Exam day, mapped
What happens on the day of a German B2 exam, in what order and under which rules — so that nothing on the day is new to you.
Lesen, Hören and Schreiben back to back, about three hours of exam time, then Sprechen in pairs — the same day or on a date of its own.
The whole day, mappedOne written part and one oral part, each passed at 60 %. Our preparation for telc B2 is in the works; the comparison below already shows how its day differs.
Both exams test the same level and the same four skills, but they run the day differently. Goethe splits it into four modules you pass, fail and resit one at a time; telc adds a grammar and vocabulary section and scores one written part and one oral part.
| Section | Goethe-Zertifikat B2 | telc Deutsch B2 |
|---|---|---|
| Lesen | 65 min · 5 Teile · 30 items | 3 Teile, in one 90-minute block with the Sprachbausteine |
| Sprachbausteine | not part of the exam | 2 Teile · grammar and vocabulary gaps |
| Hören | about 40 min · 4 Teile · played once or twice | about 20 min · 3 Teile · every text played once |
| Schreiben | 75 min · Forumsbeitrag and Nachricht, both compulsory | 30 min · one email, chosen from two tasks |
| Sprechen | about 15 min in pairs · 15 min preparation | about 15 min in pairs · 20 min preparation |
| Pass mark | 60 of 100 points in each module | 60 % of the written part and 60 % of the oral part |
The practical difference shows after a bad hour. At Goethe you resit only the module that fell short, and the modules you passed stay passed. At telc the written sections add up to one score, so a strong Lesen can carry a weak Hören — and the other way round.
That is up to the exam centre. Some hold Sprechen straight after the written modules, others on a separate date. The invitation from your centre says when and where — check it the moment it arrives instead of assuming.
A valid official photo ID — usually a passport or national identity card — in the name you registered with. Without it you cannot sit the exam, and a name that does not match is hard to sort out at the door.
No. Phones, smartwatches and other devices are not allowed in any module — at Goethe not even during the preparation time for Sprechen. Using one can get you excluded from the exam, so switch it off completely and leave it where the centre tells you.
At the Goethe-Zertifikat, yes: at least 15 minutes between the written modules. Plan food and water around that, not around a long lunch break that may not come.
At the Goethe-Zertifikat B2, yes — the four modules can be taken on their own or in any combination, and a module you did not pass can be resat as often as you like. telc Deutsch B2 can also be taken as a partial exam; telc and your centre set the rules for repeating a part.
