{"id":154,"date":"2026-09-23T18:02:38","date_gmt":"2026-09-23T18:02:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/siplingo.com\/blog\/?p=154"},"modified":"2026-10-31T09:10:37","modified_gmt":"2026-10-31T09:10:37","slug":"dtz-exam-explained","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/siplingo.com\/blog\/dtz-exam-explained\/","title":{"rendered":"The DTZ Exam Explained: Format, Scoring, the A2\/B1 Split"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The DTZ (Deutsch-Test f\u00fcr Zuwanderer) is Germany’s integration-course exit exam, jointly developed by telc and the Goethe-Institut on behalf of BAMF. Its most distinctive feature: it has no fail state. You’re certified at either A2 or B1, whichever level your actual performance demonstrates \u2014 there’s no way to “fail” it outright, only to end up certified at a lower level than hoped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who can actually take it<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Unlike Goethe or telc exams, the DTZ generally requires completing a state-funded Integrationskurs first<\/a> \u2014 it’s specifically designed as that course’s exit exam, not a standalone, independently bookable test. If you’re learning German outside that system, the DTZ typically isn’t accessible to you, regardless of your actual level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The speaking exam structure<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The DTZ speaking component<\/a> runs roughly 15\u201320 minutes, in a paired format, with three parts:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Teil 1: \u00dcber sich sprechen (about 4 minutes).<\/strong> You’re given a card with six prompts \u2014 typically covering name, place of birth, current residence, work or occupation, family, and languages spoken. You speak for roughly a minute using these prompts, then the examiner asks one follow-up question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Teil 2: Ein Bild beschreiben (describing a picture, connected to personal experience).<\/strong> You’re shown an image related to everyday life and asked to describe it, then connect it to your own experience or situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Teil 3: Gemeinsam planen (planning something together).<\/strong> Similar in spirit to Goethe B1’s Aufgabe 1 \u2014 you and your partner plan something jointly, such as a trip or arranging a gift for a colleague, with the examiner able to offer support if the conversation stalls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What “no fail state” actually means in practice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is the DTZ’s defining feature, and it changes the psychology of the exam meaningfully. Every other major German exam \u2014 Goethe, telc \u2014 has a pass\/fail threshold you’re measured against. The DTZ instead assesses your actual demonstrated level across all four skills and certifies you accordingly: strong enough performance across the board earns a B1 certificate<\/a>; a solid but less complete performance earns A2 instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Multiple practical guides describe this as producing a genuinely less adversarial exam atmosphere \u2014 examiners are documented as actively supporting candidates who are struggling, since the goal is accurately assessing your actual level, not catching you out against a fixed bar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why this matters if you’re deciding whether to prepare intensively<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Since there’s no “failing,” the calculation around exam-day pressure is different from Goethe or telc. Underperforming on exam day doesn’t mean starting over \u2014 it means being certified at A2 instead of B1, which you can then work to upgrade later, often without needing to retake the entire exam depending on your specific course provider’s process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This doesn’t mean preparation matters less \u2014 a B1 certificate genuinely opens more doors than an A2 one, particularly for citizenship<\/a> \u2014 but it does mean the DTZ is a lower-stakes environment to walk into than a strict pass\/fail exam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Whether you’re aiming to demonstrate B1 rather than settle for an A2 result, real speaking practice on exactly these task types \u2014 introducing yourself, describing something, planning together \u2014 is what closes that gap.<\/strong> SipLingo runs voice conversations built around real scenarios like these, with corrections in your own language. Try it free \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How the DTZ compares practically<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Cost is typically bundled into your Integrationskurs fees rather than charged separately, unlike Goethe or telc where you pay per exam attempt. Scheduling is usually handled by your course provider as part of the programme’s natural progression, rather than something you book independently at a test centre of your choosing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practise your German out loud with SipLingo, free to try on iPhone and Android:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Download<\/a>\"Get<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n

A fuller look at Teil 3 in practice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A representative Gemeinsam planen exchange, in the spirit of official DTZ practice materials:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Pr\u00fcfer:<\/strong> Ein Kollege hat morgen Geburtstag. Planen Sie gemeinsam, was Sie machen k\u00f6nnen.<\/em> Kandidat A:<\/strong> Wir k\u00f6nnten einen Kuchen kaufen.<\/em> Kandidat B:<\/strong> Gute Idee, und vielleicht auch eine Karte unterschreiben.<\/em> Kandidat A:<\/strong> Ja, genau. Wer kauft den Kuchen?<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Notice the structural similarity to Goethe B1’s planning task \u2014 negotiation, suggestion, agreement \u2014 even though the DTZ’s overall scoring philosophy (no fail state) differs meaningfully from Goethe’s pass\/fail modules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Typical timeline within an Integrationskurs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A standard Integrationskurs runs around 700 total teaching units (including both the general language course and a supplementary orientation course on German society and law), typically completed over several months to about a year depending on pace and whether it’s a general or intensive course. The DTZ is taken at the end of this process, meaning your preparation for it is largely built into the course itself rather than requiring separate, independent exam-specific study the way Goethe or telc preparation typically does.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Related guides:<\/strong> Goethe vs telc vs \u00d6SD vs DTZ compared<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Official sources<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For the official details and the latest updates, see:<\/p>\n\n\n\n