um“
Vocabulary
- Work: application, shift, overtime, notice
- Health: symptoms, appointment, prescription, sick note
- Housing and offices: tenancy agreement, registration, form, deadline
- Phrases for giving reasons and suggestions: „Ich finde, dass …“, „Wie wäre es, wenn …?“
Three sample questions at B1
They are not taken from our test, but they show the kind of German that counts at this level. The tasks are in German.
Task 1
Ich weiß nicht, ___ der Zug heute pünktlich kommt.
- dass
- ob
- wenn
- weil
Show answer
B „ob“: An indirect yes/no question is introduced with “ob” (whether): Ich weiß nicht, ob …
Task 2
Obwohl es stark regnete, ___.
- wir sind spazieren gegangen
- sind wir spazieren gegangen
- gingen spazieren wir
- wir spazieren gingen
Show answer
B „sind wir spazieren gegangen“: When the subordinate clause comes first, the main clause starts with the verb: …, sind wir spazieren gegangen.
Task 3
Kannst du mir bitte ___, wie spät es ist? Mein Handy ist leer.
- sagen
- sprechen
- erzählen
- reden
Show answer
A „sagen“: “Jemandem etwas sagen” (to tell someone something) fits here. “Erzählen” is used for stories and experiences; “sprechen” and “reden” do not take a piece of information like the time as their object.
Do you have B1? A quick self-check
Test your level
The placement test has 50 questions from A1 to C2, 10 of them at B1. It measures grammar, vocabulary, reading and listening: 20 grammar, 14 vocabulary, 8 reading and 8 listening questions. B1 is the result for 45 to under 60 percent correct answers across the whole test. How the result is calculated is explained in the methodology (German).
You receive your result and certificate after purchase (from €14.99). Taking the test costs nothing.
Official B1 exams
If an employer, an authority or a university asks for proof of B1, you need the certificate of an official exam. Common ones are:
- Goethe-Zertifikat B1
- Zertifikat Deutsch / telc Deutsch B1
- ÖSD Zertifikat B1
- Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer (DTZ) (final exam of the integration course; result A2 or B1)
- Goethe-Test PRO (adaptive test by the Goethe-Institut, result between A1 and C2)
Which exam counts is decided by the institution that asks for proof. Ask before you register.
What is B1 required for?
For German citizenship, the Nationality Act generally requires sufficient German at B1 (§ 10 StAG). Proof is an official exam, for example the Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer, the Goethe-Zertifikat B1 or telc Deutsch B1.
Many employers and training companies also name B1 as a minimum. Whether our result is enough there is up to the employer; for authorities only the exam counts.
How long does it take to reach B1?
B1 has the clearest benchmark: the general integration course of Germany’s Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) includes 600 teaching units of language course that lead from the basics to B1. Anyone who does not reach B1 in the final test can, under certain conditions, attend additional hours.
How many weeks that takes depends on your pace: a full-time course covers far more teaching units per week than an evening class. People who also hear and speak German every day usually progress faster.
Questions about B1
Is B1 from your test enough for citizenship?
No. The authority requires the certificate of an official exam, such as the Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer or the Goethe-Zertifikat B1. Our test shows you beforehand whether your grammar, vocabulary, reading and listening are at B1.
I have finished a B1 course. Does that mean I have B1?
Not necessarily. A course is named after its goal; only an exam or a test shows whether you have reached it.
How many B1 questions does the test include?
Ten, more than at any other level. B1 is the result for 45 to under 60 percent correct answers across the whole test.
What is the difference between B1 and B2?
At B1 you handle familiar situations and tell things in simple connected language. At B2 you also understand longer texts with arguments and discuss abstract topics spontaneously.
Which mistakes are most common at B1?
Verb position in subordinate clauses, articles and cases after prepositions, and the perfect tense with „haben“ or „sein“. Our article on common grammar mistakes at B1 shows examples.
What does the B1 test cost?
The test itself is free and you start without signing up. Your result and the certificate with a verification ID are unlocked after purchase, from €14.99. There is no subscription.
Neighbouring levels and further reading
One level below: German A2. One level above: German B2. All levels at a glance: German levels A1 to C2. What the certificate shows: German certificate online.
Sources
- Global scale: Common Reference Levels (Europarat)
- Staatsangehörigkeitsgesetz, § 10 (Bundesministerium der Justiz)
- Integrationskurs: Inhalt und Ablauf (Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge (BAMF))
- Abschlussprüfung des Integrationskurses (Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge (BAMF))
- Deutschprüfungen (Goethe-Institut)
- telc Deutsch-Prüfungen (telc gGmbH)
- Österreichisches Sprachdiplom Deutsch (ÖSD)
- Integrationskurs: Inhalt und Ablauf (integration course) (BAMF)
Last checked: 25.10.2026 · Written by the Deutschniveau editorial team · Editorial policy (German)