You are preparing for the B1 German exam to study vocational training in Germany. You do not know the experiences to improve your test-taking ability and achieve high results? In this article, SHB, the predecessor of SHD Academy, will share some test-taking tips as well as suggest important strategies to help you achieve high results in this exam. We will guide you through all the ways to improve your listening, reading, writing and speaking skills in German, along with tips on getting familiar with the test structure and increasing your vocabulary.

See also: SECRETS TO GETTING HIGH SCORE IN THE TELC B1 GERMAN WRITING TEST

1. German level B1

Level B1 in German is the level used to assess language ability according to the European Reference System. This reference system includes 6 levels: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2. People who achieve level B1 will be able to communicate with native speakers under the following limited conditions:

• Understand the main content or main ideas of texts on familiar topics in life such as: family, work, study, etc.
• Be able to handle situations when arriving at a place where only German is spoken.
• Write simple, coherent paragraphs or essays on familiar, popular topics.
• Can briefly express and explain personal experiences, wishes, actions and opinions.

Level B1 plays an important role in the development of German language skills, opening up many opportunities for communication and learning in this language environment.

2. Currently recognized German language certificates

A German B1 certificate is the minimum requirement and condition for you to be able to set foot in Germany to study and work. To prove your German proficiency, you need to present a foreign language certificate issued by a testing organization licensed according to the standards of the Association of Language Testers in Europe (ALTE). The currently recognized foreign language certificates are:

a) Foreign language certificate from the Goethe-Institut eV

b) Language certificate of telc GmbH.

c) Austrian Language Certificate (ÖSD).

d) “TestDaF” certificate from the TestDaF Institute eV (Hagen Distance Learning Institute and Ruhr University Bochum, only tests proficiency from level B2 GER).

e) ECL foreign language certificate

3. How long is the German B1 certificate valid?

The validity of the German B1 certificate is unlimited. However, some places will require that your B1 certificate is not more than 2 years old. When you apply for a visa, the German certificate must have been issued within the last 12 months from the date of application.

4. Preparation methods before taking the B1 exam

To achieve high results in the German B1 exam, candidates need to have a plan to practice each skill: Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing. Depending on the exam unit you choose: Goethe, Telc, ÖSD, TestDaF or ECL, there will be different exam structures, for different needs, subjects and circumstances.

You should research all the different types of exams to make the right decision in terms of time and finances. Preparing for the B1 German exam is very important from the beginning to the actual exam. This process starts from the first day of learning German to the final stages close to the exam day.

Perseverance, diligence, and hard work over a long period of time, combined with a reasonable and scientific study and practice strategy, will bring good results. You can apply specific study and practice methods according to the following suggestions:

4.1 1 month before the exam

During this time, you should not try to cram in new knowledge but should summarize all the knowledge you have learned and get familiar with the structure of the exam. A German exam structure will include 4 parts: listening, speaking, reading, writing. And each part will have a different test format and scoring method. Therefore, learners are required to have a review method for each part.

• For the reading section

The reading test will consist of 4 sections. Therefore, you need to have many skills to be able to complete your test well. The secret to passing this test is to memorize the Nomen Verbs in the textbook. Because almost all tests have this section.

• For the listening part

This part consists of two tests, the first test is worth 10/25 points and the second test is worth about 15/25 points. The test is played only once, so to get good results you must be very focused and react quickly.

The second test will be an interview, played twice and the most correct answer will be selected. To achieve high results, you need to practice listening regularly.

• For the written test

This part of the test will help you make up for the points you lost in the previous parts. Therefore, you need to focus on reviewing to increase your score. The written test also consists of two parts, the first will be in the form of a letter, the second will be in the form of error correction.

For the first test, you need to focus on the writing forms as in the textbook and practice writing many times. The more fluent your writing is, the higher your score will be.

As for the second test, you need to master grammar. Grammar will determine your score.

• For the speaking test

The speaking test is very important in determining your exam results. You must score 15 or more to be recognized as passing the exam. Therefore, you need to practice speaking a lot before starting the exam.

Similar to other exams, the speaking test consists of two parts. One is about a given topic, the other is about your own understanding. To get a high score in this part, you need to speak quickly and fluently. The secret is to prepare a lot of ideas for yourself so as not to run out of time when presenting.

Don't forget to understand the structure of the exam to make it easier and know which part you should spend more time on! Moreover, you should also pay attention to reviewing the most frequently asked questions, topics, and situations.

4.2. 1 week before the exam

During this time, you should relax and allocate appropriate time for review. Do not be too stressed or crammed with knowledge. When solving the test, if there is a question you do not understand, you should ask immediately, understand it deeply to remember it longer.

4.3. 1 day before the exam

The day before the exam, you should not study anything. On this day, you should relax, rest, eat properly and take the exam. You should have fun, be comfortable and not be stressed!

5. Tips to effectively review German B1 exam to achieve high results in the exam

To achieve high results in the German B1 exam, you should remember the important experiences below. Using these suggestions in the learning and review process will help you build a solid knowledge foundation, thereby confidently facing the B1 exam.

• Understand the structure and requirements of the exam

This will help you learn the skills and knowledge needed to achieve a high score in the German B1 exam.

• Study and review plan

Create a systematic study and review plan. This includes allocating time to each skill, setting short-term and long-term goals, and scheduling regular study sessions.

• Use appropriate review materials

Choose practice materials suitable for the B1 German level, such as textbooks, test preparation materials, and German learning apps on your phone.

• Practice skills every day

According to the experience of taking the B1 German exam, students at S20 shared that listening is an extremely difficult skill. You should practice listening every day according to topics and practice listening to small segments in conversations.

To improve your speaking skills, focus on reviewing the topics your exam preparation teacher gives you every day. In addition, when you have free time at home, you need to practice speaking continuously to improve your pronunciation and remember vocabulary longer.

To improve your reading skills, read textbooks and a variety of German books. This will help you get used to different sentence structures, expand your vocabulary and practice your skimming and intensive reading skills.

With writing skills, it is important that you know how to use grammar correctly in each sentence to prepare for the B1 writing test. When participating in review at the centers, teachers will guide you on common topics in the test. You should rely on that to build an outline and write better.

• Find someone to study with

If you have a companion with the same level or better to practice for the B1 German exam. You will be motivated to study and the review process will also become more effective. You can exchange, discuss and support each other throughout the study time.

• Practice test at the center

If you do not have a companion or are not confident to review B1 at home, you can join B1 German exam preparation courses. Normally, when choosing a language learning center, you should choose the official organizers of German exams. This will help you more easily grasp and practice the exam, as well as save time finding an exam center.

SHB is one of the units licensed to organize the international German certificate exam Telc B1 in Ho Chi Minh City. With the advantage of the exams being held consecutively throughout the year, on average from 8 to 10 exams, each exam is 6 to 8 weeks apart, creating conditions for candidates to choose a suitable exam time.

SHB also organizes exam preparation courses for students to assess their abilities and ensure exam results. The review curriculum at SHB is exclusively designed, ensuring that it closely follows the exam structure of the German B1 exam. The aim is to equip you with comprehensive knowledge and test-taking skills to help you achieve high scores in the exam.

You will be guided enthusiastically by a team of experienced teachers who have studied and worked in Germany for many years.

6. Notes when taking the German B1 level test

To achieve high results in the German B1 exam, keep in mind some important notes when taking the exam. These are useful experiences to help you confidently conquer all 4 parts of the exam: Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing.

• When taking the B1 German exam, you must bring your passport to enter the exam room. You are only allowed to bring your passport into the exam room, no unrelated items are allowed and the invigilator will provide you with paper and pen to do the test.
• Note, you should enter the correct exam code because each candidate will have a separate exam code. If you enter the wrong exam code, you may be disadvantaged in scoring or even lose points for the entire exam.

Above are the experiences of taking the German B1 exam that you need to keep in mind to have thorough preparation before taking the important German B1 exam. Wish you effective review and good results in this exam.

Article reposted from duhocducshb.com, the official website of SHB Education Organization. September 13, 2024, SHB brand officially converted into SHD ecosystem towards comprehensive development Accordingly, the website https://shdacademy.vn/ will be the official website of SHD specializing in the field of Vocational Study in Germany.