Eight weeks is enough time to prepare thoroughly for the TELC B1 exam if you study consistently. This plan assumes you can dedicate 1 to 1.5 hours per day, 5 to 6 days per week. If you have more time, great, you can double up on practice tasks. If you have less time, focus on the core activities marked as priorities. The plan is designed for someone at a solid A2 to weak B1 level who needs structured preparation to pass with confidence.
Overview Table
| Week | Focus | Key Activities |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Assessment & Reading | Diagnostic test, Lesen Teil 1-3 strategies, daily reading |
| Week 2 | Listening & Grammar Basics | Hören Teil 1-3, subordinate clauses, connectors |
| Week 3 | Writing & Sprachbausteine | Letter templates, Sprachbausteine Teil 1-2, prepositions |
| Week 4 | Speaking & Vocabulary | Oral exam practice, topic vocabulary, phrases |
| Week 5 | Full Practice Exam 1 | Complete timed exam, analyse errors, identify weak areas |
| Week 6 | Targeted Weak-Area Work | Focus on sections where you scored lowest, grammar deep-dive |
| Week 7 | Full Practice Exam 2 | Second timed exam, measure improvement, fine-tune strategies |
| Week 8 | Final Review & Confidence | Light review, relaxation techniques, exam-day preparation |
Week 1: Assessment and Reading Focus
Goal: Understand your current level and build strong reading strategies.
Day 1-2: Diagnostic Assessment
Take a full TELC B1 practice test (or at least the reading and listening sections) without any preparation. Do not worry about the score, the purpose is to identify your strengths and weaknesses. Note which sections felt easy, which felt impossible, and where you ran out of time.
Day 3-6: Reading Strategies
- Learn the specific strategies for Lesen Teil 1 (global comprehension), Teil 2 (detailed reading), and Teil 3 (selective reading). See our reading strategies article.
- Complete 2-3 reading practice sets using our reading exercises.
- Start a daily reading habit: read one German article (5-10 minutes) from a German news site.
Daily (every day this week):
- 15 minutes vocabulary review (start building your flashcard deck)
- 10 minutes reading a German text
Week 2: Listening and Grammar Basics
Goal: Develop listening skills and review essential grammar.
Day 1-3: Listening Practice
- Learn strategies for Hören Teil 1, 2, and 3. See our listening tips article.
- Complete 2-3 listening practice sets using our listening exercises.
- Start daily listening: 15-20 minutes of German audio (podcast, news, or YouTube).
Day 4-6: Core Grammar
- Review subordinate clauses (weil, dass, wenn, obwohl, als, bevor, nachdem, damit, ob).
- Review connectors and their word-order effects (deshalb, trotzdem, außerdem).
- Complete 1-2 Sprachbausteine practice sets to test your understanding.
Daily:
- 15 minutes vocabulary review
- 15 minutes German listening
- 10 minutes reading
Week 3: Writing and Sprachbausteine
Goal: Master the letter-writing format and strengthen grammar for Sprachbausteine.
Day 1-3: Writing Practice
- Learn the letter structure and key phrases. See our writing guide.
- Write 2 practice letters under timed conditions (30 minutes each). Topics: a complaint about a product and an enquiry about a course.
- Review your letters: check that all 4 content points are addressed, the register is correct, and the structure is clear.
Day 4-6: Sprachbausteine Deep Dive
- Review prepositions with their cases (accusative, dative, two-way).
- Review Konjunktiv II forms (hätte, wäre, könnte, würde).
- Complete 3-4 Sprachbausteine practice sets. Analyse every error: why was the correct answer right?
Daily:
- 15 minutes vocabulary review
- 15 minutes listening
- 10 minutes reading
Week 4: Speaking and Vocabulary
Goal: Prepare for the oral exam and expand topic-specific vocabulary.
Day 1-3: Speaking Practice
- Learn the structure and expectations of all three parts. See our speaking guide.
- Practise Teil 1: Record yourself answering common introduction questions for 2 minutes.
- Practise Teil 2: Choose a topic (e.g., "Gesunde Ernährung"), prepare for 2 minutes, then speak for 1.5 minutes. Listen to your recording and note areas for improvement.
- Practise Teil 3: If possible, practise with a partner. If not, practise both roles yourself.
Day 4-6: Vocabulary Building
- Focus on the high-frequency topic areas: work, health, education, housing, travel. See our vocabulary guide.
- Learn 10-15 new collocations (verb + noun combinations common in the exam).
- Write sentences using the new vocabulary to reinforce retention.
Daily:
- 15 minutes vocabulary review
- 15 minutes listening
- 5 minutes speaking (describe your day in German or narrate what you see)
Week 5: Full Practice Exam 1
Goal: Test yourself under realistic conditions and identify remaining weak areas.
Day 1-2: Complete a Full Practice Exam
Set aside 3 hours. Complete the entire written exam (reading + Sprachbausteine: 60 minutes; listening: 30 minutes; writing: 30 minutes) under strict timed conditions. Then do the speaking part with a partner or by recording yourself.
Day 3-4: Analyse Your Results
- Score each section. Calculate your percentage for reading, listening, Sprachbausteine, and writing separately.
- For every wrong answer, understand why it was wrong. Was it a vocabulary gap, a grammar error, a misunderstood question, or a time problem?
- Make a list of your top 3 weak areas to focus on in Week 6.
Day 5-6: Targeted Practice
Based on your analysis, do extra practice in your weakest areas. If listening Teil 2 was your worst section, do three additional Teil 2 exercises. If Sprachbausteine prepositions caused the most errors, do a focused preposition drill.
Daily:
- 15 minutes vocabulary
- 15 minutes listening
Week 6: Targeted Weak-Area Work
Goal: Systematically address the weaknesses identified in Week 5.
This week is flexible. Spend your study time on whatever gave you the most trouble. Common focus areas include:
- Sprachbausteine accuracy: Do 2 additional practice sets per day, focusing on understanding each answer.
- Listening speed: Increase your daily listening to 30 minutes. Try listening without subtitles.
- Writing completeness: Practise 2 more letters. After each one, count your content points before reviewing grammar.
- Speaking fluency: Record 3-4 topic presentations. Listen back, note hesitations, and practise smoother transitions.
- Grammar review: See our grammar guide and focus on the specific structures causing errors.
Daily:
- 15 minutes vocabulary
- 60+ minutes of targeted practice in weak areas
Week 7: Full Practice Exam 2
Goal: Confirm improvement and fine-tune your exam strategy.
Day 1-2: Second Full Practice Exam
Same procedure as Week 5. Full exam, timed conditions, no pauses. Compare your scores to Practice Exam 1. You should see clear improvement in the areas you focused on during Week 6.
Day 3-4: Final Analysis
- If your score is above 60% in both written and oral parts: you are on track. Focus on maintaining your level.
- If any section is still below 60%: spend Day 5-6 doing intensive practice in that section only.
Day 5-6: Polishing
- Practise your time management: can you complete reading + Sprachbausteine in 60 minutes with a few minutes to spare?
- Do one final writing exercise and one speaking exercise.
- Review your vocabulary flashcards one last time.
Week 8: Final Review and Confidence
Goal: Consolidate knowledge, reduce anxiety, and prepare logistically for exam day.
Day 1-3: Light Review
- Flip through your notes and error lists. Do not try to learn new material.
- Do a few Sprachbausteine exercises to keep your grammar sharp.
- Listen to German audio for 20 minutes daily to keep your ears tuned.
- Practise your speaking phrases once or twice, just enough to keep them fresh.
Day 4-5: Exam Logistics and Mental Preparation
- Confirm the exam date, time, and location. Know exactly how to get there.
- Prepare what you need: valid ID, pens, water, a small snack.
- Practise a breathing or relaxation technique. See our anxiety management guide.
- Read through the exam structure one more time so the format feels completely familiar.
Day 6 (day before exam):
- No studying. Go for a walk, watch a film, or do something you enjoy.
- Prepare your bag for tomorrow.
- Go to bed at your normal time.
Daily Habits Throughout All 8 Weeks
Regardless of the weekly focus, maintain these daily habits:
- Vocabulary: 15 minutes flashcard review (spaced repetition).
- Listening: 15-20 minutes of German audio.
- Reading: 10 minutes of a German text (news, blog, short story).
These daily habits create a steady foundation. The weekly focus areas build specific skills on top of that foundation.
Adjusting the Plan
This plan is a framework, not a rigid prescription. If you are already strong in reading but weak in listening, spend more time on listening and less on reading. If writing is your strongest skill, reduce writing practice and reallocate that time to Sprachbausteine or speaking. The most effective study plan is the one tailored to your personal weaknesses.
Use the practice exercises on this platform to work through each section systematically. Start with reading, move to listening, and use the writing and speaking tools to practise production skills. Eight weeks of consistent, focused effort is all you need to walk into the exam room with genuine confidence.