telc German B2 – Listening (Hörverstehen)
Listening (Hörverstehen) tests whether you understand spoken German at B2 level – in three parts, all as true/false tasks. Here are the structure, strategy and exercises for each part.
As of 2026 · Built to the official exam format
Key takeaways
- Listening has 3 parts with 20 tasks in total and 75 points.
- All tasks are true/false: Part 1 (gist), Part 2 (detail), Part 3 (selective).
- At B2 you hear each text only ONCE – plan around 20 minutes.
Overview
Listening is the third part of the written telc B2 exam. You hear various texts – news, an interview, announcements – and decide for each statement whether it is true or false. In total that’s 20 tasks and 75 points in three parts. You have around 20 minutes for the whole listening section.
At its core it’s not about understanding every word, but about grasping the statement precisely. At B2 each text is played only once – you can’t rewind. It gets tricky because the statements are almost always paraphrased: the audio says it differently from the task. Anyone who only listens for single words falls for the distractors.
The three parts call for three listening styles: in Part 1 you grasp the main idea of short news items (gist), in Part 2 you listen to a longer interview closely (detail), in Part 3 you listen for specific information in short announcements (selective). Always read the tasks before the audio starts.
The true/false format is clear – the hurdle is that at B2 you hear each text only once and the statements are paraphrased. Very doable with reading the tasks first and some practice.
The parts at a glance
| Part | Task type | Focus | Tasks | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part 1 – Gist (T/F) | True/False | Gist | 5 | 25 |
| Part 2 – Detail (T/F) | True/False | Detail comprehension | 10 | 25 |
| Part 3 – Selective listening (T/F) | True/False | Selective listening | 5 | 25 |
Tips & strategy
Before each part you have time to read the statements. Use it: mark key words so you can listen for them specifically.
The correct answer depends on the meaning, not on a single word. At B2 the audio almost always says the same thing in different words from the task.
At B2 each text is played only once. Concentrate from the very first second; there is no second listen.
Don’t get stuck on a statement. Make a decision and keep listening – otherwise you miss the next piece of information.
There is no penalty for wrong answers. When unsure, decide – guess true or false rather than leaving it open.
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 spoken B2 texts:
- News & radio reports
- short reports on current topics (Part 1).
- Interviews & discussions
- a longer conversation between two or more people (Part 2).
- Announcements
- traffic, weather, events, at the station or airport (Part 3).
- Reports & features
- factual topics from society, work or the environment.
Common topics
The audio texts revolve around factual and social topics. Prepare vocabulary for these areas:
- Work & economy
- jobs, the labor market, companies
- Society & education
- studying, living together, trends
- Environment & science
- climate, energy, research
- Health & lifestyle
- nutrition, sport, medicine
- Transport & travel
- trains, flights, announcements, delays
1-week study plan
- Day1Learn the format
Read this guide and do a first official listening practice test with audio – no pressure, just to understand the structure.
- Day2Part 1 – gist
Practice grasping the main idea of short news items. Listen to reports and sum up each in one sentence.
- Day3Part 2 – detail
Listen to a longer interview and focus on details. Practice spotting paraphrases – only one listen.
- Day4Part 3 – selective listening
Train targeted listening in announcements: when, where, how much? Read the statements first and listen for the key words.
- Day5Audio & pace
Listen to German audio daily (news, podcasts) and get used to the B2 speaking pace – without subtitles.
- Day6Full listening part under time
Work through all three parts with audio in one go – each text only once – and transfer your +/– answers.
- Day7Analyze your mistakes
Listen again to the spots where you went wrong: what did you mishear or misunderstand? Review your weakest part specifically.
Are you ready?
- I can grasp the main idea of a short news item on a single listen.
- I can decide confidently between true and false for a statement.
- I recognize paraphrases – the same statement in different words.
- I can follow a longer interview and keep the arguments apart.
- I listen for time, place and numbers in announcements.
- I can finish all 20 tasks at listening pace without getting stuck.
Frequently asked questions
How many parts does telc B2 listening have?
Three parts with 20 tasks in total, all true/false: Part 1 (gist, 5), Part 2 (detail, 10) and Part 3 (selective listening, 5).
How many points are there in the listening part?
You can earn 75 points in listening. It therefore contributes a large share of the written exam.
How often do I hear the texts in B2 listening?
At B2 level each text is played only once. There is no second listen – so concentrate from the start.
How are the listening tasks structured?
All tasks are true/false statements. You mark plus (+) for true and minus (–) for false on the answer sheet.
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 German audio at B2 level daily and work through full listening mock tests under time – each text only once. 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.