DTZ/TELC Reading B1: Understanding Texts and Passing the Exam
DTZ Reading B1: Understanding texts and passing the exam
Reading strategies, structure of all five parts, typical mistakes, and a practice plan – everything you need for a confident result in the reading section.
Imagine this situation: You are sitting in the DTZ exam, open the reading section – and immediately feel nervous. The texts seem long, some words are unknown, and the 45 minutes melt away like snow in spring. Do you know this feeling?
The problem is usually not that your language level is too low. Often, it’s simply the lack of the right reading strategy. Reading and understanding in the exam is not the same as reading a book at home. It is a skill that can be trained specifically – and that’s exactly what this article is about.
Why reading comprehension is more than just knowing words
Tip: practise what you've just read with interactive exercises — it sticks better.
Start B1 exercises →Many think: “If I learn enough words, I will understand texts.” That is only partly true. Good reading comprehension depends simultaneously on three factors.
Vocabulary
Without a solid basic vocabulary at A2–B1 level, texts remain incomprehensible. But knowing every word is not necessary.
Reading strategy
Where the answer is in the text and how to avoid unnecessary reading – this directly affects the exam result.
Understanding text structure
Different text types (ads, articles, letters) follow different logic. Knowing the structure helps you work faster.
Time management
In DTZ reading, there are 45 minutes for 5 parts. Without clear time allocation, there will be no time left at the end – even if language skills are good.
3 reading strategies for the DTZ exam
Before we explain the structure of the reading section, three basic reading strategies are important – and the question of when to apply which.
1. Skimming – Glancing over
What it is: You read the text quickly to grasp the main topic. Not word by word – only headlines, first sentences of paragraphs, highlighted words.
When to apply: At the beginning of parts 3 and 4 (newspaper texts, brochures). This takes 30–60 seconds, but you get a “text map.”
Exercise: Take any article from nachrichtenleicht.de and say in 30 seconds what it’s about – without reading it completely.
2. Scanning – Targeted searching
What it is: You look for a specific piece of information – a number, a name, a date, a keyword – without reading the entire text.
When to apply: In part 1 (catalogs) and part 2 (ads). You already know what you are looking for – now you find it in the text.
Exercise: Open a German timetable or a menu and find a specific piece of information in 20 seconds without reading everything.
3. Intensive reading – for more difficult parts
What it is: Slow, precise reading to understand the exact meaning of a sentence, the author’s opinion, or a nuance.
When to apply: In part 3 (opinion texts) and part 5 (gap text). Here accuracy counts, not speed.
Structure of the DTZ reading section: 5 parts in detail
The reading section in the DTZ consists of exactly five parts. Each has a different text type, a different task, and a different strategy. Knowing this in advance means feeling confident in the exam.
| Part | Text type | Task type | Tasks | Strategy + tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part 1 | Catalogs, directories, timetables | Find the matching entry from 8 options (5 tasks) | 5 | Scanning. Read task first, then search in the text. Time: ~7 min. |
| Part 2 | Advertisements, short texts | Multiple choice (a/b/c) – correct information from the ad | 5 | Scanning + recognizing distractors. Time: ~8 min. |
| Part 3 | Newspaper articles, opinions, reports | True / False – does the statement match the text? | 3 | Read carefully – formulations count. Time: ~9 min. |
| Part 4 | Informational brochures, official texts | Multiple choice (a/b/c) – understand detailed information | 6 | Skimming + intensive reading of targeted sections. Time: ~12 min. |
| Part 5 | Letter or email with gaps | Choose the correct word from three options (a/b/c) for each gap | 6 | Grammar + context. Read the sentence before and after the gap completely. Time: ~9 min. |
Sample task part 4 – with explanation
Part 4 is one of the more demanding sections of the reading part. Here you see how to best approach such tasks.
The city library is open Monday to Friday from 9 am to 8 pm. On Saturday it closes at 4 pm. On Sundays the library is closed.
Adults pay 20 euros for an annual membership. Children and teenagers under 18 as well as students with ID receive the membership free of charge. Pensioners pay a reduced fee of 10 euros.
Books can be borrowed for four weeks. An extension is possible once – in person, by phone, or online.
a) Also on Sundays until 12 pm
b) Monday to Friday until 8 pm ✓ correct
c) Saturdays until 8 pm
a) All people under 25 years
b) Only children under 10 years
c) Children, teenagers, and students ✓ correct
a) As often as you want
b) Once ✓ correct
c) Twice
Try real DTZ tasks directly – Level B1
Theory is good, practice is better. Those who regularly train with real exam tasks recognize typical formulations, text structures, and traps – and enter the exam day calm and prepared.
To the exercisesHow to improve your reading comprehension daily
The reading section in the exam is only a check of what you already can do. To do well, train regularly – not only with practice tasks but also in real everyday situations.
Read 15 minutes daily
15 minutes daily is more effective than three hours once a week. Regularity is key.
Choose texts at A2–B1 level
Texts that are too difficult demotivate. Choose material that is one level above your current level.
Don’t immediately use a dictionary
Try to infer the meaning of unknown words from context. This trains real exam skills – without a dictionary.
Learn new words in context
Write down not just the word but the whole sentence. “The library is closed on Mondays” sticks better than just “the library.”
Read different text types
Ads, letters, articles, brochures – each text type has its own logic. The more formats you practice, the broader your preparation.
Practice with a time limit
Practice with a stopwatch. Get used to not stopping at an unknown word – this is crucial in the exam.
Typical mistakes in DTZ reading – and how to avoid them
This wastes unnecessary time. The right approach: read the question first, then search specifically for the answer in the text.
If you don’t know a word – no need to panic. Try to understand the sentence meaning without that word. For most tasks, this is sufficient.
Wrong answer options often intentionally contain words from the text – to confuse. The content is important, not word similarity.
Part 5 seems difficult – but it has only 6 tasks with a clear format. When in doubt: eliminate two unlikely options and choose from the remaining ones. Never leave blank.
45 minutes are about 9 minutes per part. Those who spend too long on one part risk having no time left for others. Each task counts equally.
Reading books is useful but not enough. DTZ reading has a specific format: certain task types and time pressure. Train exactly this format.
Your step-by-step preparation plan
Learn the structure of all 5 parts thoroughly. Do a complete practice set from g.a.s.t. without a time limit – just to see what the tasks look like.
Practice skimming and scanning separately. 10 minutes daily: find a specific piece of information in a text within 30 seconds.
Nachrichtenleicht, DW Learn German, simple newspaper articles. Read different text types: ads, letters, brochures.
Practice each part individually with a time limit. Analyze mistakes: why did you choose the wrong answer?
Do a complete reading test in 45 minutes – just like in the exam. Only review, no new material.
Useful resources for reading comprehension
Nachrichtenleicht.de
Real news at A2–B1 level. Ideal for daily reading.
nachrichtenleicht.de →g.a.s.t. DTZ practice set
Free official practice set with real reading tasks in DTZ format.
gast.de/dtz →DW Learn German
Texts, exercises, and podcasts at levels A1–B2 from Deutsche Welle.
learngerman.dw.com →DeutschMeister
All 5 reading parts in exact DTZ/telc B1 format – with explanations and progress tracking.
deutsch-meister-app.com →Frequently asked questions about DTZ reading
Practice now with real DTZ tasks at level B1
On DeutschMeister you will find all 5 reading parts in the exact DTZ/telc B1 format – with explanations of correct answers and progress tracking.
To the exercisesReady for B1 exercises?
Don't just read — practice now! Hundreds of interactive exercises, audio tasks and exam training are waiting for you.
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