DTZ Exam Format: Parts, Timing, Scoring and Exam-Day Rules
Last updated: 20 October 2026 · Checked against BAMF, g.a.s.t. and the legal texts
The Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer (DTZ) is the German exam at the end of the Integrationskurs. This guide takes you through every part – what you hear, read, write and say, how many items there are and how much time you get. It also explains how the overall A2 or B1 result is formed, what is allowed on exam day and how to prepare with the free official practice sets.
The DTZ in brief
The DTZ is the language test that completes the Integrationskurs. It is a scaled exam: there is only one test, and depending on your performance you receive a certificate for level A2 or B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). If you stay below A2, you get no certificate, only a notice of your result.
The test was developed by the Goethe-Institut and telc. Since 1 January 2023 it has been run by g.a.s.t. (Gesellschaft für Akademische Studienvorbereitung und Testentwicklung); before that, telc ran it. Its content is based on the Rahmencurriculum für Integrationskurse, the framework curriculum of the integration course.
You sit the exam at a Prüfstelle, an Integrationskurs provider authorised by BAMF, and the papers are marked centrally. The tasks come from everyday life – twelve Handlungsfelder such as Ämter und Behörden, Arbeit, Banken und Versicherungen, Betreuung und Ausbildung der Kinder, Einkaufen, Gesundheit, Mobilität and Wohnen. There is also a youth version for the Jugendintegrationskurs.
All DTZ parts at a glance
| Part | Teile | Texts and tasks | Items | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hören (listening) | 4 | Phone messages and announcements, radio information, everyday conversations, a radio vox pop | 20 (1–20) | about 25 min |
| Lesen (reading) | 5 | Directories and registers, short ads, notices and press texts, an information leaflet, a formal letter with gaps | 25 (21–45) | 45 min |
| Schreiben (writing) | 1 | One semi-formal or formal message (letter or e-mail); you choose task A or B | 1 text | 30 min |
| Sprechen (speaking) | 3 | Talking about yourself, a photo and your experiences, planning something together | Rated by two examiners | about 16 min as a pair |
Hören, Lesen and Schreiben make up the written exam: 100 minutes in this order, without a break. Sprechen is a separate oral exam.
Hören: four parts, every text played once
All pauses are built into the recording, so the recording sets the pace. You mark your answers on the personalised answer sheet that covers both Hören and Lesen.
| Teil | What you hear | Items | Task type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Phone messages and public announcements, e.g. at a station or in a shop | 1–4 (+ example) | Multiple choice with three options; a question such as „Was soll Frau X tun?“ |
| 2 | Short radio information; a weather report and a traffic report are always included, plus programme or event tips | 5–9 | Multiple choice with three options (a question or a sentence start) |
| 3 | Four everyday conversations (+ example) | 10–17 | Per conversation: one richtig/falsch item on the gist and one multiple-choice item on a detail |
| 4 | A radio vox pop: several people give their opinion on one topic | 18–20 (+ example) | Match statements a–f to the speakers; you get 1 minute to read them first; one statement belongs to the example, two stay unused |
You hear each text only once. Use the reading pauses on the recording to the full – there is no second play.
Lesen: five parts, items 21–45
| Teil | Text | Items | Task type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A directory or register, e.g. a department-store guide, a website menu or an information board | 21–25 | Three options; usually two are categories and the third is a negative option such as „andere Etage / andere Seite“ |
| 2 | Short ads a–h | 26–30 | Match five situations to the ads; for one situation no ad fits – then you mark x |
| 3 | Three short press texts or (semi-)formal notices, e.g. from a landlord, a school or an energy supplier | 31–36 | Per text: one richtig/falsch item and one multiple-choice item |
| 4 | A longer information leaflet, e.g. product information, instructions or terms and conditions | 37–39 | richtig/falsch |
| 5 | A formal letter with gaps | 40–45 | Choose the right word from three: salutation, pronouns, verbs, connectors, closing |
Lesen has a fixed 45 minutes. The negative option in Teil 1 and the x in Teil 2 are real answers – do not assume that one of the listed options always fits.
Schreiben: one letter or e-mail in 30 minutes
The official instruction on the task sheet reads:
„Wählen Sie Aufgabe A oder Aufgabe B. Zeigen Sie, was Sie können. Schreiben Sie möglichst viel. Vergessen Sie nicht die Anrede und den Gruß.“
- You choose task A or task B and tick your choice on the Schreibbogen.
- Each task describes a short situation and gives four content points (Leitpunkte) in note form. You must cover all four.
- The text type is a semi-formal or formal message – a letter or an e-mail – with a salutation (Anrede) and a closing (Gruß).
- No word count is prescribed; the instruction asks you to write as much as you can.
- Only the Schreibbogen is marked (front and back, no extra sheets); notes in the task booklet do not count.
- Raters judge four criteria – Inhalt, Kommunikative Gestaltung, Korrektheit and Wortschatz – with 0 to 5 points each, so the maximum is 20.
- Dictionaries are not allowed.
An empty Schreibbogen scores 0. Under the current rule a very weak Schreiben can still be compensated; if the planned rule takes effect on 1 November 2026, a Schreiben with 0–6 points will cost you the overall B1.
Sprechen: a pair exam without preparation time
You normally take the oral exam together with another candidate. Two licensed examiners are present: one leads the conversation, the other observes; both rate independently and the average counts. There is no preparation time. Each pair has a slot of about 20 minutes, including about 4 minutes in which the examiners discuss the rating. With an odd number of candidates, one person takes a shorter individual exam.
| Teil | What happens | Points | Time (pair) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1A Über sich sprechen | Both get the same sheet with keywords (Name, Geburtsort, Wohnort, Arbeit/Beruf, Familie, Sprachen); each of you speaks for about 1 minute | 5 | about 4 min for Teil 1 |
| 1B Auf Nachfragen reagieren | The examiner asks a follow-up question, e.g. about your family or work | 5 | within Teil 1 |
| 2A Über Erfahrungen sprechen | Each candidate gets a different photo on a shared theme and describes it: „Was sehen Sie auf dem Foto? Was für eine Situation zeigt dieses Bild?“ | 10 | about 6 min for Teil 2 |
| 2B Auf Nachfragen reagieren | The examiner asks about your own experiences and how things compare with your home country; questions are adapted to A2 or B1 level | 10 | within Teil 2 |
| 3 Gemeinsam etwas planen | Both get the same situation with note points; you plan together, make suggestions and react to each other; the examiner only helps if needed | 20 | about 6 min |
These 50 points are for task completion (Aufgabenbewältigung). Another 50 points are for language: Aussprache/Intonation 10, Flüssigkeit 10, Korrektheit 15, Wortschatz 15 – 100 points in total.
How your A2 or B1 result is formed
The DTZ reports three part results: Hören/Lesen (combined), Schreiben and Sprechen. Each part reaches B1, A2 or below A2 according to the points in the table below.
Current rule (§ 10 IntTestV): for an overall B1 you need B1 in Sprechen and B1 in at least one of the other two parts. The third part may be lower – at present even below A2. Overall A2 works the same way one level down: Sprechen at least A2 and one other part at least A2. g.a.s.t. explains that speaking is the key skill, so Sprechen must always reach the certified level.
Planned change: according to a dpa report on a draft by the Federal Ministry of the Interior, from 1 November 2026 the weakest part should also reach at least A2. An overall B1 would then additionally require at least 20 points in Hören/Lesen and at least 7 points in Schreiben. As of 20 October 2026 the official text had not been published, so this is a plan, not yet law. Our guide „DTZ 2026: the new rule“ covers the details.
| Part | B1 | A2 | Below A2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hören + Lesen (45 items, 1 point each) | 33–45 | 20–32 | 0–19 |
| Schreiben (max. 20) | 15–20 | 7–14 | 0–6 |
| Sprechen (max. 100) | 75–100 | 35–74.5 | 0–34.5 |
Headlines claiming that the B1 exam is getting harder for everyone exaggerate. If you genuinely work on all parts, little changes; the risk is a Schreiben with 0–6 points or Hören/Lesen with 0–19 points.
Exam-day rules
- Bring a valid official photo ID; it lies visibly on your desk throughout the written exam.
- Only your ID, a ballpoint pen (plus a spare), the exam papers and a drink are allowed on the desk.
- Write only with a non-erasable blue or black ballpoint pen; pencils are not allowed.
- You receive a personalised answer sheet for Hören and Lesen and, at the start of Schreiben, a separate Schreibbogen.
- To correct an answer, fill the wrongly marked box completely and then mark the right one.
- Only the answer sheet and the Schreibbogen are marked; notes in the task booklet do not count.
- There is no break in the written exam. You may work on each part only during its own time; „Stopp“ notices in the booklet mark the end, and leafing ahead is not allowed.
- Dictionaries and other aids are forbidden; mobile phones and other electronic devices must not be in the room. Do not talk to other candidates.
- You may leave the room only in exceptional cases and one person at a time; missed time cannot be made up. Stay seated until the written exam ends.
Anyone who cheats or tries to, uses or passes on unauthorised aids or disrupts the exam is excluded (§ 8 IntTestV) – retroactively if it only comes to light later. You can always withdraw before the exam starts; if you break off after the start through your own fault, the exam counts as not passed.
Abschlusstest and Zertifikat Integrationskurs
The final test of the Integrationskurs consists of two tests: the DTZ and the test „Leben in Deutschland“ (LiD) with 33 questions.
- Zertifikat Integrationskurs: an overall B1 in the DTZ and LiD passed with at least 15 of 33 questions correct.
- At least 17 of 33 in LiD also counts as proof of the knowledge required for naturalisation (§ 10 Abs. 1 Satz 1 Nr. 7 StAG).
- With the Zertifikat Integrationskurs, sufficient German (B1) and basic knowledge of the legal and social order count as proven for the Niederlassungserlaubnis (§ 9 Abs. 2 AufenthG).
- A DTZ A2 gives you an A2 certificate but no Zertifikat Integrationskurs. Our guide „DTZ A2 but you need B1“ explains your options.
For naturalisation the law requires B1 but names no specific exam provider; the Einbürgerungsbehörde decides. Confirm your own case with the responsible authority.
How to prepare
- Start with the two free official g.a.s.t. Übungssätze – complete practice sets with audio files. Do one of them under exam conditions: 100 minutes in one go, every listening text played once.
- Hören: train yourself to understand a text on the first hearing and to read the items during the pauses.
- Lesen: practise directories with the negative option and ad matching with x.
- Schreiben: write letters for different everyday situations and check every time that all four Leitpunkte, the Anrede and the Gruß are there.
- Sprechen: since there is no preparation time, practise a one-minute self-introduction and planning together out loud with a partner.
Zertifly has no DTZ module and no DTZ practice test of its own. What we offer trains the same skills: telc Deutsch B1 Schreiben (semi-formal letters and e-mails with four Leitpunkte, AI feedback on content and language), the telc B1 Sprechen simulation with three parts including „gemeinsam etwas planen“ and a live AI exam partner, and telc and Goethe B1 Lesen and Hören sets. The formats differ from the DTZ in detail.
Official sources
The exam rules and figures in this guide were checked against the official sources below.
- g.a.s.t.: Der DTZ auf einen Blick – Aufbau, Bewertung und Punktzahlen
- g.a.s.t.: DTZ-Übungssatz 1 (PDF)
- BAMF / Goethe-Institut: Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer – Prüfungsziele, Testbeschreibung (PDF)
- BAMF: Abschlussprüfung mit Zertifikat – DTZ und Test „Leben in Deutschland“
- Integrationskurstestverordnung (IntTestV), §§ 6–11
- g.a.s.t.: Häufig gestellte Fragen zum DTZ
- g.a.s.t.: DTZ-Übungssatz 2 (PDF)
- dpa-Meldung: Strengere Regeln bei Deutschtests für Zuwanderer (Oktober 2026)
Related guide
Practise the DTZ skills
Zertifly has no DTZ module, but telc B1 Schreiben tasks with four Leitpunkte and AI feedback and the telc B1 Sprechen simulation with a live AI partner train exactly these skills.