--- title: "telc German B1 Reading (Leseverstehen): Exercises & Tips" description: "Reading (Leseverstehen) in the telc German B1 exam: all 3 parts explained – format, points, strategy and exercises. Master matching and multiple choice with confidence." canonical: "https://prepliq.com/en/practice-test/telc-german-b1/reading" url: "https://prepliq.com/en/practice-test/telc-german-b1/reading.md" locale: "en" provider: "TELC" level: "B1" alternates: de: "https://prepliq.com/de/modelltest/telc-deutsch-b1/leseverstehen.md" en: "https://prepliq.com/en/practice-test/telc-german-b1/reading.md" fr: "https://prepliq.com/fr/examen-blanc/telc-allemand-b1/comprehension-ecrite.md" it: "https://prepliq.com/it/simulazione-esame/telc-tedesco-b1/lettura.md" es: "https://prepliq.com/es/modelo-de-examen/telc-aleman-b1/lectura.md" --- # telc German B1 – Reading (Leseverstehen) > Reading (Leseverstehen) in the telc German B1 exam: all 3 parts explained – format, points, strategy and exercises. Master matching and multiple choice with confidence. ## Key takeaways - Reading has 3 parts with 20 tasks in total and 75 points. - It tests three reading styles: gist (Part 1), detail (Part 2) and selective reading (Part 3). - You need about 60 % of the points to pass – the biggest hurdle is speed. Reading is the first part of the written telc B1 exam and the highest-scoring one: you can earn 75 points here – more than in any other single part. It has three parts with 20 tasks in total. Together with the Sprachbausteine (language elements) you have 90 minutes; plan around 60 of those for reading. At its core, reading is a search task, not a vocabulary test. The texts come from everyday life – newspaper articles, ads, notices, brochures – and you don’t have to understand every word, just find the spot that answers a question. It gets tricky because the correct answer is usually paraphrased: the same statement in different words. Anyone who only looks for matching words falls for the distractors. The three parts call for three different reading styles: in Part 1 you skim short texts and identify the main idea, in Part 2 you read a longer text closely and compare each option with the content, in Part 3 you scan many short ads for specific details. Practice them separately – being good at one part barely helps with the next. - Parts: 3 - Tasks: 20 - Points: 75 - Time: 60 min - to pass: ~60 % - Difficulty: moderate (3/5) ## The parts at a glance - [Part 1 – Matching headings](https://prepliq.com/en/practice-test/telc-german-b1/reading/part-1) — Matching · Gist reading · 5 Tasks · 25 Points. In Part 1 you match the right heading to five short texts. Here’s how the part is built – and how to avoid the typical traps. - [Part 2 – Multiple choice](https://prepliq.com/en/practice-test/telc-german-b1/reading/part-2) — Multiple choice · Detail comprehension · 5 Tasks · 25 Points. In Part 2 you read a longer text and answer five multiple-choice questions. Here’s how to find the right option and spot the distractors. - [Part 3 – Matching ads](https://prepliq.com/en/practice-test/telc-german-b1/reading/part-3) — Matching (with “x”) · Selective reading · 10 Tasks · 25 Points. In Part 3 you match ten everyday situations to the right ads. Important: sometimes no ad fits – then the answer is “x”. ## Tips & strategy - **Budget your time wisely:** Reading and Sprachbausteine share 90 minutes. Keep an eye on the clock and decide in advance how much time you give each part. - **Train three reading styles:** Part 1 needs skimming, Part 2 close reading and Part 3 targeted scanning. Practice all three separately. - **Never leave a box blank:** There is no penalty for wrong answers. Guess rather than leave a task open. - **Meaning beats keyword:** Don’t be led by a shared word. What matters is whether the statement fits the text – not whether a word appears in both. - **Read functionally, not every word:** Watch for key signals: names, numbers, dates, places and connectors (deshalb, aber, trotzdem). They lead you quickly to the right information without reading every word. - **Don’t forget the answer sheet:** Only the answer sheet is graded. Transfer your answers in good time, not in the final seconds. ## Common text types In the reading part you’ll meet typical everyday texts: - **Newspaper and magazine articles** — reports about events, studies or trends. - **Ads and classifieds** — short offers in Part 3 (courses, services, travel). - **Advice and information texts** — tips and factual information. - **Formal and informal letters** — private and official messages. ## Common topics The texts usually revolve around everyday and factual topics. Prepare vocabulary for these areas: - **Work & career** — job applications, the workplace, further training - **Housing** — flat hunting, neighbors, moving house - **Travel & transport** — trains, holidays, accommodation - **Health** — doctor, nutrition, sport - **Environment** — recycling, energy, nature - **Leisure & media** — courses, internet, events ## Free practice exercises - [Deutsche Welle – Learn German](https://learngerman.dw.com/de/overview) — Free, up-to-date reading and listening texts at B1 level for daily practice. - [Nicos Weg B1 (Deutsche Welle)](https://learngerman.dw.com/de/nicos-weg/c-36519718) — Free online course with reading and listening exercises at B1 level. ## 1-week study plan - Day 1 – **Learn the format:** Read this guide and do a first official reading practice test – without time pressure, just to understand the structure. - Day 2 – **Part 1 – gist:** Practice skimming: read short news items and put the main idea into one sentence. Train matching headings to texts. - Day 3 – **Part 2 – detail:** Practice close reading on a longer text. Focus on paraphrases and on actively ruling out wrong options. - Day 4 – **Part 3 – selective reading:** Train scanning through ads. Practice the “x” in particular, for when no ad fits. - Day 5 – **Vocabulary & pace:** Review your B1 vocabulary with the word list and practice time management: set a timer for each part. - Day 6 – **Full reading part under time:** Work through all three parts in one go under time pressure – like the real exam. Transfer your answers to an answer sheet. - Day 7 – **Analyze your mistakes:** Look at every mistake: why was the answer wrong? Review your weakest part specifically and do one last short test. ## Are you ready? - I can identify the main idea of a short text in under a minute. - I can see through distractors that only repeat single words from the text. - I can locate the exact spot in a longer text that answers a question. - I recognize paraphrases – the same statement in different words. - I confidently use the “x” in Part 3 when no ad fits. - I can finish all 20 tasks within the time limit. ## Frequently asked questions ### How many parts does telc B1 reading have? Three parts with 20 tasks in total: Part 1 (matching headings), Part 2 (multiple choice) and Part 3 (matching ads). ### How many points are there in the reading part? You can earn 75 points in reading. It therefore contributes a large share of the written exam. ### How many points do I need to pass? You need around 60 % of the points. telc B1 has no separate pass mark per part – the written exam (reading, Sprachbausteine, listening, writing) is graded together. As a guide, the 60 % mark in reading corresponds to about 45 of 75 points. ### How many mistakes can I make? There is no fixed mistake limit per part. Since you need around 60 % to pass, you should get at least about 12 of 20 reading tasks right – so at most around 8 mistakes. You can also offset weaknesses in reading with the other written parts. ### How much time do I have for the reading part? Reading and Sprachbausteine are done together in one 90-minute block. There is no fixed split; plan about 60 minutes for the three reading parts. ### What’s the best way to practice reading? Read short German texts regularly – for example the Deutsche Welle news – and work through full practice tests under time. At Prepliq you practice reading with realistic mock exams and get instant scoring; the interactive word list helps you lock in your B1 vocabulary. ### What can I do if I read too slowly? Train skimming and scanning specifically instead of reading every word. Read the tasks first and then the text – that way you search purposefully for the right information. Practice this under real time conditions with a Prepliq mock that simulates the exam clock. ### Can I use a dictionary in the reading part? No. No aids such as dictionaries are allowed in the telc German B1 exam. ## Ready for the exam? [Practice this part on Prepliq](https://prepliq.com/en/practice-test/telc-german-b1?action=start§ionId=Reading%20Comprehension) ## Other exam parts - [Sprachbausteine](https://prepliq.com/en/practice-test/telc-german-b1/sprachbausteine) - [Hörverstehen](https://prepliq.com/en/practice-test/telc-german-b1/listening) - [Schriftlicher Ausdruck](https://prepliq.com/en/practice-test/telc-german-b1/writing) - [Mündlicher Ausdruck](https://prepliq.com/en/practice-test/telc-german-b1/speaking) [telc German B1 – Reading (Leseverstehen)](https://prepliq.com/en/practice-test/telc-german-b1/reading)