Rilke
Goethe, telc or ÖSD — which exam is the right one?
All three test against the Common European Framework of Reference, and a B1 is a B1 everywhere. Still, the exams are built differently — and an authority sometimes accepts one but not another. Here is how to find yours.
First the level, then the exam board
The most important question is not Goethe or telc but: which level do you need? That is set by whoever asks for the certificate. Typical examples:
| Level | Often required for |
|---|---|
| A1 | joining a spouse or family member in Germany |
| A2 | first steps in work and everyday life, some residence permits |
| B1 | naturalisation and permanent residence, e.g. in Germany and Austria |
| B2 | jobs with a lot of communication, recognition of some qualifications, some degree programmes |
| C1 | studying at many universities, demanding jobs |
These are examples, not rules: exactly what is required changes and depends on the country, the residence permit, the profession or the university. Always check with the body that asks for the certificate — before you register. Ideally get it in writing which certificates they accept.
The three exam boards
| Goethe-Institut | telc | ÖSD | |
|---|---|---|---|
| who | the cultural institute of the Federal Republic of Germany | a non-profit organisation based in Frankfurt am Main | the Austrian German Language Diploma, based in Vienna |
| where | Goethe-Instituts and test centres worldwide | adult education centres (Volkshochschulen), language schools and test centres | test centres worldwide |
| structure | modular from B1: reading, listening, writing and speaking can be taken separately | written and oral exam | split into modules that can be taken separately — four at B1, two at A2 and B2 (written, oral) |
| special feature | exams up to C2 | Sprachbausteine: grammar and vocabulary tested on their own | many reading texts from Austrian sources |
At two levels the boards work together: Start Deutsch 1 (A1) was developed jointly by the Goethe-Institut and telc, and the Zertifikat B1 by the Goethe-Institut, ÖSD and the University of Fribourg. At these levels the Goethe and telc exams, or the Goethe and ÖSD exams, are built the same way. At A2, by contrast, they part ways: the Goethe-Institut replaced Start Deutsch 2 with its own Goethe-Zertifikat A2, while telc's A2 exam is still called Start Deutsch 2 and is built differently.
How the structure differs — B1 as an example
| Goethe / ÖSD B1 | telc B1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Schreiben | three texts in 60 minutes | one email with four guiding points in 30 minutes |
| Grammar | marked across all parts | a section of its own: Sprachbausteine |
| Sprechen | planning, presenting, feedback | getting to know each other, discussing a topic, planning |
| Passing | each module separately with 60 of 100 points | 60 per cent each in the written and the oral exam |
Two practical questions follow from this:
- What suits you? If you like writing but struggle with grammar gap-fills, Goethe or ÖSD often feels more comfortable. If you would rather write one text than three and your grammar is solid, telc may suit you better.
- What happens if one part falls short? At Goethe and ÖSD you retake only the module that was missing. At telc, from B1, you can retake the written or the oral part on its own if only that one fell short — under the current rules within twelve months; single sections such as listening alone cannot be retaken there.
Other differences worth knowing
- ÖSD A1 and A2 are passed at about 50 per cent instead of 60 — but each part has its own minimum. The A1 oral is a one-to-one exam at ÖSD and a group exam at Goethe and telc.
- Dictionaries are banned almost everywhere. Exceptions: ÖSD B2 allows monolingual and bilingual dictionaries, ÖSD C1 a monolingual one.
- Listening: at telc B2 and C1 every recording is played only once; at Goethe and ÖSD some parts are played twice.
The exact rules are in each board's exam regulations; if in doubt, ask the test centre.
Dates and fees
Test centres set their own dates and fees, and the differences are large. Plan early: in many cities exam dates are booked up weeks ahead. If two boards are equally accepted for your purpose, the deciding factor is often simply where the next free date is.
Your preparation carries over
The level is the same everywhere, and most task types are similar. If you prepare thoroughly for Goethe B1, you are not badly prepared for telc B1 either — what is missing is mainly the Sprachbausteine and the different speaking format. But a few weeks before the exam, practise specifically in the format of your exam.
And with Rilke?
In the Rilke app you choose your exam board and level; from then on the tasks follow that exam, and writing and speaking are marked against its criteria. If you switch exams later, your progress is kept. The parts of every exam are on the pages of the individual exams.