telc Deutsch B1 has 300 points: 225 written + 75 oral. To pass you need 60% in each part separately — at least 135 written points and 45 oral points. If you fail one part, you can usually retake just that part. The oral grade comes from four criteria: task completion, expressiveness, grammar, pronunciation.
Where the 300 points live
| Section | Points | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Leseverstehen (reading) | 75 | 25% |
| Sprachbausteine (grammar & vocabulary) | 30 | 10% |
| Hörverstehen (listening) | 75 | 25% |
| Schriftlicher Ausdruck (letter writing) | 45 | 15% |
| Mündliche Prüfung (speaking) | 75 | 25% |
Two things follow from this table. First, speaking is a quarter of the whole exam — as much as reading or listening. Second, because of the separate 60% rule, those 75 points are the only ones that can't be rescued elsewhere.
The 60% rule, precisely
- Written exam: 225 points → you need at least 135.
- Oral exam: 75 points → you need at least 45.
- Within the written part, points are summed — a weak section can be balanced by a strong one.
- Between written and oral there is no balancing. 220 written points + 40 oral points = not passed.
How examiners award the 75 oral points
Two examiners observe you through all three parts — interview, topic discussion and planning dialogue (see the full exam walkthrough) — and rate four criteria:
- Aufgabenbewältigung — you did what the task asked: reported, discussed, planned, decided.
- Ausdrucksfähigkeit — range of expression: connectors, paraphrase, varied vocabulary.
- Formale Richtigkeit — grammar accuracy, weighted for whether errors block understanding.
- Aussprache / Intonation — comprehensibility, not accent-free perfection.
B1 descriptors reward communication over correctness: a candidate who talks, interacts and self-corrects usually outscores a quiet candidate with perfect short sentences.
Failed one part? The retake rules
If you fail only the oral exam or only the written exam, you can usually retake just that part rather than the whole exam. Conditions and deadlines vary by exam center, so ask yours directly. Many candidates in exactly this situation — written passed, oral failed — have weeks to fix their speaking before the retake, which is a very solvable problem with daily out-loud practice.
Train against the same four criteria
ZertFox's AI-estimated results are structured around the criteria in this guide, so practice feedback maps to what examiners grade:
- Run a speaking session — any of the three B1 parts.
- Get AI-estimated grades for task completion, expressiveness, grammar and pronunciation, with strengths and concrete improvement points.
- Watch the weakest criterion across sessions — that's where your next 10 points are.
- Replay recordings to hear the difference as your scores move.
Results in the app are practice estimates, not official scores — they exist so you stop guessing what to work on.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need 60% in every single section?
No — only in the written exam as a whole and the oral exam as a whole. Within the written part, sections balance each other.
Can a good written score save a failed speaking exam?
No. The oral exam is assessed independently; below 45 of 75 points means the exam is not passed, whatever the written result.
Learn more: how to pass the speaking exam →Is telc B1 enough for German citizenship?
Yes — telc Deutsch B1 is an accepted B1 certificate for naturalization, alongside Goethe B1 and a DTZ with B1 result.
Learn more: B1 exam for citizenship →