DTZ B1 Reading Part 3: Newspaper Articles and Announcements — Structure, Strategy, Mistakes
Reading Part 3 is the heart of the DTZ reading test — and with 6 points, it is the most valuable reading section after Part 5. Here, you do not read short ads or signs, but real texts: newspaper articles, official announcements, and notifications. The texts are longer, the language more formal — and the tasks combine, as in Listening Part 3, two different types: True/False and Multiple Choice.
Mastering Part 3 gives you one of the strongest levers for the B1 result. Underestimating it means losing 6 points — almost a fifth of the 33 points needed for B1.
At a glance: Reading Part 3 = 3 texts (press texts and formal announcements) · Per text: 1 True/False statement + 1 Multiple Choice question (a/b/c) · 6 tasks total (No. 31–36) · Max. 6 points · The longest texts in the reading block — approx. 100–200 words per text.
Structure — three texts, six tasks, two types
Part 3 is the only segment in the DTZ reading block that works with real prose texts. Each of the three texts is self-contained — different topics, different text types, different tones. The task structure per text is always the same: first a True/False statement, then a Multiple Choice question.
Task 32: a / b / c
Task 34: a / b / c
Task 36: a / b / c
| Element | Details |
|---|---|
| Texts | 3 independent texts (press text / formal announcement / notification) |
| Per text | 1 True/False statement + 1 Multiple Choice question (a/b/c) |
| Total tasks | 6 (No. 31–36) |
| Text length | Approx. 100–200 words per text — longest texts in the reading block |
| Points | Max. 6 points (1 per correct answer) |
| Recommended time | 10–12 minutes for all three texts |
| Level of texts | B1 — clearly understandable standard language, but real text formats |
What types of texts are included in Part 3?
The three texts in Part 3 are from real German everyday life — texts that migrants regularly read or need to read. Typical text types:
Local Newspaper Articles
Event announcements, traffic reports, local events, new openings
Official Announcements
Municipality, authority, office — information about opening hours, rule changes
Parent Information / School Letter
Care rules, fees, activities, homework — formal letter from an institution
Institutional Notification
Association, business, landlord — notices, rules, changes to tenants or members
Event Announcement
City festival, concert, course announcement — with date, time, access conditions
Traffic and Service Notification
Schedule changes, detours, special services, train station information
Real task from the g.a.s.t. practice set — Text 1 fully analyzed
Tip: practise what you've just read with interactive exercises — it sticks better.
Start B1 exercises →Here is the complete Text 1 from the official practice set 1 with all tasks — just as in the real DTZ exam. First read the text, then the tasks.
Like every year, the traditional Marienstraße Festival will take place on Sunday, June 24, with shops in the city center open. Due to the large influx of visitors, bus line 306 will run every 15 minutes instead of every 30 minutes between 10 AM and 7 PM. Additionally, special buses will be deployed from Neustadt train station that go directly to Marienstraße.
To ease the parking situation, visitors are asked to arrive by public transport. The VNN also offers a great incentive: Anyone with a monthly ticket can take one adult and up to three children for free all Sunday!
On DeutschMeister, you practice all three text types from Part 3 — True/False and Multiple Choice — in the real DTZ format with immediate explanation.
The right strategy for Part 3 — step by step
Read the tasks first — BEFORE reading the text
This is the most important tip for Part 3: First read the True/False statement and the Multiple Choice question. Then you know what to look for when reading the text. Without this preparation, you read everything and remember the wrong things.
Read the text once completely — but targeted
Read the text quickly with a focus on the two tasks. Read carefully the section that relates to the True/False statement. Also work through the section that relates to the MC question purposefully. Skim through the remaining information.
True/False: Compare meanings, do not search for words
The statement is always a paraphrase, never a literal quote from the text. "More frequently than usual" = "every 15 minutes instead of every 30 minutes." Compare the meaning, do not look for the same words.
Multiple Choice: check all three options against the text
Do not stop at the first plausible option. Read all three options and check them against the text: What does the text really say? Exclude options a and c if the text does not support them.
Watch out for exaggerations and simplifications
In Part 3, many incorrect answers are "too much" or "too little": "only special buses" instead of "public transport." "Pay half" instead of "15% discount." Words like "only," "all," "always," "never," "no" in the options are warning signals.
Signal words in tasks that require caution:
Red words in the options: often the trap — the text usually states something more nuanced. Yellow words: pay attention to additional conditions.
The 5 most common mistakes in Reading Part 3
Mistake 1: Reading the text before the tasks
Mistake 2: Looking for literal matches in True/False
Mistake 3: Automatically choosing option c when unsure about True/False answer
Mistake 4: Spending too much time on one text
Mistake 5: Taking sentences out of context
Practice task for self-testing — with solution
Read the text and solve the two tasks below. You can find the solution by clicking.
Dear employees, starting from September 1, a new break regulation applies to all employees. The lunch break is now 45 minutes instead of the previous 30 minutes. The break time is unpaid — it therefore extends the workday by 15 minutes.
We have set up a new break kitchen on the 2nd floor, equipped with a refrigerator, microwave, and coffee machine. The use is free for all employees. We ask you to leave the premises clean.
Show solution
Show solution
DeutschMeister · DTZ Reading · Part 3 in exam format
Understanding press texts and announcements — targeted training
On DeutschMeister, you train Reading Part 3 in the exact DTZ format: three texts, for each text one True/False statement and one Multiple Choice question — with real press texts and formal announcements at B1 level. After each task, you receive the correct solution with an explanation — which text passage was decisive and why the other options do not fit.
Practice Reading Part 3 nowFree · No registration required · Immediate access to all reading parts
Reading Part 3 at a glance
| Reading Style | What is tested? | Task Type | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part 1 | Catalogs, directories, signs | Multiple Choice (a/b/c) | 5 |
| Part 2 | Ads and classifieds | Matching (a–h + X) | 5 |
| Part 3 | Press texts and formal announcements | True/False + MC (a/b/c) | 6 |
| Part 4 | Information brochures | True/False | 3 |
| Part 5 | Complete words in a letter | Multiple Choice (fill-in-the-blank) | 6 |
| Total Reading | 25 | ||
Frequently Asked Questions about Reading Part 3
How long are the texts in Part 3?
The texts in Part 3 are the longest in the reading block, with about 100–200 words. In comparison: Part 1 (signs) and Part 4 (brochure) have shorter texts. The length requires concentrated, selective reading — not every line is relevant for the tasks.
Do you have to read each text completely?
No — you should read purposefully. First read the two tasks per text, then search the text for the relevant sections. The True/False statement and the MC question indicate which parts of the text are crucial. Irrelevant sections can be skimmed.
What is the difference between Part 3 True/False and Listening Part 3 True/False?
The principle is identical: a statement → true or false. The difference is the medium: In Listening Part 3, you listen to the conversation (once). In Reading Part 3, you read the text and can flip back at any time. This makes Reading Part 3 more accessible — you can verify.
Can you flip back in the reading block?
Yes — in the reading block (all 5 reading parts, 45 minutes), you are allowed to freely flip between pages and check or change answers. This distinguishes the reading block from the listening block, where the recordings are fixed and you cannot rewind.
What to do if you don't know a difficult word in the text?
Use context. In a newspaper article about an event with public transport information, "every 15 minutes" probably means a tighter schedule — even without knowing the word exactly. Usually, the context is enough to solve the tasks. Individual unknown words rarely block the solution in Part 3.
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