Retaking a telc B1 Partial Examination: the 12-Month Rule
Last updated: August 2026 · 8 min read
Because telc Deutsch B1 is a single-level B1 examination, a failed written or oral partial examination may be retaken. Under the current rules, the retake must be completed within 12 months of the issue date on the first result sheet.
What can you retake?
The written examination includes Lesen, Sprachbausteine, Hören and Schreiben as one unit. The oral examination is Sprechen. You cannot retake only listening or writing.
If you passed written but failed oral, you can retake oral only; if you passed oral, you can retake the entire written part.
How is the 12-month period calculated?
The starting point is not the examination day but the issue date on the Ergebnisbogen. The repeated part must be taken within the next 12 months.
Allow for the centre's registration deadline. telc states that centres must register an examination 14 days before the date, while a centre may close bookings earlier.
Which result is used?
A complete examination may be repeated any number of times and each result remains valid. For a partial-result transfer, however, the current rules say the most recently achieved result is used.
Tell the centre explicitly which partial examination you need and keep the earlier result sheet ready when registering.
Registration checklist
- Confirm that the centre offers telc Deutsch B1 partial examinations.
- Check the issue date on your Ergebnisbogen.
- State whether you are repeating written or oral.
- Request credit for the passed partial result during registration.
- Ask the centre about its fee and document requirements.
Official sources
Dates, timings, scores and procedures were checked against the primary sources below.
Related telc B1 guides
Learn by practising the telc B1 format
Practise reading, listening, writing, speaking and Sprachbausteine in exam format on Zertifly.