ÖSD B1 Model Test: Free Practice Guide & Exam Tips

The ÖSD Zertifikat B1 (ZB1) is one of the most widely requested German certificates. Whether you need it for a residence permit, a job or professional recognition in Germany, Austria or Switzerland, passing the ÖSD B1 is an important step. This guide explains how the exam is structured and how to prepare for each module.

ÖSD B1 Exam Structure

The ÖSD B1 exam consists of four modules, each testing a different language skill. To receive the full certificate, you need to pass all four:

Each module is scored on a scale of 0–100 points. You need at least 60 points per module to pass. For Lesen and Hören, the 30 raw points (Messpunkte) are converted to 100 result points (Ergebnispunkte) using an official conversion table. For Schreiben and Sprechen, trained examiners rate your performance using detailed criteria grids.

Module-by-Module Preparation Tips

Lesen (Reading): 65 minutes, 5 parts

The five reading tasks test different skills: understanding personal correspondence (Teil 1, true/false), information and argumentation in press texts (Teil 2, multiple choice), scanning short ads and matching them to situations (Teil 3, matching), reading opinion texts and identifying positions (Teil 4, yes/no), and understanding written instructions like a Hausordnung (Teil 5, a/b/c). Key strategies: read the questions before the text, pay attention to negations and qualifiers, and manage your time carefully. The recommended times per part are 10, 20, 10, 15 and 10 minutes.

Hören (Listening): ~40 minutes, 4 parts

You'll hear announcements and short messages (Teil 1, heard twice), a longer monologue like a guided tour (Teil 2, heard once), a conversation between two people (Teil 3, heard once), and a radio discussion with three speakers (Teil 4, matching statements to speakers, heard twice). The ÖSD is a pluricentric exam: you'll hear speakers from Germany, Austria and Switzerland, so it helps to practise with all three accents.

Schreiben (Writing): 60 minutes, 3 tasks

Aufgabe 1 (20 min): Write a personal email (~80 words) to a friend. Describe something, give a reason and make a suggestion. Informal register with an appropriate greeting and closing. Aufgabe 2 (25 min): Write your opinion (~80 words) in response to an online forum post. Neutral register, no greeting needed. Aufgabe 3 (15 min): Write a short formal message (~40 words), typically an apology or a change of appointment addressed to a teacher or supervisor. Semi-formal register (Sie-Form). Each task is evaluated on four criteria: task completion (Erfüllung), coherence (Kohärenz), vocabulary (Wortschatz) and grammar (Strukturen).

Sprechen (Speaking): ~15 minutes (pair exam), 3 tasks

Aufgabe 1 (~3 min): Plan something together with your partner, for example visiting a sick friend or organising a party. You'll get 4 guiding points to discuss. Aufgabe 2 (~3 min): Give a short presentation on a topic using 5 pre-printed slides as a guide (introduction, personal experience, situation in your country, pros/cons with your opinion, conclusion). Your partner and the examiners then give feedback and ask questions. Aufgabe 3 (~2 min): Respond to your partner's presentation: give feedback and ask at least one question. Before the exam, you have 15 minutes of preparation time to make notes for Aufgabe 1 and choose your presentation topic.

How to Practise: Sample Exercises

Good preparation combines textbook work with practice tests. Here are some approaches:

Official ÖSD resources: The ÖSD website provides a free model test (Modellsatz) for each level, including audio files and answer keys. They are the closest you will get to the real exam in format and difficulty.

Textbook exercises: The Vielfalt B1+ textbook by Hueber includes dedicated "Extra Prüfung" (exam practice) sections after every two chapters, specifically designed to train all four skills in an exam-relevant format. This is the textbook used in our B1.3 course.

Interactive exercises: Our learning platform includes H5P practice exercises for reading, listening, writing and speaking in the ÖSD B1 format. They are available to all course participants. Try a sample exercise below:

B1.3: preparation for the ÖSD B1 exam

Scoring Criteria: What Examiners Look For

Understanding the scoring criteria helps you focus your preparation on what matters most:

In Schreiben, each of the three tasks is evaluated by two independent examiners on four criteria: Erfüllung der Aufgabenstellung (task completion: did you address all content points in the right register?), Kohärenz (coherence: a logical text structure with appropriate connectors), Wortschatz (vocabulary: range and accuracy) and Strukturen (grammar: morphology, syntax, spelling). You don't need perfect grammar, but your text must be clearly understandable. What examiners look at is whether your errors get in the way of communication.

In Sprechen, the criteria vary by task. For Aufgabe 1 (planning), examiners assess task completion and Interaktion (how well you cooperate with your partner). For Aufgabe 2 (presentation), they evaluate Erfüllung (did you cover all 5 slides?), Kohärenz (logical structure), plus vocabulary, grammar and register. All three tasks share the criteria Wortschatz/Register, Strukturen and Aussprache (pronunciation: you need to be understood, a foreign accent is fine). Pausing to think is fine. Long silences or not being able to react cost points.

Frequently Asked Questions