There is no shortage of paid German learning products. Most of them are not built for the TELC B1 specifically, and some of the most useful preparation materials are free. This list covers what is actually worth your time — official resources, targeted tools, and what to skip.
Official and Semi-Official Materials
TELC Sample Papers — telc.net
TELC publishes official sample exam papers on their website at telc.net. These are free to download and include the full written exam with answer keys.
This is the closest thing to the real exam you will find without paying for a sitting. The format, question types, and difficulty level match the live exam directly. If you only use one resource from this list, use these.
What you get: sample Lesen, Sprachbausteine, Hören, and Schreiben sections with answer keys. The Sprechen section is described but cannot be self-administered.
Deutsche Welle Learn German — dw.com/learngerman
Deutsche Welle's free German course at dw.com/learngerman runs from A1 through B2. The B1 section covers the vocabulary and grammar range that appears in the TELC exam.
It is not exam-specific, but the quality is high and it is structured. The audio is recorded in clear, standard German and the grammar explanations are concise. Use it to fill gaps in your B1 grammar range, not as a substitute for exam practice.
Goethe-Institut Free Sample Tests
The Goethe-Institut offers free sample tests for their B1 qualification at goethe.de. Note that the Goethe-Zertifikat B1 and the TELC B1 are different qualifications with overlapping but not identical formats. The reading and listening materials are useful for building B1-level skills. Do not use the Goethe writing tasks as a direct template for TELC Schreiben — the format differs.
Grammar Reference
DWDS — dwds.de
The Digital Dictionary of the German Language (dwds.de) is the most authoritative free German dictionary available. It includes collocations, example sentences from real text corpora, and register information. Use it when you encounter a word and want to know how it actually behaves in sentences — especially for verb-preposition combinations that appear in Sprachbausteine.
Listening Practice
DW Langsam gesprochene Nachrichten
Deutsche Welle's "slowly spoken news" (dw.com) is a daily news broadcast recorded at reduced speed with clear pronunciation. The difficulty level sits at approximately B1. It is free, updated daily, and comes with transcripts.
For TELC B1 Hören preparation, the speed and complexity are well-matched. Practise listening first without the transcript, then compare.
German Public Radio Podcasts
ARD Audiothek and Deutschlandfunk both offer free podcast archives. News programmes are B2+ in difficulty, but many feature programmes — interviews, cultural content — sit at B1. Deutschlandfunk's shorter feature reports are useful. These are unscripted natural German at authentic speed, which is closer to what the Hören section tests than scripted learning materials.
Vocabulary
Anki with Shared German B1 Decks
Anki is free (desktop and Android; iOS has a one-time cost). The shared deck library includes multiple German B1 vocabulary decks, some built specifically around TELC and Goethe exam vocabulary. Search for "German B1 TELC" or "Goethe B1" in the shared deck browser.
Spaced repetition is more efficient for vocabulary retention than re-reading word lists. If you have 10–15 minutes per day for vocabulary, Anki is the most time-efficient free option.
Mock Exams with Feedback
LanguagePrep — Free TELC B1 Mock Exam
LanguagePrep offers a free TELC B1 mock exam with AI writing feedback at languageprep.de. The exam replicates the full written format including Schreiben, where AI feedback gives you structured assessment of your response — task completion, language range, accuracy — rather than just a raw score.
This is particularly useful for Schreiben preparation, which is the section where generic grammar study gives you the least return. Knowing that your writing is grammatically acceptable is not the same as knowing whether it will pass the TELC marking criteria. The feedback closes that gap.
What Is Not Worth Paying For
| Product type | Why to skip |
|---|---|
| Generic language learning app subscriptions | Not exam-format specific; teach conversational German, not exam German |
| Expensive B1 "crash course" bundles | Often repackaged textbook content; check if they include actual TELC-format materials before paying |
| Premium grammar apps | Grammar reference is free via DWDS; apps add cost without adding TELC specificity |
The principle: pay for things that are directly exam-specific and that you cannot get free elsewhere. A qualified tutor who knows the TELC format is worth it. A generic grammar app is not.
A Suggested Preparation Stack
If you are starting from scratch with a two-month window:
- Download the TELC sample papers and do one under timed conditions to set your baseline
- Use DW Learn German to fill grammar gaps identified in step 1
- Run Anki daily for vocabulary
- Listen to DW Langsam gesprochene Nachrichten daily
- Do a full mock exam with writing feedback four weeks out to measure progress
All of the above is free.
Start with a full timed mock exam to know exactly where you stand: free TELC B1 mock exam