A free TELC A1 practice test is most useful when you know how to interpret the result. Getting a score is easy. Knowing what to do with that score — what to study next, how far off the pass mark you are, and which section to prioritise — takes a more structured approach.
What the A1 Passing Standard Looks Like
TELC A1 requires approximately 60% overall, with no individual section falling significantly below the threshold. The written sections are scored as follows:
| Section | Maximum marks | Minimum to pass (approx) |
|---|---|---|
| Lesen | 25 | 15 |
| Schreiben | 15 | 9 |
| Hören | 20 | 12 |
These are approximate figures — the exact pass marks are set by TELC and can vary slightly by sitting. The key point is that no single section is worth so much that you can afford to neglect it.
Before Your First Practice Test
Most candidates take a practice test too late in their preparation — a week before the exam — when it produces anxiety rather than actionable information.
Take your first practice test as early as possible, ideally after two to four weeks of initial study. The result will identify gaps much earlier when you still have time to address them.
What you need before the first test:
- Basic A1 vocabulary (greetings, family, numbers, time, common verbs)
- Simple present tense in German (haben, sein, regular verbs)
- Ability to understand short written German messages and notices
If you have this foundation, you will get enough questions right to generate useful diagnostic information.
The Schreiben Section at A1
The A1 Schreiben section is short: you are typically asked to write a brief note or fill in a simple form. But it is the section where candidates most often lose marks unnecessarily.
The marking criteria at A1 check:
- Whether the required information is present (main focus)
- Whether the German is understandable (grammar errors are tolerated if the meaning is clear)
- Whether the length is appropriate
The most common errors:
- Writing in the wrong form (e.g., responding to a request to ask a question, but making a statement instead)
- Not including all required information
- Writing significantly too much or too little
Practice Schreiben tasks until the structure feels automatic. At A1, the bar is communicative success, not linguistic perfection.
How to Practice Lesen
A1 reading texts are short: signs, notices, short emails, text messages, simple schedules. The question types are typically:
- Multiple choice (three options, choose one)
- True/false/not in text
For true/false questions, the "not in text" option is the one candidates get wrong most often. If the text does not mention something, the answer is "not in text" even if the statement seems plausible. Do not infer — only use information that is explicitly stated.
How to Practice Hören
The listening section plays each recording once (sometimes twice). The audio features everyday German speech: short announcements, phone messages, simple conversations.
The most useful preparation: listen to German in real contexts daily. Deutsche Welle's A1 course at dw.com/learngerman has free audio matched to A1 level. The goal is not to understand every word — it is to catch specific information (a name, a time, a number) quickly.
A Four-Week Plan for A1
| Week | Focus |
|---|---|
| 1 | First practice test + identify weakest section |
| 2 | Targeted study on weakest section; daily listening (10 min) |
| 3 | Second practice test + Schreiben practice with feedback |
| 4 | Review errors; final mock 3–4 days before exam |
Keep the final week low-pressure. A consistent four-week plan outperforms a frantic final-week cram for A1.