German B1 Exam Checklist: Are You Ready to Pass?

Preparing for your German B1 exam? Use this checklist to find out what you can already do—and what you should practise before exam day.

The exact format depends on whether you take Goethe-Zertifikat B1, telc Deutsch B1, DTZ or another B1 exam, but the core language skills are similar.

📖 Reading — Lesen

☐ I can understand the main idea of a B1-level text.

☐ I can read emails, messages, advertisements and notices.

☐ I can understand basic newspaper and online articles.

☐ I can find specific information such as dates, prices, locations and conditions.

☐ I can understand whether a statement is positive, negative or neutral.

☐ I can understand unfamiliar words from context without translating every word.

☐ I can complete reading exercises within the time limit.

🎧 Listening — Hören

☐ I can understand the main point of a normal everyday conversation.

☐ I can understand announcements at stations, airports and public places.

☐ I can understand important information such as times, dates, prices and locations.

☐ I can follow short interviews and discussions about familiar topics.

☐ I can continue listening even when I don't understand every word.

☐ I can recognize whether speakers agree, disagree or express an opinion.

☐ I can complete a B1 listening test without constantly translating in my head.

✍️ Writing — Schreiben

☐ I can write a clear email or message.

☐ I can explain why I am writing.

☐ I can describe a situation or problem.

☐ I can make a request.

☐ I can suggest something.

☐ I can apologize and explain a reason.

☐ I can express my opinion and give reasons.

☐ I can connect ideas using words such as weil, deshalb, trotzdem, obwohl, wenn, dass.

☐ I remember an appropriate greeting and closing.

☐ My text has a clear beginning, middle and ending.

☐ I can finish the writing task within the exam time.

🗣️ Speaking — Sprechen

☐ I can introduce myself without memorizing every sentence.

☐ I can talk about my family, work, studies, hobbies and everyday life.

☐ I can describe past experiences.

☐ I can talk about future plans.

☐ I can express an opinion.

☐ I can explain why I think something.

☐ I can agree and disagree politely.

☐ I can make suggestions.

☐ I can respond to another person's suggestion.

☐ I can ask follow-up questions.

☐ I can plan something together with another person.

☐ I can speak for several sentences without stopping after every sentence.

☐ If I forget a word, I can explain it using other German words.

☐ I can continue speaking after making a grammar mistake.

🧠 Grammar

Before B1, you should feel comfortable using the most important structures rather than merely recognizing them.

☐ Präsens

☐ Perfekt

☐ Präteritum of common verbs such as sein, haben, werden and modal verbs

☐ Futur / talking about future plans

☐ Modal verbs: können, müssen, dürfen, sollen, wollen, möchten

☐ Accusative and dative

☐ Personal and possessive pronouns

☐ Wechselpräpositionen

☐ Common prepositions with accusative/dative

☐ Separable verbs

☐ Reflexive verbs

☐ Comparative and superlative

☐ Adjective endings at a practical B1 level

☐ weil / dass / wenn / obwohl

☐ deshalb / trotzdem / deswegen

☐ Relative clauses: der, die, das...

☐ würde + infinitive

☐ Common Konjunktiv II forms such as wäre, hätte, könnte, sollte

☐ Infinitive with zu

☐ Basic passive constructions

☐ Word order in main and subordinate clauses

🧩 Vocabulary

☐ Family and relationships

☐ Housing

☐ Work and professions

☐ Education

☐ Shopping and money

☐ Food

☐ Health

☐ Travel and transportation

☐ Appointments

☐ Government offices and everyday bureaucracy

☐ Media and technology

☐ Environment

☐ Leisure and hobbies

☐ Culture

☐ Everyday problems and complaints

☐ Opinions and discussions

Most importantly:

☐ I can use my vocabulary instead of only recognizing it.

⏱️ Exam Skills

Knowing German and passing an exam aren't exactly the same skill.

☐ I know the format of my specific B1 exam.

☐ I know how much time I have for every section.

☐ I have completed at least one full official practice exam.

☐ I practise without a translator.

☐ I practise under a time limit.

☐ I don't panic when I encounter an unknown word.

☐ I read the instructions carefully before answering.

☐ I don't spend too long on one difficult question.

☐ I check my writing before submitting it.

☐ I know what happens during the speaking examination.

⭐ The Most Important Checklist

Can you...

☐ understand the main point without understanding every word?

☐ explain something when you don't know the perfect vocabulary?

☐ keep speaking after making a mistake?

☐ write a structured message without translating every sentence?

☐ give your opinion and explain why?

☐ understand German at approximately B1 level without constantly relying on English?

☐ complete the tasks under exam conditions?

If several of these are still difficult, don't just memorize more vocabulary. Identify the specific skill that's stopping you and practise it repeatedly.

Practise With Konnektoren

Use Konnektoren to practise German grammar and vocabulary interactively and identify areas that still need work before your B1 exam.

Don't aim for perfect German.

Aim for German you can understand, retrieve and use when the exam puts you under pressure.

Final B1 Check

I understand. ✓

I can respond. ✓

I can explain. ✓

I can keep going even when I make mistakes. ✓

I can do it without a translator. ✓

Then you're getting ready not just to know B1 German—but to use it.