Rilke
Rilke
What the exam contains, part by part — number of tasks, timing and, for listening, how often each recording is played. The figures come from the institutes' sample papers.
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RilkeOn every device:
| Part | Task type | Tasks | Text (words) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teil 1 | True/false | 6 | approx. 280 |
| Teil 2 | Multiple choice a/b/c | 6 | approx. 300 |
| Teil 3 | Matching | 7 | approx. 180 |
| Teil 4 | Yes/no | 7 | approx. 200 |
| Teil 5 | Multiple choice a/b/c | 4 | approx. 180 |
| Part | Task type | Tasks | Plays | Reading time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teil 1 | True/false + Multiple choice a/b/c | 10 | 2× | — |
| Teil 2 | Multiple choice a/b/c | 5 | 1× | — |
| Teil 3 | True/false | 7 | 1× | — |
| Teil 4 | Matching | 8 | 2× | — |
| Part | Task type | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Teil 1 | Planning something together | approx. 3 min |
| Teil 2 | Presenting a topic | approx. 3 min |
| Teil 3 | Giving feedback | approx. 2 min |
The ÖSD Zertifikat B1 was developed jointly by ÖSD, the Goethe-Institut and the University of Fribourg in Switzerland. Tasks, timings and marking criteria are therefore the same as for the Goethe-Zertifikat B1 — prepare for one and you are prepared for the other. The exam is run and marked at ÖSD test centres worldwide to uniform criteria.
The exam consists of four modules that you can take individually or in any combination. You may retake each module as often as you like.
| Module | Duration |
|---|---|
| Lesen (reading) | 65 minutes |
| Hören (listening) | approx. 40 minutes |
| Schreiben (writing) | 60 minutes |
| Sprechen (speaking) | approx. 15 minutes in pairs (in exceptional cases alone, then approx. 10 minutes), after 15 minutes of preparation |
If you take all the written modules on one day, each is followed by a break of at least 15 minutes. Dictionaries are not allowed.
Each module gives a maximum of 100 points and is passed from 60. For every module the certificate shows the points and a grade:
| Points | Grade |
|---|---|
| 100–90 | sehr gut (very good) |
| 89–80 | gut (good) |
| 79–70 | befriedigend (satisfactory) |
| 69–60 | ausreichend (sufficient) |
| below 60 | nicht bestanden (not passed) |
Writing and speaking are first marked independently by two examiners, who then agree on the points.
In Schreiben you write three texts in 60 minutes: an email to friends (approx. 80 words), a discussion post (approx. 80 words) and a short message to someone you address as Sie (approx. 40 words). They are marked against task fulfilment, coherence, vocabulary and structures — explained in detail with model answers in Schreiben B1.
In Sprechen you plan something together in pairs, then present a topic — one of two — using five slides, and finally give feedback on your partner's presentation. Phrases and an example are in Sprechen B1.
Austrian German
In ÖSD's sample papers many reading texts come from Austrian newspapers. Words like Jänner (January), Paradeiser (tomato) or Matura (school-leaving exam) are not mistakes there but standard Austrian German — it pays to know the most common ones.
B1 means independent use of the language: you can manage familiar situations in everyday life and at work. The level is often required for residence, work and naturalisation. Which certificates an authority in Austria, Germany or Switzerland accepts is up to that authority — check with them before you register.
It is fixed for each part: Teil 1: 2×; Teil 2: 1×; Teil 3: 1×; Teil 4: 2×. No recording is played more often than that.
65 minutes for 5 parts with 30 tasks in total.
The speaking exam is taken in pairs or groups. In Rilke the app plays your partner, so you can practise the dialogue parts on your own as well.
Goethe A1 · Goethe A2 · Goethe B1 · Goethe B2 · Goethe C1 · telc A1 · telc A2 · telc B1 · telc B2 · telc C1 · ÖSD A1 · ÖSD A2 · ÖSD B1 · ÖSD B2 · ÖSD C1 · DTZ A2–B1 · TestDaF
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