Download the free official telc B1 Modelltest (PDF + audio) from telc.net and run it under real timing for the written parts. For the oral exam — 25% of your score, passed separately — a paper test can't help: simulate it with a speaking partner or with ZertFox's AI partner, which runs the three telc-style speaking parts and estimates your scores.
The free official material
telc publishes official practice material for exactly this purpose:
- Modelltest / Übungstest PDFs with answer keys — the same structure, task types and timing as the real exam.
- Audio files for the listening section.
- The speaking task sheets (Teil 1–3) with the preparation materials candidates receive.
Search for “telc Deutsch B1 Übungstest” on telc.net — the download is free. Many exam centers and VHS courses also hand out printed mock exams.
Running the written mock properly
A mock exam only predicts your result if you run it under exam conditions. Use the real timing in one sitting:
| Section | Time | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Leseverstehen + Sprachbausteine | 90 min | 75 + 30 |
| Hörverstehen | ~30 min | 75 |
| Schriftlicher Ausdruck (letter) | 30 min | 45 |
Score it with the answer key and apply the 60% rule: 135 of 225 written points. Whatever section is weakest gets your next study week.
Simulating the oral exam (the honest way)
Here is the gap in most preparation: the printed Modelltest shows you the speaking tasks, but the exam tests speaking interaction — reporting, discussing, planning with another person in real time. Reading the task sheet silently tells you nothing about whether you can do that for 15 minutes.
A real oral simulation needs four ingredients:
- The real structure — interview, topic discussion, planning dialogue, back to back (~15 min).
- A partner who responds — someone (or something) that asks follow-ups and disagrees.
- Preparation discipline — 20 minutes with notes, like the real exam.
- Scoring against the four criteria — task completion, expressiveness, grammar, pronunciation.
With a teacher or tandem partner, hand them the Modelltest speaking sheets and the criteria. Without one, this is exactly the hole ZertFox fills.
Use ZertFox as your speaking mock exam
- Choose B1 and run Teil 1, 2 and 3 in one sitting — a full oral simulation takes about 15–20 minutes.
- The AI partner interviews you, discusses a topic card and negotiates a plan, reacting to what you actually say.
- Afterwards, read your AI-estimated scores across the four telc criteria — your mock exam result for speaking.
- Repeat twice a week; compare results over time the way you'd compare written mock scores.
Exam-week checklist
- One final written mock under full timing — confirm you clear 60% per part.
- One full oral simulation daily — shorter but every day, so exam-format conversation feels normal.
- Review your Teil 1 answers and Teil 3 Redemittel out loud, not silently.
- Sleep. A rested B1 candidate outperforms a crammed one in every criterion.
Frequently asked questions
Are unofficial online mock exams reliable?
Some are good, but task types drift from the official format. Use the official Modelltest as your benchmark and treat third-party tests as extra practice.
How close are ZertFox tasks to the real exam?
ZertFox follows the telc-style three-part structure and everyday topic areas. It is an independent practice app, so treat its results as practice estimates — the official Modelltest plus ZertFox speaking sessions together cover the whole exam.
Learn more: full FAQ →What score should my mock exam reach before I book?
Comfortably above the line — around 70% on a timed written mock and consistently solid speaking simulations — leaves margin for exam-day nerves.
Learn more: telc B1 passing score →