ÖSD B2 Model Test: Structure, Scoring

Reading time: 10 minutes | Category: Exams

The ÖSD Zertifikat B2 (ZB2) has two modules. The written module takes about 210 minutes: Reading (Lesen) 90 minutes, Listening (Hören) about 30 minutes and Writing (Schreiben) 90 minutes. The oral module (Sprechen) takes about 15 minutes (about 20 in pairs), with 15 minutes of preparation beforehand. To pass, you need 60% in each module: 42 of 70 points in the written part, with a minimum in every section, and 18 of 30 in the oral part. The official ÖSD B2 model test, including audio files, is free to download from osd.at.

As an examiner, I see candidates lose points in the same places: they run out of time in Reading, skip a bullet point in Writing, or read their notes aloud in Speaking. Below is each section with my own example task, common mistakes and an examiner's tip. Coming from B1? Compare our ÖSD B1 model test guide: B2 has fewer parts, but each one asks more of you.

ÖSD B2 exam structure

Module	Section	Time	Tasks	Points
Written	Reading (Lesen)	90 min	4 tasks, 40 items	20 (min. 10)
Written	Listening (Hören)	approx. 30 min	2 tasks, 40 items	20 (min. 10)
Written	Writing (Schreiben)	90 min	2 texts	30 (min. 15)
Oral	Speaking (Sprechen)	approx. 15 min (20 in pairs) + 15 min preparation	3 tasks	30

The written module is a group exam. Monolingual and bilingual dictionaries are allowed, specialised ones are not. Texts and recordings come from Austria, Germany and Switzerland. The oral exam is taken alone or in pairs, always in front of two examiners. Since 2024 there is also a digital version with the same format.

How to pass: points and grades

The written module has two conditions: at least 42 of 70 points and at least 10 in Reading, 10 in Listening and 15 in Writing. For example, 9 in Reading, 17 in Listening and 20 in Writing add up to 46, yet the written module is not passed because Reading is below 10. The oral module is passed with 18 of 30. Also, a score of 0 in any of the three language criteria in Speaking (range of expression, pronunciation and fluency, accuracy) means the oral module is not passed, and in Writing task 2 a text shorter than half the required length counts as failed and scores 0.

Grade	Written (70)	Oral (30)	Total (100)
sehr gut (very good)	62–70	27–30	88–100
gut (good)	53–61	23–26	75–87
bestanden (pass)	42–52	18–22	60–74

The exam is modular. Each module you pass earns a module certificate, and you get the full certificate when you pass both on the same date or within one year at the same exam centre. Retakes are unlimited; ÖSD recommends waiting at least four weeks.

Reading (Lesen): 90 minutes, 4 tasks, 20 points

Task 1: one long text, for example a magazine article, with 5 multiple-choice questions (a, b, c).
Task 2: 5 short texts and 10 headings to match; five are left over.
Task 3: a text with the right-hand margin cut off. Short words or parts of words, at most three letters, are missing at the ends of lines. You fill in 20 gaps.
Task 4: an advertising letter with 10 gaps; you write one word in each, with no options.

Example for task 3, with two line endings cut off: Seit einigen Jahren arbei__ / immer mehr Menschen von zu Hau__ / aus. (For some years, more and more people have been working from home.) The missing parts are ten and se. Example for task 4: Ab März __ unser Geschäft auch samstags geöffnet. Wir freuen uns __ Ihren Besuch. The answers are ist and auf.

Common mistakes: spending 40 minutes on task 1 and running out of time for tasks 3 and 4, which hold 30 of the 40 items and 10 of the 20 points (each task is worth 5). Choosing an ending that sounds right but does not match the case. Writing two words in a task 4 gap.

Examiner's tip: tasks 3 and 4 are grammar in context. Before you write, look at the article, the preposition and the verb in the sentence: mit takes the dative, für the accusative (see our guide to the German dative case).

Listening (Hören): about 30 minutes, 2 tasks, 20 points

In task 1 you hear a radio programme twice and decide whether 10 statements are true or false (richtig/falsch). In task 2 two people exchange information and you complete or tick a table. You hear this one only once. Before each task you get 90 seconds to read.

Example for task 1: in a programme about community gardens in Vienna, a gardener explains that the city provides the land and the neighbours buy the seeds. Statement: Die Stadt bezahlt die Pflanzen. (The city pays for the plants.) Answer: falsch. Example for task 2: a call to a music school in Bern about a guitar course; you note day and time and tick whether an instrument is included.

Common mistakes: using the 90 seconds without marking anything and, in task 2, getting stuck on one missed detail while the conversation moves on.

Examiner's tip: in those 90 seconds, underline the word in each statement that could flip it: names, numbers, nur (only), nicht mehr (no longer), immer (always).

Writing (Schreiben): 90 minutes, 2 texts, 30 points

Each text is worth 15 points and should be about 120 words. Task 1 is a formal email, such as a complaint, written from a set of notes. In task 2 you choose one of two topics and give your opinion on statements or headlines, covering four guiding points.

Example for task 1: you joined a gym in Graz. Notes: Kurse fallen oft aus · neue Öffnungszeiten ohne Info · Vertrag kündigen oder Geld zurück? (Classes are often cancelled, new opening hours without notice, cancel the contract or get a refund?) We expect a formal greeting, all three points, a clear request and a closing. Example for task 2: the headline „Homeoffice macht einsam“ (Working from home makes you lonely), with the usual four guiding points: opinion, reasons, own experiences and the situation in your country.

Common mistakes: leaving out one of the points, switching between du and Sie in a formal email, writing only 70 words because time ran out (in task 2, a text below half the length, about 60 words, counts as failed), or copying whole sentences from the instructions.

Examiner's tip: I first check whether you covered everything the task asks for, then the structure, and only then the grammar. A text with a few mistakes that covers every point and uses linkers like außerdem or deshalb can score higher than a flawless text with a point missing. Make a quick outline first and keep ten minutes for checking.

Speaking (Sprechen): about 15 minutes (20 in pairs), 3 tasks, 30 points

You get 15 minutes to prepare and may use your notes during the exam. It starts with a short warm-up conversation that is not marked. Then come three tasks of about 5 minutes each (task 2 per person):

Task 1, getting to know someone and giving advice: a simulated situation (a train journey in the official model test) where you share experiences and give tips. My example: the person next to you wants to do an internship in Zurich.
Task 2, discussing a picture: pick one of three photos, explain your choice, describe and interpret it, then answer questions. Example: a family at dinner, everyone on their phone.
Task 3, discussion: you argue from an assigned role. Example: a car-free town centre; you run a shop there, your partner lives there.

Common mistakes: reading out sentences written during preparation, not letting your partner in, or dropping your role at the first counter-argument.

Examiner's tip: note keywords during preparation, not sentences. In the discussion we listen for reactions: Da haben Sie recht, aber … (You have a point there, but …) or Was halten Sie davon, wenn …? (What do you think about …?)

Free official practice material

ÖSD publishes a complete model test. Do it timed at the start and again before the exam.

For the digital version, offered by other centres, ÖSD has Test-Training digital, free after registration.

A 6 to 8 week study plan

Exam training pays off after completing B2, in our courses after B2.4. How long it takes to get there is covered in How long does it take to learn German?. A realistic plan at 6 to 8 hours a week:

Week 1: the full model test under exam timing. Write down your points per section.
Weeks 2 and 3: Reading and Listening, one timed task a day. Was each mistake vocabulary, grammar or time?
Weeks 3 to 5: two writing tasks a week, corrected by someone who knows the marking criteria.
Weeks 4 to 6: Speaking in pairs, with 15 minutes of preparation and a timer.
Week 7: a second full mock exam. Compare it with week 1.
Week 8: light review, no new material.

For general advice on organising your preparation, see How to prepare for the ÖSD exam.

What is a B2 certificate used for?

University: many universities ask for B2 for German-taught programmes and some require C1, depending on the university and programme.
Healthcare jobs: depending on the region, B1 or B2 is required. For nursing and medical professions there is also a separate version, ZB2/PMB.
Austria: B2 is a requirement for Austrian citizenship on the grounds of particular integration (besondere Integration).

The ÖSD Zertifikat B2, the Goethe-Zertifikat B2 and telc Deutsch B2 are equivalent; all three providers are full members of ALTE. For the differences in format between ÖSD and Goethe, read ÖSD vs Goethe: which one should you choose?.

Taking ÖSD B2 at Sprachzentrum Buenos Aires

We are ÖSD exam centre ARG 001 and hold the ÖSD Zertifikat B2 on paper, in person in Buenos Aires for our students and external candidates. Dates and registration are on our ÖSD certificates page. Our students, students at public institutions in Argentina and healthcare staff get 15% off the exam fee.

Our B2 level has four sublevels, B2.1 to B2.4, each with 30 hours of live classes in the virtual classroom and 30 guided hours on the learning platform. You can take it as an intensive course (two or more sessions a week) or an extensive course (one 2.5-hour session a week). Every course has two qualified teachers with DaF certification, an online tutor and up to 16 participants.

Frequently asked questions

How many points do I need to pass ÖSD B2?

60% in each module: 42 of 70 in the written module, with at least 10 in Reading, 10 in Listening and 15 in Writing, and 18 of 30 in the oral module.

Can I take only the written or only the oral module?

Yes. Each module you pass earns a module certificate; pass both on the same date or within one year at the same centre and you get the full certificate.

How long is the ÖSD B2 certificate valid?

It has no expiry date; the institution asking for it decides. For German visas, the exam date should usually be no more than one year ago; if you retook individual modules, the date of the oldest passed module counts.

Is ÖSD B2 equivalent to Goethe B2 and telc B2?

Yes. ÖSD, the Goethe-Institut and telc are full members of ALTE, and their B2 certificates are equivalent. Germany accepts them for visas wherever you take the exam.

Where can I download the official ÖSD B2 model test?

On the ÖSD Zertifikat B2 page at osd.at. The Modellsatz is free: PDFs for Reading, Writing and Speaking plus the Listening audio.

Where to start

Not sure you are at B2 yet? Take our free placement test (about 30 minutes, assessed by ÖSD examiners) and pick your sublevel from all courses.

Daniel – German teacher and ÖSD examiner at Sprachzentrum Buenos Aires

About the author

Daniel is a political scientist, German language teacher and ÖSD examiner at Sprachzentrum Buenos Aires, the official ÖSD exam centre in Argentina. He has guided course participants from their first level to the exam for years and knows the typical questions and hurdles of learning German.

ÖSD B2 Model Test: Exam Structure, Scoring and Practice Tasks