Exam Preparation · DTZ / telc B1

DTZ Lesen: Tips

45 minutes. 5 different types of texts. 25 tasks. That’s exactly how much time the Lesen section gives you on the DTZ exam. Most candidates read the texts "like in school" — from the first word to the last — and run out of time. This article will show you how to read strategically: find answers quickly, not get lost in unfamiliar words, and finish the Lesen section confidently.

April 5, 2025 · 9 min read

Structure of the Lesen section: what to expect
Teil 1 — Catalogs, directories, registers
Teil 2 — Announcements (Zuordnung)
Teil 3 — Press texts and official letters
Teil 4 — Information brochures
Teil 5 — Filling gaps in a letter
How to divide 45 minutes
5 common mistakes and how to avoid them
How to practice at home
Frequently asked questions

1. Structure of the Lesen section: what to expect

The Lesen section is the longest part of the DTZ written exam. You have 45 minutes for it. During this time, you need to complete 5 parts with different types of texts and a total of 25 tasks. Each correct answer is worth 1 point, maximum — 25 points.

The key feature of Lesen: you don’t need to read everything. You need to be able to find the necessary information. Each of the 5 parts trains a separate reading skill — and each has its own strategy.

DTZ Lesen structure (official g.a.s.t. format) — 45 minutes, 25 tasks

Part	Text type	Task type	Tasks	Min.
Teil 1	Catalogs, directories, registers	Multiple Choice (a/b/c)	5	~6
Teil 2	Announcements, ads (Anzeigen)	Zuordnung (matching)	5	~8
Teil 3	Press texts, official letters	richtig/falsch + Multiple Choice	6 (3+3)	~12
Teil 4	Information brochures	richtig/falsch	3	~7
Teil 5	Letter with gaps	Multiple Choice (a/b/c)	6	~8

⚠ Important: all answers must be transferred to a separate answer sheet (Antwortbogen). Leave 4 minutes at the end specifically for transferring — don’t rush and avoid mistakes when filling it out.

2. Teil 1 — Catalogs, directories, registers

In the first part, you receive a structured text — a course directory, class schedule, service catalog, list of institutions. There are 5 Multiple Choice questions related to it. Each question concerns a specific fact: time, place, condition, price, or contacts.

This is the most scanned type of text on the exam: you look for exact data, not general understanding. The text structure is usually clear — headings, columns, lists — which helps find information quickly.

STRATEGY FOR TEIL 1

Read the questions first, then look for the answer. Pay attention to the key word in the question (time? place? condition?) — and look for exactly that information in the text. Don’t read the entire catalog.
Use the text structure. Headings, subheadings, highlighted words — these are your navigation markers. First find the needed section, then read the details.

3. Teil 2 — Announcements (Zuordnung)

Here you get 5 situations (for example: "You are looking for a weekend job," "You want to study at home") and 8–9 short announcements. The task is to find the most suitable announcement for each situation. One announcement is extra and does not fit any situation — the answer for it is "X".

This is a logical matching task. It tests not vocabulary, but the ability to understand the essence of the situation and find the appropriate option among similar ones.

STRATEGY FOR TEIL 2

Underline the key word of each situation. The situation "You want to study at home" — key words: "at home," "study." Look for announcements containing both meanings.
Immediately exclude obviously unsuitable announcements. If the situation is about work, and the announcement is about studying — discard it. Narrow down your choice to 2–3 options, then compare details.
Don’t be afraid of the extra announcement. If there is no suitable option for a situation — that is the answer "X." Don’t try to "fit" an unsuitable announcement.

4. Teil 3 — Press texts and official letters

The third part is the most difficult in terms of text level. You read an article from a newspaper or magazine or an official letter, and complete 6 tasks: 3 in richtig/falsch format and 3 in Multiple Choice format. The texts contain opinions, arguments, official vocabulary — the level of a real B1.

Here it is important not just to find a fact, but to correctly interpret the author's position or the content of the official document.

STRATEGY FOR TEIL 3

Make a quick first pass through the text (30–40 sec). Read the title, the first and last paragraphs. This will give you a general understanding of the topic — before you see the tasks.
For richtig/falsch — check exact matching. Exam questions often formulate statements that are "almost true" — but with one detail that changes the meaning. Find the corresponding text excerpt and compare literally.
For Multiple Choice — find the text excerpt for each question. The correct answer is always supported by a specific sentence or paragraph. If you can’t find confirmation in the text — it is most likely not the correct option.

5. Teil 4 — Information brochures

Tip: practise what you've just read with interactive exercises — it sticks better.

Start B1 exercises →

The fourth part is shorter in volume. You read an informational text or brochure (for example, kindergarten rules, insurance conditions, service announcement) and answer 3 richtig/falsch questions.

Texts of this type are clear and structured. But they often contain conditions, exceptions, and limitations — this is where traps hide.

STRATEGY FOR TEIL 4

Pay special attention to limiting words. "Nur," "außer," "nicht," "ausschließlich," "bis zu" — these words change the meaning of the sentence. A statement can be false because of one such word.
Don’t make assumptions "based on common sense." If the text says something costs a certain amount, and the statement says "free," the answer is falsch — even if it seems logical that it could be free.

6. Teil 5 — Filling gaps in a letter

The fifth part — formally still "reading," but actually tests knowledge of vocabulary and grammatical constructions. You get a letter or message with 6 gaps. For each gap — three word options (a/b/c). You need to choose the one that fits both in meaning and grammatically.

⚠ Teil 5 — the only part where you need to read the entire text. Without understanding the overall meaning of the letter, it is impossible to correctly choose the word for each gap.

STRATEGY FOR TEIL 5

First read the entire letter, ignoring the gaps. Understand the general topic and tone of the letter. Then return to the gaps and fill them in.
For each gap, read the whole sentence, not just the neighboring words. Often the context for the correct choice is in the previous or next sentence.

7. How to divide 45 minutes

Time management in Lesen is a critical skill. Most candidates run out of time precisely because they spend too much time on Teil 3 or get stuck on one difficult task.

Teil 1	~6 min
Teil 2	~8 min
Teil 3	~12 min
Teil 4	~7 min
Teil 5	~8 min
Answer sheet	~4 min

⚠ One-miss rule: if you spend more than 90 seconds on one task — mark it with "?" and move on. Return if you have time left. One task is not worth three others.

8. Five common mistakes and how to avoid them

Reading the entire text before looking at the questions. A waste of time. Always read the questions first — then purposefully search for the answer in the text. Exception — Teil 5, where overall context is needed.
Choosing an answer based on "common sense," not the text. Especially dangerous in Teil 3 and Teil 4. If the answer "seems correct," but is not in the text — it is the wrong answer.
Ignoring limiting words. "Nur am Wochenende," "bis 18 Uhr," "ausschließlich für Mitglieder" — these details change the correct answer. Train your attention to such words.
Spending more than 2 minutes on one task. If stuck — move on. Return later. One difficult task should not consume time for three easier ones.
Leaving blanks. Points are not deducted for wrong answers. If you don’t know — guess. With three options, the chance of guessing correctly is 33%. A blank always gives 0%.

9. How to practice at home: step-by-step plan

Weeks 1–2: daily reading

Read simple authentic texts — announcements on supermarket boards, letters from Amt, DW articles in Leichte Sprache. The goal is to get used to official and journalistic vocabulary.

Weeks 3–4: learning the format

Complete the official Übungssatz from g.a.s.t. (free at gast.de). Do Lesen with a timer, check answers, and analyze each mistake: why exactly is this answer wrong?

Weeks 5–6: training weak spots

Focus on the parts where you make the most mistakes. If Teil 2 (Zuordnung) is difficult — work on it specifically. Complete 2–3 full exam simulations with a timer.

On DeutschMeister you will find exercises for all 5 parts of Lesen in the DTZ format — with a timer, real texts, and instant answer checking. Start with free exercises.

10. Frequently asked questions about DTZ Lesen

How much time is given for the Lesen section in DTZ?

45 minutes are allotted for the Lesen section. It is the longest part of the written exam. During this time, you need to complete 5 parts and 25 tasks, and also transfer answers to the answer sheet.

How many parts are in DTZ Lesen?

DTZ Lesen consists of 5 parts: Teil 1 — catalogs and directories (5 Multiple Choice tasks), Teil 2 — announcements (5 Zuordnung tasks), Teil 3 — press texts and letters (3 richtig/falsch + 3 Multiple Choice), Teil 4 — information brochures (3 richtig/falsch), Teil 5 — filling gaps in a letter (6 Multiple Choice).

Do you need to read the entire text in DTZ Lesen?

No — except for Teil 5. An effective strategy for Teil 1–4: read the questions first, then purposefully search for the answer in the text. Reading the entire text from start to finish — wastes precious time.

Are points deducted for wrong answers?

No. Points are not deducted for wrong answers. So always answer all questions — even if you are unsure. A blank and a wrong answer both give 0 points.

Which part of Lesen is the hardest?

According to candidates’ feedback, the hardest are Teil 3 (press texts with opinions and arguments) and Teil 2 (Zuordnung, where it’s easy to confuse similar announcements). Teil 5 also causes difficulties for those with vocabulary gaps. Teil 1 and Teil 4 are usually the easiest.

Summary

The Lesen section in DTZ is not a test of how well you know the language. It is a test of how well you can read strategically. You understand the structure of each of the 5 parts, know where to look for answers, and don’t waste time on unnecessary reading — and 45 minutes becomes quite enough.

Practice with official format materials. On DeutschMeister all Lesen exercises are built exactly according to the g.a.s.t. methodology — with real types of texts, a timer, and detailed answer analysis. Start now.

DTZ Reading: How to Read Quickly and Answer Correctly