telc Deutsch B1·B2 Pflege is a German exam for people who work, or want to work, in nursing and care. Its texts and tasks come from hospitals, care homes and home care: you listen to a handover, read a care plan and write a report. This guide explains how the exam works, based on telc's published information (checked October 2026).
Kognixr is independent and not affiliated with telc gGmbH. Exam formats and rules can change: check the current information from telc and your test centre before you register.
One exam, two possible results
You don't choose B1 or B2 in advance. Everyone takes the same test, and your scores decide whether you get a B2 certificate, a B1 certificate or no certificate. For recognition as a nurse in Germany, many authorities ask for B2, so most candidates aim for B2. Ask your recognition authority which certificate it accepts.
The sections
| Section | What you do | Items / time |
|---|---|---|
| Listening (Hören) | Phone messages, short work conversations, a team meeting, opinions | 23 items, about 25 min |
| Reading (Lesen) | Work texts such as notices, care plans and leaflets | 18 items |
| Language elements (Sprachbausteine) | Gap-fill texts testing grammar and vocabulary | 18 items (Reading and Sprachbausteine together 60 min) |
| Writing (Schreiben) | One report, for example an admission or a biography report, from given information | 30 min |
| Speaking (Sprechen) | In pairs: a photo and questions, a short talk, a discussion | 20 min preparation, about 16 min |
The written part takes 115 minutes. You hear every recording once.
How the scores work
| Score | Maximum | B2 | B1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening + Reading + Language elements | 59 | 43–59 | 27–42 |
| Writing | 20 | 15–20 | 7–14 |
| Speaking | 100 | 75–100 | 35–74.5 |
Speaking must reach at least B1 for any certificate. For B2, Speaking must be at B2 and you may be at B1 in only one of the two written scores. See the official telc handbook for the full rules.
An 8-week plan
- Week 1: learn the format and do the listening strategies.
- Week 2: reading and language elements strategies.
- Week 3: write two practice reports; practise the three speaking parts aloud.
- Week 4: first full model test under exam conditions; note your three biggest problems.
- Weeks 5–7: fix those problems, learn the care vocabulary, one model test per week.
- Week 8: last model test three to five days before the exam, then light review only.
Tips that save points
- Mark every answer on the answer sheet straight away. Only the sheet counts.
- Answer every item, even if you have to guess.
- In the report, cover every point on the form: a missing point costs more than a small grammar mistake.
- In the discussion, react to your partner before you add a new point.
Prepare with explained answers
The Exam Trainer for telc Deutsch B1·B2 Pflege has step-by-step strategies, four original model tests, 85 audio tracks and every answer explained in English. It is independent practice material, not published by or affiliated with telc. Prefer to study online? The telc Pflege online exam course has marked quizzes and two free lessons. Still building your German? Read which German level nurses need.
