Overview
The Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer (DTZ) is the German language exam at the end of the German integration course. It was developed for the Federal Ministry of the Interior and reports your German at level A2 or B1 of the CEFR. It covers listening, reading, writing and speaking. The exam is run to the same standards in every German state and marked centrally. Exam centres are integration course providers authorised by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF). Since January 2023 the test has been run by the testing organisation g.a.s.t.
The BAMF handbook describing the test goals is dated 2009, and BAMF still links it as the current handbook. The task details below also come from g.a.s.t.'s current overview, which gives the same task counts and timings for reading and listening. There is also a version for young people in youth integration courses.
Who can apply
Most candidates are people finishing an integration course. People who did not attend a course can also take the DTZ if they need proof of their German. The handbook names two conditions: you must know the Latin alphabet, and you must be at least 16 years old.
To get the integration course certificate (Zertifikat Integrationskurs), you need an overall B1 in the DTZ and a pass in the separate Leben in Deutschland test.
Exam pattern
The written part is taken as a group and lasts 100 minutes in total. The oral part is usually taken in pairs.
| Part | Content | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | Four sections with 20 tasks in total: short announcements (for example on the phone or radio), four conversation situations and single statements on one topic. Each recording is heard once. | About 25 minutes |
| Reading | Five sections with 25 tasks in total, all based on everyday texts | 45 minutes |
| Writing | One semi-formal or formal letter or e-mail, chosen from two prompts, covering four given points | 30 minutes |
| Speaking | Three tasks: introduce yourself, talk about a photo and your own experience, and plan something together with your partner. No preparation time. Two examiners attend. | About 16 minutes |
Listening and reading together give 45 tasks, answered on an answer sheet. Only answers on the answer sheet are marked. Topics come from twelve areas of life in Germany, such as public offices, work, education, banking, health and housing.
Marking and results
Each listening and reading task scores one point. Listening and reading are combined into one result, while writing and speaking are assessed separately by trained raters against set criteria.
| Part | B1 | A2 | Below A2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening and reading (45 tasks) | 33 to 45 | 20 to 32 | 0 to 19 |
| Writing (20 points) | 15 to 20 | 7 to 14 | 0 to 6 |
| Speaking (100 points) | 75 to 100 | 35 to 74.5 | 0 to 34.5 |
For the overall result you must reach the level in speaking and in at least one of the two written parts (listening and reading together, or writing). Speaking is the one part where the target level is always required. The certificate states B1 or A2. If your German is below A2 you get no certificate, only a notice of your result.
Fees and dates
BAMF and g.a.s.t. do not publish a fee or a calendar on the pages used here. Authorised integration course providers organise the sittings, so ask the provider where you plan to take the exam.
How to apply
Contact an authorised integration course provider in your area.
Preparation tips
g.a.s.t. and BAMF offer free practice sets with audio, which show the task types and how the exam is run.
Practise the speaking tasks with a partner, since the planning task is a conversation between two candidates.
Prepare to write a letter or e-mail that covers all four points in the prompt, with a greeting and a closing line.
What level does the DTZ certify?
A2 or B1 on the CEFR scale, depending on your results across the parts.
Can I take the DTZ without attending an integration course?
Yes, according to the exam handbook, as long as you are at least 16 and know the Latin alphabet.
How many tasks are in listening and reading?
Together they contain 45 tasks, of which 20 correct answers give A2 and 33 give B1 for that combined part.