To pass telc B1 you need 60% in the written exam and 60% in the oral exam, judged separately: at least 135 of 225 written points and 45 of 75 oral points. There is no minimum for single sections like reading. If you pass both, the points are added up for your grade, from ausreichend (180 to 209.5) to sehr gut (270 to 300).
PassGerman is built by German teacher Ramin A., who has taught more than 1,000 lessons on Preply. For this guide we used telc's own scoring rules and five real score sheets that test-takers published, three of them not passed. The exam itself is explained part by part in our German B1 exam guide.
| Part | Max points | Pass mark |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | 75 | |
| Sprachbausteine | 30 | |
| Listening | 75 | |
| Writing | 45 | |
| Written exam | 225 | 135 (60%) |
| Oral exam | 75 | 45 (60%) |
| Total | 300 | 180 (both marks reached) |
On this page
What score do you need to pass telc B1?
You need at least 135 of 225 points in the written exam and at least 45 of 75 points in the oral exam. Both are 60%, and both have to be reached. telc states it in one sentence: 60% of the maximum in the written and in the oral exam (Übungstest 1, page 40).
So 180 points isn't automatically a pass. 180 made of 150 written and 30 oral fails, because 30 is below 45. The exam isn't a pot. It's two pots, and both have to be full enough.
Is there a minimum score for each section?
No. telc's rule names only two minimums: 135 for the written exam and 45 for the oral exam. Inside the written exam, a strong section can balance a weak one. A low reading score doesn't fail you on its own.
- Points needed: 135
- Points you can lose: 90
That flexibility cuts both ways. It lets a strong writer survive a bad listening day. It also means a bad listening day has to be paid for by everything else, in cash, on the same morning.
telc B1 grades: from ausreichend to sehr gut
If you reach both pass marks, your written and oral points are added up, and the total decides your grade. Below 180, you haven't passed (Übungstest 1, page 40).
| Total points | Grade | In English |
|---|---|---|
| 270 to 300 | sehr gut | very good |
| 240 to 269.5 | gut | good |
| 210 to 239.5 | befriedigend | satisfactory |
| 180 to 209.5 | ausreichend | sufficient |
| 0 to 179.5 | nicht bestanden | not passed |
For citizenship and residence permits, what matters is the B1 certificate, not the grade. Nobody at the Ausländerbehörde has ever asked for "gut". They have, however, asked for a certified copy, a passport photo and your patience.
Real telc B1 score sheets, and what they show
Five test-takers published their telc B1 results on Reddit. Three didn't pass, and all three show why the separate pass marks matter more than the total.
| Test-taker | Written | Oral | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passed, 2 months | 202.5 | 75 | 277.5, sehr gut |
| Passed, 4 months | 176 | 69 | 245, gut |
| Failed written | 113.5 | 72 | not passed |
| Near miss | 133.5 | 40 | not passed |
| Oral short by 2 | not shared | 43 | not passed |
The third row is the one to remember: 72 of 75 in speaking, 33 of 45 in writing, and still not passed, because reading came in at 25 of 75. The near miss was 1.5 written points and 5 oral points short. The certificate doesn't round up out of sympathy, and judging by these sheets it doesn't round up out of anything.
| Section | Sehr gut | Gut | Failed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 75 | 62.5 | 25 |
| Sprachbausteine | 27 | 25.5 | 18 |
| Listening | 67.5 | 55 | 37.5 |
| Writing | 33 | 33 | 33 |
Also notice the writing row. Both passes and the clear fail all scored 33 of 45 in writing. The difference was made in reading and listening, the two sections worth 75 points each. Our telc B1 exam tips show where those points hide.
The free PassGerman mock exam covers the whole written exam under real timing and shows your points for every section.
Start a free mock examHow many points can you lose and still pass?
You can lose 90 written points and 30 oral points and still pass. How many questions that means depends on where you lose them, because questions are worth different amounts. One listening question in part 1 is 5 points, one Sprachbausteine gap is 1.5.
| Your writing score | Needed from reading, Sprachbausteine and listening | That's |
|---|---|---|
| 45 (top marks) | 90 of 180 | 50% |
| 33 (common in the score sheets above) | 102 of 180 | 57% |
| 27 | 108 of 180 | 60% |
| 15 | 120 of 180 | 67% |
The oral exam works the same way with smaller numbers. Getting to know each other is worth 15 points, the topic and the planning task 30 each, scored on four criteria including pronunciation (pages 34 and 35). Missing 45 by 2 points, like one test-taker above, usually means a part where the conversation stalled.
If you fail: you only retake the part you missed
If you fail the written or the oral part, you only retake that part, in the same calendar year or the next one. The retake result replaces the old one completely, even if it's lower. You can repeat the whole exam as often as you like (Übungstest 1, page 40).
| Situation | What you retake | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Written passed, oral failed | Oral exam only | End of the following calendar year |
| Oral passed, written failed | Written exam only | End of the following calendar year |
| Both failed | The whole exam | No limit |
"Replaces irrevocably" is the phrase telc uses. A retake isn't a second lottery ticket where the best one counts. Sit it when you're ready, not when you're annoyed.
How telc B1 results are scored and sent
telc scores every exam centrally: answer sheets are scanned and checked against the answer key, each email is marked by two trained raters, and your center receives the result. If you pass you get a certificate, if not a results sheet with your points (Übungstest 1, pages 38 and 40).
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| Answer sheet | Scanned and checked against the answer key |
| Marked by two raters, the second rating counts if they differ | |
| Oral exam | Two examiners agree on one rating after you leave the room |
| Passed | Certificate, sent to your exam center |
| Not passed | Results sheet with your points |
The centers we checked in September 2026 quoted 3 to 8 weeks for results, most of them 4 to 6. Our telc B1 exam centers overview has the details per city. Plan for six weeks of refreshing your inbox with the energy of someone waiting for a parcel that was marked "delivered" yesterday.
FAQ
What is the telc B1 passing score?
You need 60% in both parts: at least 135 of 225 points in the written exam and 45 of 75 points in the oral exam. The two parts are judged separately.
Is 180 points enough to pass telc B1?
Only if it splits the right way. 180 is the lowest total for the grade ausreichend, but you still need at least 135 written and 45 oral points.
Do I need a minimum score in reading or listening?
No. telc's rule names two minimums only: 135 for the whole written exam and 45 for the oral exam. A weak section can be balanced by others inside the written part.
Can I retake only the part I failed?
Yes. You retake only the failed written or oral part, in the same or the following calendar year. The retake result replaces the old one, even if it's lower.
How long do telc B1 results take?
Results are scored centrally by telc and sent to your exam center. The centers we checked in September 2026 quoted between 3 and 8 weeks, most of them 4 to 6.
Want to know your score before exam day? Our telc B1 exam practice page shows how PassGerman trains you for 135 and beyond, and our Sprachbausteine guide covers the 30 points most people underestimate.
