---
title: "telc B2 Listening Part 1: Gist"
description: "Listening Part 1 of the telc B2 exam: 5 true/false tasks on the gist of short news items. Format, strategy, mistakes and a worked example."
canonical: "https://prepliq.com/en/practice-test/telc-german-b2/listening/part-1"
url: "https://prepliq.com/en/practice-test/telc-german-b2/listening/part-1.md"
locale: "en"
provider: "TELC"
level: "B2"
alternates:
  de: "https://prepliq.com/de/modelltest/telc-deutsch-b2/hoeren/teil-1.md"
  en: "https://prepliq.com/en/practice-test/telc-german-b2/listening/part-1.md"
  fr: "https://prepliq.com/fr/examen-blanc/telc-allemand-b2/comprehension-orale/partie-1.md"
  it: "https://prepliq.com/it/simulazione-esame/telc-tedesco-b2/ascolto/parte-1.md"
  es: "https://prepliq.com/es/modelo-de-examen/telc-aleman-b2/comprension-oral/parte-1.md"
---

# telc B2 Listening Part 1 – Gist

> Listening Part 1 of the telc B2 exam: 5 true/false tasks on the gist of short news items. Format, strategy, mistakes and a worked example.

## Key takeaways

- 5 short news items – decide for each statement: true or false?
- You hear it only once. The main idea counts, not a single word.

- Task type: True/False
- Focus: Gist

## What this part tests

Part 1 tests gist: you have to quickly grasp what a short news item is about. You hear five short texts – usually radio reports or news – and decide for each whether a given statement is true or false.

It’s about the main idea, not single words. Before listening you can read the statements – use this time to mark key words. At B2 you hear each text only once, so concentrate from the start.

The biggest danger is statements that pick up a word from the audio but don’t fit in meaning – or the correct statement is paraphrased. Every correct decision scores points; wrong answers are not penalized – so always decide.

**What you practice:** Grasping the main idea, Deciding true/false, Listening for key words

## How to approach it

1. Before listening, read all five statements and mark the key words.
2. Listen to the first news item and focus on the overall statement, not every word.
3. Compare the statement with what you heard: does the meaning fit?
4. Decide true or false and move on to the next statement immediately.
5. Don’t leave any statement open – when unsure, make a decision.
6. Transfer your +/– answers to the answer sheet in good time.

## Example task with answer

A short example in the same format: you hear a short news item and decide whether the statement is true or false.

**Du hörst (sinngemäß):** „In vielen Unternehmen arbeiten die Mitarbeitenden heute flexibler als früher. Eine aktuelle Studie zeigt, dass feste Bürozeiten immer seltener werden und stattdessen Ergebnisse zählen."

- Statement: “According to the study, fixed office hours are becoming more important.”
  - Answer: False (Falsch) — In the audio fixed office hours are becoming “immer seltener” (rarer), not more important. The statement claims the opposite – so it’s false.

## Practice: test yourself

Du hörst (sinngemäß) eine Nachricht: „Die Stadt hat beschlossen, den öffentlichen Nahverkehr auszubauen. Ab nächstem Jahr sollen mehrere Buslinien häufiger fahren, um Pendler zum Umstieg vom Auto zu bewegen."

- Is the statement true or false? Statement: “The city wants to get more people to leave the car at home.”
  - r) True (Richtig)
  - f) False (Falsch)
  - Answer: r — In the audio the city expands public transport “um Pendler zum Umstieg vom Auto zu bewegen” (to get commuters to switch from the car). The statement restates that – so it’s true.

## Common mistakes

- **Listening for one word:** A shared word doesn’t make the statement true. What decides is the overall statement.
- **Waiting for a second listen:** At B2 you hear it only once. Anyone waiting for a repeat wastes the task.
- **Not reading the statements first:** Without knowing the statements beforehand, you listen aimlessly. Use the reading time.
- **Leaving boxes blank:** No answer means a guaranteed zero. Decide even if you have to guess.

## Tips

- Before listening, mark key words like numbers, times and places.
- Watch for negations (“nicht”, “kein”) – they flip the statement.
- Part 1 is quick – don’t let a difficult word throw you off.

## Frequently asked questions

### How many tasks does listening Part 1 have?

Five. You hear five short news items and decide between true and false for each statement.

### Does Part 1 test every detail?

No. Part 1 tests the gist – the main idea. Single details only matter from Part 2 on.

### How often do I hear the texts in Part 1?

Only once. At B2 there is no second listen – concentrate from the start.

### What’s the best way to practice Part 1?

Listen to short German news and sum up the main idea in one sentence. In a Prepliq mock you practice this with instant scoring.

## Ready for the exam?

[Practice this part on Prepliq](https://prepliq.com/en/practice-test/telc-german-b2?action=start&sectionId=Listening%20Comprehension)

[telc B2 Listening Part 1 – Gist](https://prepliq.com/en/practice-test/telc-german-b2/listening/part-1)