At a glance

These are the facts most readers look for first. Each one is explained in detail further down.

Point	What to know
Centre-set	Dates and fees are set by each licensed exam centre. There is no single national price list.
B1 and B2	Can be taken as partial exams (written or oral only). A1 and A2 cannot.
Two parts	Every telc Deutsch exam has a written part and an oral part.
A1 for spouse visas	The German Mission in India lists Start Deutsch 1 of telc GmbH among recognised A1 certificates.

The short answer

If a German visa office, employer, school or university has asked for a “telc certificate”, you need to sit a telc Deutsch exam at a licensed exam centre. There is no home-based route and no shortcut. In India, telc exams run through partner centres. These centres choose their own dates and fees, and the list of centres changes. So the real work is not the exam itself. It is choosing the right level, confirming that your authority accepts telc, finding a centre that is genuinely licensed, and booking early enough.

Pick the level your goal needs. A1 for many spouse visas, B1 for Ausbildung in most cases, B2 for nurses' recognition and for Studienkolleg.
Check that telc is accepted by the exact office, employer or school that asked for it.
Find a centre on telc's official finder and compare dates, fees and format.
Prepare with telc's free mock exams and your own classes.
Keep your certificate safe. It can be verified online by authorities and employers.

Read this first. This page is general information. Exam rules, dates, fees and centres change, and the requirements of visa offices, employers and universities differ. Always confirm with the office or institution that asked for the certificate, and with your exam centre.

What the telc German exam is

telc is the short name of telc gGmbH, a non-profit language test provider based in Bad Homburg, Germany. It describes itself as a full member of the Association of Language Testers in Europe (ALTE) and says its certificates are recognised by schools, universities, employers and government authorities as proof of language ability at all six levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Licensed centres around the world run the exams, and each centre sets its own exam dates and prices.

The official names of the exams

telc uses double names for some exams, which confuses many candidates. These are the names as they appear on telc's own website.

Level	Official name on telc's site	What it is
A1	Start Deutsch 1 / telc Deutsch A1	General German, beginner level
A2	Start Deutsch 2 / telc Deutsch A2	General German, elementary level
A2·B1	telc Deutsch A2·B1	A dual-level exam that assesses two levels
B1	Zertifikat Deutsch / telc Deutsch B1	General German, intermediate level
B1·B2	telc Deutsch B1·B2 Pflege	For nursing professionals
B2	telc Deutsch B2	General German, upper-intermediate level
C1	telc Deutsch C1	General German, advanced level
C1 University	telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule	For university study

telc also offers exams for work (Business) and for doctors, and exams for children, schools and universities. This page focuses on the general exams, A1 to B2, that most Indian candidates take. “Start Deutsch 1 / telc Deutsch A1” means one exam with two names, so do not book twice. The German Mission in India uses the wording “Start Deutsch 1” of telc GmbH when it lists accepted A1 certificates.

Format and timing: A1, A2, B1 and B2

All times below come from telc's own exam pages. “Approx.” times are telc's wording. Your centre will confirm the schedule, and the written and oral parts can fall on the same day or on different days.

telc Deutsch exam structure by level (telc exam pages, October 2026)

Level	Written part	Oral part	Partial exam?
A1	Listening: 3 parts, approx. 20 min. Reading (3 parts) and writing (2 parts): 45 min. No break. About 65 minutes in total.	Speaking: 3 parts, approx. 15 min, usually 4 test takers, no preparation time.	No
A2	Listening: 3 parts, approx. 20 min. Reading (3 parts) and writing (2 parts): 50 min, listed together by telc. No break. About 70 minutes in total.	Speaking: 3 parts, approx. 15 min, usually 2 test takers, no preparation time.	No
B1	Reading (3 parts) and language elements (2 parts): 90 min, no break. Listening: 3 parts, approx. 30 min. Writing: 1 part, 30 min. About 150 minutes in total.	Speaking: 3 parts, approx. 15 min, pair exam, 20 minutes of preparation.	Yes (written or oral)
B2	Reading (3 parts) and language elements (2 parts): 90 min, no break. Listening: 3 parts, approx. 20 min. Writing: 1 part, 30 min. About 140 minutes in total.	Speaking: 3 parts, approx. 15 min, pair exam, 20 minutes of preparation.	Yes (written or oral)

The A1 page says the exam is paper-based. The B1 page says it can be taken on computer or on paper. The B2 page lists digital, hybrid and paper-based formats. Which format you get depends on your centre. telc's B2 page states that B2 can be taken as a partial exam, and centres state the same for B1 and the C1 University exam. telc's A1 and A2 pages state that those exams cannot be taken as partial exams.

A1: Start Deutsch 1 / telc Deutsch A1

At A1 you show that you can understand and use familiar, everyday expressions and very simple sentences. Tasks include multiple choice and matching, and prompts such as pictures that you answer in writing or aloud. The oral part is an interaction with a partner and with the examiner. Because there is no preparation time and several candidates sit together, practise answering immediately: introduce yourself, ask a question, make a simple request. The A1 exam is the one most often needed for a spouse visa. Read our Goethe A1 exam guide for a longer treatment of the same level, and our A1 course page if you are starting from zero.

A2: Start Deutsch 2 / telc Deutsch A2

At A2 you can understand commonly used expressions and communicate in simple, routine situations. The structure is like A1, with slightly longer tasks. The written part runs without a break, and the oral part usually has two test takers. A2 is a common stepping stone, for example for some recognition-partnership visas for nurses, where the official minimum is A2. See our A2 course page.

B1: Zertifikat Deutsch / telc Deutsch B1

B1 is where the exam becomes a real test of independence. The written part is a long block of about 150 minutes with no break between reading and language elements, followed by listening and writing. The oral part is a pair exam with 20 minutes of preparation. B1 is the level normally needed for vocational training in Germany (Ausbildung), though the exact requirement depends on the profession and the state. Because centres state that B1 can be taken as a partial exam, a strong written result is not lost if the oral part goes badly, as long as you retake it within the centre's time limit. See our B1 course page.

B2: telc Deutsch B2

The B2 written exam is about 140 minutes in total: reading and language elements in 90 minutes without a break, a listening section of about 20 minutes and a 30-minute writing task. The oral exam is a pair exam, about 15 minutes, with 20 minutes of preparation. telc's description of the level says learners can communicate spontaneously and fluently, understand the main ideas of complex texts and explain viewpoints on current issues. B2 is the level asked for by nursing recognition authorities and for the Studienkolleg entrance test. See our B2 course page and, for nurses, German for nurses.

Passing, partial exams and results

The pass rule

Centres that run telc exams state that you receive the certificate when you reach 60% of the points. Below that, you receive a result sheet that shows your scores but does not prove the level. At B1 and B2, the written and oral parts are assessed as separate parts. The exact point tables are in telc's free handbooks. telc publishes the telc Deutsch B2 handbook and an exam-preparation tips document for B2. Read the handbook for your level before you decide how to prepare.

Partial exams at B1 and B2

At B2, telc states that the exam can be taken as a partial exam, and centres state the same for B1. If you pass the written part but not the oral part, or the other way round, you may retake only the part you did not pass. Two things vary by centre: how long a passed part stays valid, and what you pay. One centre says a passed part need not be repeated until the end of the following year. Another says one year. One European centre charges the full fee even for a single part, while another charges less for a partial retake. In India, ask your centre for its written rule before you register.

Results and certificates

Centres commonly say results arrive after about four to six weeks, but this differs by centre. telc has been moving to digital certificates, and some centres state that from 15 February 2026 certificates and result sheets are issued digitally only. Ask your centre how you will receive your result, and how you will show it to a visa office or university. Authorities and employers can check any telc certificate at the official verification page, results.telc.net.

telc centres in India

This is the part of the process that causes the most confusion. telc exams in India are run by partner centres, and there is no single national list that we can print here and promise stays correct. telc's official Find a telc examination centre page is the only source you should treat as authoritative.

Centres we found in October 2026

Examples only. Some are described by the centres themselves or by a third-party site. Verify each one on telc's official finder before you pay.

City	Centre	What we found
Noida (Delhi NCR)	Lingua Leaps Educentre	Describes itself as a licensed telc exam centre, with A1 to C1 exams.
Noida (Delhi NCR)	BSLEU Akademie LLP	Describes itself as an official telc centre since 2024, with A1 to C1 exams.
Coimbatore	PSG Institute of Advanced Studies	Lists telc exams from A1 to C2, with written and oral modules.
Kochi	Kraft German Institute (exams listed on aczepta.in)	Lists full exams and partial written and oral B2 exams.
Thiruvananthapuram	inTandem Language and Training Center	Says it holds permission for external telc exams in Trivandrum.
Bengaluru	Quadrigo Private Limited	Appears in a third-party list of telc centres. Verify.
Mumbai	Department of German, University of Mumbai	Appears in a third-party list of telc centres. Verify.

Do not trust any centre's claim without checking. One centre calls itself the only recognised and licensed telc centre in India, yet others state that they are licensed. The operator of the Kochi venues states that all venues in India where telc exams are held are authorised branches of a German licence holder, aczepta Akademie gGmbH. We cannot settle these claims for you. Ask the centre to show its telc licence, check that it appears on telc's official finder, and be careful with any centre that offers a “guaranteed pass” or asks you to pay to an unofficial account.

We did not find a telc centre in every large city. If there is none near you, you may need to travel. Plan the trip, book your seat and any accommodation early, and keep your payment receipt. If you live in Bihar, see our German in Patna page. If you live in Delhi NCR, see German in Delhi and German in Noida. In Bengaluru, see German in Bangalore.

How to book, step by step

Fix your goal and the level. Ask the visa office, employer, school or university which level it needs and whether it accepts telc. Write down the exact exam name it uses.
Set a deadline. Count back from your visa, application or start date. Allow four to six weeks for results, and a buffer for a retake.
Find centres. Use telc's official finder, then compare the centres in your region.
Ask each centre the same questions. Next exam dates, fee and what it includes, exam format (paper or computer), whether the written and oral parts are on the same day, partial-exam rules and their time limit, how results are delivered, and the cancellation and transfer rule.
Read the exam regulations. When you register, you agree to telc's examination regulations and terms. Read them, especially the parts on rescheduling and cancellation.
Pay only through the centre's official channel. Keep the receipt and the confirmation message.
Prepare with telc's official mock exam for your level, under timing.
Sit the exam. Take the ID you registered with and arrive early.
Collect and verify your result. Check the details on your certificate, and keep a digital copy.

telc, Goethe or ÖSD?

For most German goals, an authority accepts more than one provider. The best choice is the one your authority accepts that you can book soon. Here is how the three common providers differ for candidates in India.

	telc	Goethe-Institut	ÖSD
Where in India	Licensed partner centres that change	Mainly the Goethe-Institut's own centres (Max Mueller Bhavan)	Partner centres in several cities
A1 for a spouse visa	Start Deutsch 1 of telc GmbH is listed by the German Mission in India	Start Deutsch 1 is listed	Grundstufe Deutsch 1 is listed
Partial retake	Yes at B1 and B2, centre rules apply	Check the Goethe-Institut's current rule	Check the provider's rule
B2 written time	About 140 minutes in total, with listening of about 20 minutes	Listening 40, reading 65, writing 75 minutes	Check the provider's rule
B2 speaking	Pair exam, about 15 minutes, 20 minutes of preparation	Pair exam, 15 minutes	Check the provider's rule
Nursing-specific B2	telc Deutsch B1·B2 Pflege	Goethe-Zertifikat B2 PRO Pflege	General ÖSD B2

The Goethe row uses the pattern shown on our main German page. We left “check the provider's rule” where we did not verify a fact for this page, because a wrong detail here could cost you a booking. For a longer guide to the Goethe format, see our German course page. For Goethe's published fees, see Goethe exam fees in India, and for how recent a certificate must be, see how long a Goethe certificate is valid.

Which exam for which goal

Your goal	Usual level	telc option	What to confirm
Spouse visa (family reunification)	A1, when a certificate is required	Start Deutsch 1 / telc Deutsch A1	The German Mission in India asks for a current recognised certificate, with the exam no more than one year old. It also says a certificate is not always necessary.
Recognition partnership for nurses	A2 to enter, B2 for full recognition	Start Deutsch 2 / telc Deutsch A2, then telc Deutsch B2	See German for nurses.
Ausbildung	B1 normally	Zertifikat Deutsch / telc Deutsch B1	The level varies by profession and state. Ask the employer or school. See German for Ausbildung.
Nursing recognition	B2	telc Deutsch B2 or telc Deutsch B1·B2 Pflege	Ask the state authority which one it accepts.
Studienkolleg	B1 to B2	telc Deutsch B2	Ask the Studienkolleg.
German-taught degree	Usually C1	telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule	Check the university's list of accepted tests.

If you are planning wider study or work in Germany, see our study abroad page.

How to prepare

Start with telc's free official material

telc publishes a free mock exam, with answers and audio files, for each level. Do one complete paper under exam timing before you book, so you know where you stand: A1, A2, B1 and B2. For B2, telc also publishes a handbook and an exam-preparation tips document with instructions for every task type and samples of writing with comments on how they are assessed.

How long does preparation take?

It depends on your starting point. On Yastudy's intensive course, with 3 hours of live class a day, Monday to Friday, and about 2 hours of your own practice, the levels run to about 3 weeks for A1, 6 weeks for A2, 13 weeks for B1 and 21 weeks for B2. Book your exam for a date soon after you finish a level, while the material is fresh. If your exam date is more than a few weeks after the end of a level, schedule weekly mock papers to keep your timing sharp.

Part by part: practical tips

Reading and language elements. At B1 and B2 these share one 90-minute block with no break. Practise the whole block so you learn to budget time. Do the language-elements tasks first if grammar is your strength, because they are quick marks.
Listening. The recording is played within a fixed structure and you do not control it. Read the questions before each play and write short answers. Train with the telc audio files, not only with other providers' recordings, so the speed and accents feel familiar.
Writing. At B1 and B2 there is one task of about 30 minutes. Practise one piece every week and have it corrected. Cover every point in the task, use linking words, and keep a clear structure of opening, body and close. telc's preparation tips for B2 include comments on sample texts.
Speaking. At B1 and B2 you get 20 minutes of preparation and then speak with a partner. Practise with another learner. Listen and respond to your partner, because the exam tests interaction and not a memorised speech. At A1 and A2 there is no preparation time, so build quick answers for personal questions.
Exam stamina. B1 is about 150 minutes of written work. Practise full-length papers so your concentration holds.

Exam day

Keep the whole day free. Some centres hold the written part in the morning and the oral part in the afternoon, and others on separate days. Ask your centre.
Take the ID you registered with, your registration confirmation and a pen if the centre allows it. Follow your centre's list of what to bring.
Arrive early. Late arrival can mean you cannot sit the exam.
Switch off phones and watches as instructed. Rule breaking can lead to disqualification.
At B1 and B2, listen for your pairing and the order of the oral exam. Be polite and cooperative with your partner.
After the exam, ask when and how you will receive your result.

Fake certificates and scams

Search for “telc certificate” and you will find sites that sell certificates without any exam. These are fake. A genuine telc certificate exists only if you sat the exam at a licensed centre and passed, and authorities and employers can verify it online at the official telc verification page. A fake certificate can lead to a refused visa, a cancelled job offer or worse, and it will cost you far more than the exam.

Do not pay anyone who promises a certificate without an exam, a “guaranteed pass” or a leaked paper.
Pay only through your centre's official payment channel and keep the receipt.
Check that the centre appears on telc's official finder.
Verify your own certificate on the official page when you receive it.

Yastudy and the telc exams

Yastudy teaches intensive German online. Our live classes prepare you for the Goethe and telc exams at each level, A1 to B2. We do not conduct telc exams. You take the exam at a licensed centre and pay its fee to that centre.

What you get

Live online classes, 3 hours a day, Monday to Friday
Batches of 10 to 12 students, with speaking practice in every class
Every class recorded, and doubt support on WhatsApp
A mock test every week
Preparation for the Goethe and telc exams at each level

Repeat the level if you do not clear the exam

If you do not clear your Goethe or telc exam, you repeat that level's batch without paying again. You need at least 80% attendance, and you must take the exam within 3 months of finishing the level.

Level	Class hours	Fee
A1	40	₹14,000
A2	50	₹16,000
B1	100	₹20,000
B2	120	₹24,000
Combo: A1 to B2	310	₹39,500 (against ₹74,000 level by level)

More combos (A1 to B1 ₹29,500, A2 to B1 ₹23,500, A2 to B2 ₹33,500) are on the fees section of the main page. A ₹199 live demo class is credited against your fee if you enrol within 7 days.

Prepare for the telc exam with live classes. Every level from A1 to B2, with a mock test every week. Enrol online or see the next batch.

See fees and enrol See batch timings

Costs to plan for

Exam fee. Set by the centre and paid to the centre. It differs by centre, level and format. Ask for a written fee list.
Partial retakes. Some centres charge less for a partial retake and some charge the full fee. Ask before you register.
Travel and stay. If there is no centre in your city, plan for travel, accommodation and a day off work.
Certificate delivery. Ask whether the result is digital only, and whether any paper copy costs extra.
Preparation. Your course fee, plus telc's free mock exams, plus any printed practice books you choose to buy.

Common mistakes with the telc exam

Booking before checking acceptance. Confirm that the office or employer accepts telc and which exact exam it wants.
Trusting an unverified centre. Check the centre on telc's official finder.
Ignoring the date. Results take weeks, and an A1 certificate for a spouse visa must be recent.
Skipping the full-length mock. B1 is about 150 minutes. Many candidates lose points at the end.
Not practising speaking with a partner. At B1 and B2 it is a pair exam.
Assuming a partial retake is cheap or unlimited. Fees and time limits depend on the centre.
Booking the wrong exam name. “Start Deutsch 1” and “telc Deutsch A1” are one exam, but B1·B2 Pflege and B2 are different exams.
Buying a shortcut. Fake certificates are fraud.

Your next steps

Write down your goal and the exact level and exam name that the office or employer wants.
Check telc's official finder and shortlist two centres.
Download the free mock exam for your level and time yourself.
Plan your classes backwards from your exam date. See the batch timings.
Book the exam and keep every receipt and message.
Not sure of your level? Message us on WhatsApp.

More German guides from Yastudy

Every guide below is written from checked sources and links to the others, so you can follow your goal from the first level to the exam and the visa.

The German language hub

German language in India: the complete guide

Courses

Exams and certificates

Goals

City guides

Questions about the telc German exam in India

What is the telc German exam?

telc is a certificate provider based in Bad Homburg, Germany. Its German exams cover levels A1 to C2 and test reading, listening, writing and speaking. Every telc Deutsch exam has a written part and an oral part, and licensed centres around the world run them.

Is telc accepted for a German spouse visa from India?

The German Mission in India lists “Start Deutsch 1” of telc GmbH among the recognised A1 certificates for family reunification, next to Goethe's Start Deutsch 1 and the ÖSD's Grundstufe Deutsch 1. The exam cannot have taken place more than one year ago, and the mission says a certificate is not always necessary. Confirm your own case with the mission.

Is telc easier than Goethe?

Neither is officially easier. Both test the same CEFR level. The differences are practical: the format, how speaking works, whether you can retake one part, and which centres and dates are available to you. Choose by acceptance, availability and fit.

How many telc centres are there in India?

We could not find one reliable official count. telc exams in India run through licensed partner centres, and the list changes. Use telc's official “Find a telc examination centre” page, and ask a centre to show its licence before you pay.

Where can I take the telc exam in Delhi NCR?

In October 2026 we found two centres in Noida that describe themselves as licensed telc centres: Lingua Leaps and BSLEU Akademie. Check both on telc's official finder, compare dates and fees, and confirm which levels each one offers.

Where can I take the telc exam in South India?

We found centres in Coimbatore (PSG Institute of Advanced Studies), Kochi (Kraft German Institute), Thiruvananthapuram (inTandem Language and Training Center) and Bengaluru (Quadrigo, listed by a third-party site). Verify each one on telc's official finder.

Is there a telc centre in Patna?

We did not find one in our checks. That can change, so look at telc's official finder. Many students from Bihar travel to a larger city for their exam. See our German in Patna page for how to plan the trip.

How much does the telc exam cost in India?

Each centre sets its own fee and dates, so there is no single price. Ask the centre for a written fee list for the level and format you want, and ask what is included.

Can I retake only one part of the telc exam?

At B2, yes: telc's page says the exam can be taken as a partial exam, and centres state the same for B1. So you can retake only the written or only the oral part. telc Deutsch A1 and A2 cannot be taken as partial exams. Some centres charge the full fee even for a partial retake, so ask first.

How long is a passed part valid?

It depends on the centre and the exam rules. Centres we checked say a passed part does not have to be repeated until the end of the following year, or for one year. Ask your centre for its written rule before you plan a retake.

What is the pass mark?

Centres that run the exam state that you receive the certificate when you reach 60% of the points. At B1 and B2 the written and oral parts are assessed as separate parts. For the exact point tables, read the free telc handbook for your level.

How long do telc results take?

Centres commonly say about four to six weeks. In India the time can differ by centre, so ask. If you need the certificate for a visa or a university deadline, book early enough.

What is the telc speaking exam like?

It is an interaction with a partner. At A1, usually four test takers take part and there is no preparation time. At A2, usually two, with no preparation time. At B1 and B2 it is a pair exam with 20 minutes of preparation time. The oral part lasts about 15 minutes at each level.

Is the telc exam online?

telc offers paper-based, computer-based and hybrid formats, depending on the exam and the centre. The telc B1 page says B1 can be taken on computer or on paper, and the B2 page lists digital, hybrid and paper. Ask your centre which format it runs.

Is telc B1 the same as Zertifikat Deutsch?

telc's own page for the general B1 exam is titled “Zertifikat Deutsch / telc Deutsch B1”, so the two names refer to the same exam on telc's site. Check the exact name your visa, employer or school asks for.

Which telc exam do nurses take?

Nurses need B2 for recognition. They can take telc Deutsch B2 or the nursing-specific telc Deutsch B1·B2 Pflege, depending on what the recognition authority accepts. Ask the authority before booking. Our German for nurses page explains the routes.

Which telc exam do I need for Ausbildung?

B1 is the level normally needed for vocational training, although the level can vary by profession and state. Ask the employer or school which certificate it accepts, and check whether telc is on its list.

What is the telc A2·B1 exam?

It is a dual-level exam that assesses language skills at two levels, A2 and B1. Ask telc or your centre how results are reported if you do not reach the higher level.

How do I check that a telc certificate is genuine?

telc offers an official verification service for its certificates at results.telc.net. Authorities and employers can check a certificate there. A genuine certificate comes only from an exam you sat.

Can I buy a telc certificate without sitting the exam?

No. Anyone offering a certificate without an exam is selling a fake. Using one can get a visa refused and can have worse consequences. Only sit the exam at a licensed centre.

How early should I book?

As soon as you know your target date. Each centre sets its own dates and seats are limited. Check the next dates for your level, allow time for results, and keep a buffer in case you need to retake a part.

Do I need A2 before I take B1?

The telc exam pages we read do not list an earlier certificate as a requirement for a higher level. Check your centre's registration rules. For learning, each level builds on the one before it, so most students take them in order.

Which is better for me, telc or Goethe?

Whichever your authority accepts and you can book soon. If both are accepted, compare the exam dates, the fee, the nearest centre and the format. Goethe exams are mainly held at the Goethe-Institut's own centres in India, while telc runs through partner centres.

Does Yastudy conduct telc exams?

No. Yastudy runs live online German classes that prepare you for the Goethe and telc exams at each level. You take the exam at a licensed exam centre, and the exam fee is paid to that centre.

Is the exam fee included in your course fee?

No. You pay the exam fee to the exam centre when you book. Our course fee covers live classes, recordings, doubt support and mock tests.

What if I do not clear the exam after your course?

You repeat that level's batch without paying again, as long as you attended at least 80% of classes and took the exam within 3 months of finishing the level.

Where can I find free telc practice tests?

telc publishes free mock exams with audio files for A1, A2, B1 and B2, and handbooks for several levels. The links are in the “How to prepare” section of this page.

What can I do if my centre cancels or moves my exam?

Ask the centre in writing for the new date and its refund or transfer rule, and keep your payment receipt. If a deadline depends on the certificate, tell the visa office or university early. If you are unsure whether the centre is licensed, ask telc.

Sources and how current this page is

Exam formats come from telc's own exam pages. The visa rule comes from the German Mission in India. Centre information comes from the centres' own websites and a third-party listing, which is why you must verify each centre on telc's official finder. We checked everything in October 2026. Exam rules, dates and centres change.

Yastudy course details (hours, weeks, fees, the repeat-level rule and the ₹199 demo) come from our German course page. Last reviewed: 4 October 2026.

telc German exam in India: levels, format, centres and how to book