A1 to C1 at a glance: who needs each level, what it certifies and where it leads. If your question is which provider rather than which level – telc, Goethe, the DTZ or TestDaF – the certificate guide answers that instead.
This overview answers the question of level: A1 to C1, who needs each one and what sits behind it. If your question is rather whether it has to be telc, Goethe, the DTZ or TestDaF, the guide Which German certificate do I need? gets you there faster.
Who needs it: Frequently required in connection with spouse and family reunification. What applies in your case is decided by the responsible authority.
Familiar words and simple sentences, spoken slowly. 60 points, pass mark 36. At this level telc and the Goethe-Institut issue the same certificate.
See the telc A1 exam →Who needs it: The typical mid-point of an integration course and evidence of German for straightforward professional purposes.
Understanding short messages, coping in familiar situations, writing simple letters. 60 points, pass mark 36 - with no minimum score per exam part.
See the telc A2 exam →Who needs it: The usual evidence for naturalisation and for many professional purposes. Also the target of most integration courses.
Speaking and writing coherently about familiar topics. 300 points, with the written and oral sections assessed separately.
See the telc B1 exam →Who needs it: The standard for recognition as a nurse, for qualified employment and as access to professional language examinations.
Independent language use: writing in a differentiated way, presenting and defending a position. The step up from B1 is often underestimated.
See the telc B2 exam →Who needs it: Evidence for academic contexts and demanding professional roles. For university admission there is a separate variant, telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule.
Competent language use: developing your own position argumentatively, staying precise and stylistically flexible in conversation.
See the telc C1 exam →See how preparation with HeyFlinko works – no credit card, no risk.
