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.
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Key takeaways
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.
| 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 |
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.
Try this section in the real exam format and find out how confident you are before exam day.
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In the listening part you’ll meet typical spoken B2 texts:
The audio texts revolve around factual and social topics. Prepare vocabulary for these areas:
Read this guide and do a first official listening practice test with audio – no pressure, just to understand the structure.
Practice grasping the main idea of short news items. Listen to reports and sum up each in one sentence.
Listen to a longer interview and focus on details. Practice spotting paraphrases – only one listen.
Train targeted listening in announcements: when, where, how much? Read the statements first and listen for the key words.
Listen to German audio daily (news, podcasts) and get used to the B2 speaking pace – without subtitles.
Work through all three parts with audio in one go – each text only once – and transfer your +/– answers.
Listen again to the spots where you went wrong: what did you mishear or misunderstand? Review your weakest part specifically.
Three parts with 20 tasks in total, all true/false: Part 1 (gist, 5), Part 2 (detail, 10) and Part 3 (selective listening, 5).
You can earn 75 points in listening. It therefore contributes a large share of the written exam.
At B2 level each text is played only once. There is no second listen – so concentrate from the start.
All tasks are true/false statements. You mark plus (+) for true and minus (–) for false on the answer sheet.
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.
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.
Yes, you may take notes on the task sheet. But only the answer sheet is graded – transfer your answers in good time.
Practice this exam section in the official format and see what needs more attention before the real test.
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