--- title: "telc A1 Listening (Start Deutsch 1): Exercises & Tips" description: "Listening (Hören) in the telc German A1 exam (Start Deutsch 1): all 3 parts explained – format, tasks, strategy and exercises. Understand every audio with confidence." canonical: "https://prepliq.com/en/practice-test/telc-german-a1/listening" url: "https://prepliq.com/en/practice-test/telc-german-a1/listening.md" locale: "en" provider: "TELC" level: "A1" alternates: de: "https://prepliq.com/de/modelltest/telc-deutsch-a1/hoeren.md" en: "https://prepliq.com/en/practice-test/telc-german-a1/listening.md" fr: "https://prepliq.com/fr/examen-blanc/telc-allemand-a1/comprehension-orale.md" it: "https://prepliq.com/it/simulazione-esame/telc-tedesco-a1/ascolto.md" es: "https://prepliq.com/es/modelo-de-examen/telc-aleman-a1/comprension-oral.md" --- # telc German A1 – Listening (Hören) > Listening (Hören) in the telc German A1 exam (Start Deutsch 1): all 3 parts explained – format, tasks, strategy and exercises. Understand every audio with confidence. ## Key takeaways - Listening has 3 parts with 15 tasks in total. - Parts 1 and 3 are multiple choice (a/b/c), Part 2 is true/false. - You hear most texts twice – plan around 20 minutes. Listening is the first part of the written telc A1 exam. You hear short, simple everyday texts – small conversations, announcements and answering-machine messages – and solve tasks about them. In total that’s 15 tasks in three parts. You have around 20 minutes for it. At its core it’s about understanding simple information: who is speaking, where the person is, what time it is, how much something costs. You don’t have to understand every word, just recognize the important information. You hear most texts twice, so you can check on the second listen. The three parts have different tasks: in Part 1 you hear short conversations and choose from three pictures or answers (a/b/c), in Part 2 you decide for announcements whether a statement is true or false, in Part 3 you hear short messages and again choose from three answers. Always read the tasks before the audio starts. - Parts: 3 - Tasks: 15 - Points: 15 - Time: 20 min - to pass: ~60 % - Difficulty: easy (2/5) ## The parts at a glance - [Part 1 – Short conversations (MC)](https://prepliq.com/en/practice-test/telc-german-a1/listening/part-1) — Multiple choice · Understanding simple conversations · 6 Tasks · 6 Points. In Part 1 you hear six short conversations. For each you choose from three answers or pictures. Here’s how to find the right one. - [Part 2 – Announcements (T/F)](https://prepliq.com/en/practice-test/telc-german-a1/listening/part-2) — True/False · Understanding announcements · 4 Tasks · 4 Points. In Part 2 you hear four announcements and decide for each statement between true and false. Here’s how to listen for the important information. - [Part 3 – Short messages (MC)](https://prepliq.com/en/practice-test/telc-german-a1/listening/part-3) — Multiple choice · Understanding messages · 5 Tasks · 5 Points. In Part 3 you hear five short messages or announcements, for example on the answering machine. For each you choose from three answers. ## Tips & strategy - **Read the tasks before listening:** Before each part you have time to look at the tasks and pictures. Use it: think about what to listen for (time, place, price). - **Listen for the important information:** You don’t have to understand everything. Focus on the one piece of information the task asks for – such as a time or a number. - **Use the second listen:** You hear most texts twice. Mark your answer the first time and check it the second time. - **Watch for numbers and times:** At A1 it’s often about times, prices, house numbers or phone numbers. Practice understanding numbers especially. - **Never leave a box blank:** There is no penalty for wrong answers. Guess rather than leave a task open. - **Transfer to the answer sheet:** Only the answer sheet is graded. Transfer your answers in good time, ideally right after each part. ## Common listening situations In the listening part you’ll meet typical A1 everyday situations: - **Short conversations** — while shopping, at the station, in a café (Part 1). - **Announcements** — in a department store, at the station or airport (Part 2). - **Answering-machine messages** — appointments, arrangements (Part 3). - **Numbers & times** — prices, phone numbers, opening hours. ## Common topics The audio texts revolve around simple everyday topics. Prepare vocabulary for these areas: - **Shopping & prices** — shop, market, paying - **Transport & directions** — train, bus, station, announcements - **Food & drink** — café, restaurant, ordering - **Appointments & time** — doctor, meeting, when? - **Home & family** — family, numbers, phone number ## Free practice exercises - [Deutsche Welle – Learn German](https://learngerman.dw.com/de/overview) — Free, simple audio texts with audio at A1 level for daily practice. - [Nicos Weg A1 (Deutsche Welle)](https://learngerman.dw.com/de/nicos-weg/c-36519687) — Free online course with videos and listening exercises at A1 level. ## 1-week study plan - Day 1 – **Learn the format:** Read this guide and do a first official listening practice test with audio – no pressure, just to understand the structure. - Day 2 – **Part 1 – short conversations:** Practice short dialogues and choosing from three answers (a/b/c). Focus on the one important piece of information. - Day 3 – **Numbers & times:** Practice understanding numbers, prices and times specifically – they come up often at A1. - Day 4 – **Part 2 – announcements:** Practice announcements and deciding true/false. Read the statements first. - Day 5 – **Part 3 – messages & voicemail:** Practice short answering-machine messages and choosing from three answers. - Day 6 – **Full listening part under time:** Work through all three parts with audio in one go and transfer your answers to an answer sheet. - Day 7 – **Analyze your mistakes:** Listen again to the spots where you went wrong: what did you miss? Review your weakest part specifically. ## Are you ready? - I understand the important information in a short conversation. - I understand numbers, prices and times when listening. - I can decide confidently between true and false for an announcement. - I understand a short answering-machine message. - I use the second listen to check my answers. - I can finish all 15 tasks at listening pace. ## Frequently asked questions ### How many parts does telc A1 listening have? Three parts with 15 tasks in total: Part 1 (short conversations, multiple choice, 6), Part 2 (announcements, true/false, 4) and Part 3 (short messages, multiple choice, 5). ### How often do I hear the texts? You hear most texts twice. That way you can check your answer on the second listen. ### How much time do I have for listening? Listening lasts around 20 minutes. It is a separate part that comes before reading and writing. ### What does listening test? Whether you understand simple everyday information – for example times, prices, places or short messages. You don’t have to understand every word. ### Where do I find the audio (MP3)? The audio files belong to the official practice test; telc offers them as MP3. We don’t host any audio – use the official practice test or practice listening with a Prepliq mock. ### What’s the best way to practice listening? Listen to short, simple German audio daily and practice numbers and times especially. At Prepliq you practice listening with realistic mock exams and get instant scoring. ### May I take notes during listening? Yes, you may take notes on the task sheet. But only the answer sheet is graded – transfer your answers in good time. ## Ready for the exam? [Practice this part on Prepliq](https://prepliq.com/en/practice-test/telc-german-a1?action=start§ionId=Listening%20Comprehension) ## Other exam parts - [Lesen](https://prepliq.com/en/practice-test/telc-german-a1/reading) - [Schreiben](https://prepliq.com/en/practice-test/telc-german-a1/writing) - [Sprechen](https://prepliq.com/en/practice-test/telc-german-a1/speaking) [telc German A1 – Listening (Hören)](https://prepliq.com/en/practice-test/telc-german-a1/listening)