Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer (DTZ)
The DTZ is the final exam of the German integration course. It decides whether you are certified at A2 or B1.
German citizenship and a permanent residence permit normally require B1. If you only reach A2, you have to retake the exam.
Practise now instead of just reading
Write a real exam task and see instantly how an examiner would grade it, explained in your language. Your first grading is free.
How the exam is structured
The DTZ grades each part as either A2 or B1 rather than giving a single pass mark.
| Part | Tasks | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Hören + Lesen | 45 | ~75 min |
| Schreiben | 1 | 30 min |
| Sprechen | 3 | ~16 min |
When do you reach B1?
For listening and reading together you need 33 of 45 correct answers for B1. From 20 correct, you get A2.
Writing and speaking are graded separately by two examiners against set criteria. The majority of criteria decides your level.
Your overall result is B1 only if you reach B1 in speaking AND in at least one written part. That is why speaking fails the most people — and why it is the part almost nobody practises.
The most common writing mistakes
Not covering all four guide points. Each one must appear, even in a single sentence.
Wrong register: using "du" in a letter to an authority costs marks.
No greeting at the start or end, which counts as missing the text type.
Too short. Well under the expected length means the task is not fulfilled.
Common questions
- How often can I retake the DTZ?
- Within the integration course you can usually retake it once free of charge if you did not reach B1. Your course provider confirms the conditions.
- Is A2 enough for citizenship?
- No. B1 is normally required.
- Can I retake just one part?
- No. Unlike the Goethe certificate, the DTZ is always retaken as a whole.