DTZ B1 Reading Part 2: Advertisements and Situations — Structure, Strategy, Recognizing X
Reading Part 2 is the most complex reading style in the DTZ — not because of the text length, but because of the task structure. You get 5 situations and 8 ads. For each situation, the appropriate ad must be found — but beware: For one of the 5 situations, there is no solution. This must be marked as X.
This sounds manageable. However, it quickly becomes confusing if one does not proceed systematically. Too many similar ads, too many overlapping topics, too little time. This article shows the optimal way through Part 2 — with real tasks from the official practice set, a clear strategy, and the most common pitfalls.
At a glance: Reading Part 2 = 5 situation descriptions + 8 ads (a–h) · Assignment task: Which ad fits which situation? · For exactly 1 situation, there is no solution → enter X · 3 ads remain unused · Tasks 26–30 · Max. 5 points.
Structure — how Part 2 works exactly
Part 2 has a clear numerical logic: 5 situations, 8 ads, 4 correct assignments + 1 X. This means: Of the 8 ads, only 4 are used — 4 ads remain unused (in addition to the X situation). These unused ads are deliberate distractors — thematically similar, but not fitting.
| Element | Details |
|---|---|
| Task Type | Assignment — Situation → appropriate ad (a–h) or X |
| Number of Situations | 5 (Tasks 26–30) |
| Number of Ads | 8 (a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h) |
| X Rule | For exactly one situation, there is no appropriate ad → X |
| Unused Ads | 4 ads remain at the end — not used, no errors |
| Types of Ads | Job offers, courses, educational offers, services, events, classifieds |
| Points | 1 point per correct assignment (including correctly identified X) = max. 5 points |
| Recommended Time | 8–10 minutes within the 45-minute reading block |
The real task from the g.a.s.t. practice set — fully analyzed
Here are the 5 real situations from practice set 1 — just like in the exam, with the correct solutions from the official answer key.
And the 8 ads — here as simplified descriptions, as they would appear in the exam:
→ Situation 26 ✓
→ Situation 30 ✓
→ Situation 28 ✓
→ Situation 27 ✓
Correct assignments from the official answer key:
The right strategy — step by step
Tip: practise what you've just read with interactive exercises — it sticks better.
Start B1 exercises →First read all 5 situations and highlight keywords
What does the person need exactly? "Taking care of children" — babysitter or care. "Part-time job on weekends" — Saturday and/or Sunday, part-time. "Apprenticeship from home" — distance course, online, at home. Keep the key concept of the situation in mind.
Then quickly skim through all 8 ads — capture the topic and offer
Do not make any assignments yet. First, understand what each ad offers: Job offer? Course offer? Service? Event notice? This takes 2–3 minutes and gives a mental overview of all options.
Start with the easiest assignments first — secure clear hits
Begin with the situations where the assignment is obvious. "Taking care of children" → babysitter ad. Enter this safely and mentally cross out the used ads. Solve the remaining situations by the process of elimination.
Actively look for X — do not see it as a failure
X is not a defeat. It is a deliberate task — and it brings the same point as a correct assignment. The X situation is recognized through elimination: Which of the 5 situations has no appropriate ad? Often it is the one where the keyword appears in an ad — but in the wrong context.
Use each ad only once — cross out after assignment
Each ad (a–h) can only be used for one situation. Anyone who has assigned an ad crosses it out — this significantly simplifies the remaining decisions.
The most important synonym pairs for Part 2:
The situations and ads always use different words for the same idea. Understanding synonyms is the core competency in Part 2.
On DeutschMeister, you train all five reading parts of the DTZ — including Part 2 with real ad assignment tasks, X recognition, and immediate evaluation.
What types of ads appear in Part 2?
The 8 ads in Part 2 always come from typical areas of German everyday life. Those who know these categories can classify the ads faster:
| Ad Type | Typical Contents | Identification Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Job Offer | Job sought, requirements, working hours, pay | "sought", "position", "hourly wage", "full-time/part-time" |
| Course Offer | Community College, language course, computer course, cooking, sports | "course", "registration", "date", "participants" |
| Educational Offer | Studies, apprenticeship, distance course, evening school | "degree", "certificate", "part-time", "studies" |
| Service Offer | Household helpers, tutoring, babysitting, repair | "offer", "help", "experience with ..." |
| Event | Concert, exhibition, fair, club event | Date, time, location, "admission" |
| Classified Ad / Request | Apartment sought, item for sale, exchange | "looking for", "offering", "negotiable", "to give away" |
The 5 most common mistakes in Reading Part 2
Mistake 1: The keyword in the ad ≠ correct assignment
Mistake 2: Not recognizing or not entering X
Mistake 3: Using the same ad for two situations
Mistake 4: Not reading all 8 ads
Mistake 5: Spending too much time on Part 2
Targeted preparation for Reading Part 2
- Read real German ads: ebay classifieds, job ads on stepstone.de, course offers from the community college — this is real ad vocabulary at B1 level. Those who read these texts regularly will immediately recognize the patterns in the exam.
- Build synonym vocabulary for professional and educational areas: distance course/online training/distance learning, mini job/part-time job/temporary help, care/supervision/childcare — these synonym groups appear repeatedly in Part 2.
- Practice the process of elimination: In practice tasks, consciously find the X situation first. Which situation has no appropriate ad? This skill saves time and brings a sure point.
- g.a.s.t. practice set Reading Part 2: Pages 16–17 of the official practice set contain the complete real task — all ads a–h, all 5 situations.
- DeutschMeister Reading Part 2: Ad assignment tasks in the real exam format with immediate explanation of the correct assignment and the X.
Self-test exercise — with solution
Read the situations and the ads. Find the appropriate ad. For one situation, there is no solution — mark X.
▶ Show solution
Situation 1 → C — Apartment for two people, close to the center = 2-room apartment, close to the center ✓
Situation 2 → A — practice German for free, native speakers = tandem partner, free ✓
Situation 3 → X — going swimming (not taking a course!) → ad B offers swimming course (registration, course format) — but just going swimming in the evening without a course: no appropriate ad ✓
DeutschMeister · DTZ Reading · Part 2 in Exam Format
Assign Ads — Train with Real Practice Tasks
On DeutschMeister, you practice Reading Part 2 in the exact DTZ format: 5 situations, 8 ads (a–h), assignment task with X option. After each task, you receive the correct solution with explanation — why which ad fits, why a situation gets X, and where the typical pitfalls were.
Practice Reading Part 2 nowFree · No registration required · Immediate access to all reading parts
Frequently Asked Questions about Reading Part 2
Does X always occur exactly once?
Yes — this is specified in the task format. There is always exactly one situation without a solution, which is marked with X. Sometimes candidates try to mark multiple situations with X when they are unsure — but that is incorrect. Only one situation gets X, the other four each have an appropriate ad.
Can each ad only be used once?
Yes — each ad (a–h) can only be used for exactly one situation. Of the 8 ads, 4 are assigned, 3 remain unused (distractors), and one situation gets X. This is the mathematical structure of Part 2.
What is the difference between Part 1 and Part 2?
In Part 1, you read a guide and choose a floor (multiple choice a/b/c). In Part 2, you read 8 separate ads and assign situations (assignment task a–h or X). Part 2 is significantly more complex because you read more text and have to keep 8 options in mind at the same time.
What to do if you can't decide between two ads?
Apply the process of elimination: Which ad have you already used for another situation? That one is eliminated. Which aspect of the situation is the most specific feature — weekend, at home, free of charge, children? Which of the two ads fulfills this feature better? When in doubt: decide and move on.
Why are there more ads than situations?
The excess ads (4 pieces) are deliberate distractors — they are meant to make it harder to find the correct assignments. They are thematically similar but not fitting enough. Anyone who reads all 8 ads carefully and understands the differences will recognize the distractors.
Ready for B1 exercises?
Don't just read — practice now! Hundreds of interactive exercises, audio tasks and exam training are waiting for you.
War dieser Artikel hilfreich?
Ähnliche Artikel
DTZ B1 Reading Part 1: Guides and Catalogs — Structure, Strategy, and Common Mistakes
What is tested in DTZ Reading Part 1? Town Hall Guide, 5 tasks, Multiple Choice. Strategy, real tasks from the g.a.s.t. practice set, and 5 typical mistakes with solutions.
DTZ B1 Listening Part 4: Matching Task Opinions — Structure, Strategy, Mistakes
What is tested in DTZ Listening Part 4? 3 statements, 6 sentences (a–f), matching. Real examples, strategy for reading time, and 5 common mistakes with solutions.
DTZ B1 Listening Part 3: Conversations, True/False and Multiple Choice — Strategy and Mistakes
How does DTZ Listening Part 3 work? 4 conversations, each True/False + Multiple Choice, played only once. Strategy, real task examples, and 5 typical mistakes.