What is Telc?

Telc, short for "The European Language Certificates," is a non-profit, standardized language proficiency testing and certification provider headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany. The European Language Certificates, or TELC, offers a wide range of language proficiency exams and certificates in 10 different languages, including German, English, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Turkish, Polish, and Dutch.

Telc provides more than 70 certificates, including general and professional language proficiency tests for language learners and students. All telc tests are fully aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), covering listening, reading, speaking, and writing skills. The CEFR was published by the Council of Europe in 2001.

Telc language proficiency tests can be taken in the 10 aforementioned languages at over 3,000 test centers in more than 20 countries, including universities and private language schools, some of which are government-owned.

What is Telc Used For?

Telc is used for evaluating and certifying German language proficiency in professions where oral and/or written communication plays a significant role, such as tour guiding, customer service representation, interpreting, piloting, and cabin crew positions. It is also utilized for proving German language proficiency in university applications to institutions such as universities, technical universities, and colleges, as well as generally determining an individual's proficiency level in German. While higher education institutions may have their preferences and other proficiency exams like DSH or TestDaF are commonly requested, Telc is also recognized by many educational institutions worldwide.

What are Telc Language Proficiency Levels?

Telc language proficiency levels are based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), which is an assessment and reference system for languages spoken across Europe.

Level Group

Level

Definition

Basic

User

Beginning

Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic sentences to meet concrete needs.

They can introduce themselves and others and ask and answer questions about personal details such as where they live, people they know, and things they own.

Can interact simply, provided the other person speaks slowly and clearly and is ready to help.

Basic User

Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of immediate interest (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment).

Can communicate in simple and routine tasks that require a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine topics.

Can describe in simple terms their background, immediate environment and areas of immediate need.

Independent

User

Intermediate

Work, school, entertainment, etc. Can understand the main points of open standard input on familiar topics regularly encountered in environments.

Can handle most situations that may arise when travelling in an area where the language is spoken.

Can produce simple connected text on topics that are familiar or of personal interest.

Can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes and ambitions, and briefly give reasons and explanations for ideas and plans.

Independent User

Can understand the main ideas of complex texts on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in specialist areas.

Can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that enables regular interaction with native speakers without straining either party.

Can produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of topics and explain a point of view on a topical issue by giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.

Expert

User

Advanced

Can understand a wide range of difficult, long sentences and recognize implicit meaning.

Can express ideas fluently and spontaneously without searching too specifically for expressions.

Can use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes.

Can produce clear, well-structured, detailed texts on complex topics and use organizational patterns, connectors and cohesive devices in a controlled manner.

Expert

User

Can easily understand almost everything they hear or read.

Can summarize information from different oral and written sources, restructuring arguments and narratives into a coherent presentation.

Can express themselves spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, distinguishing subtle shades of meaning even in the most complex situations.

Telc B2-C1 Exam Structure and Content

Telc exams generally consist of listening, reading, language elements, writing, and speaking sections. Within these sections, there are subtests.

Reading

In the reading test, there are three types of tasks: reading for the main idea, reading for detail, and selective reading. The reading test expects participants to generally understand written texts in daily situations related to university or work contexts and extract information from texts of different genres. These genres can include blog posts, informative texts, administrative, legal, financial, and technical texts. Subsequently, participants are given questions about the texts, and they are expected to find the correct answers. Participants are given 50 minutes to complete this section.

Listening

Similar to the reading section, the listening section of the exam includes listening for the main idea, listening for detail, and selective listening. In the listening test, participants are expected to understand spoken language in daily situations, in contexts related to personal, work, or student life. Listening passages may include conversations between two people, presentations or lectures, opinions stated during a TV program, teleconference discussions, or debates. After or following each listening passage, participants are given questions about the passages, and they are expected to find the correct answers. Participants are given approximately 40 minutes to complete this section.

Language Elements

The language elements section of the exam evaluates candidates' command of grammar, vocabulary usage accuracy, and sociolinguistic appropriateness. The purpose of the language elements test is to bridge the gap between understanding a text and actively interacting with it. The language elements test consists of two parts. In the first part, participants are expected to complete an informal dialogue by choosing appropriate speech words or expressions (discourse markers). Participants must grasp the communicative situation as a whole. In the second part, participants are given a letter or email in a university or work context, and in both cases, participants need to choose suitable expressions to complete the texts. Participants are given 20 minutes to complete this section.

Writing

While the listening and reading tests assess participants' passive language skills by requiring them to understand a written and/or spoken text, the writing and speaking tests require participants to demonstrate their active language skills. The writing section of the exam requires the ability to write well-structured texts for professional or academic purposes, produce persuasive expressions of ideas, logically organize ideas, and demonstrate clarity of expression. Participants are given two different situations, an introduction to the topic is provided in both cases, and then participants are given two contrasting expressions to encourage them to think about these situations. The task for participants in this section is to discuss the pros and cons of the given topics and express a personal opinion. Participants are given 60 minutes to complete this section.

Speaking

For TELC, each speaking exam is typically conducted with two candidates. There are two examiners for each exam. In exceptional cases, such as when there is an odd number of candidates at the test center, candidates may be admitted to the exam as a group of three. The aim is for the exam to have the nature of a conversation rather than an interrogation.

The main task of the examiners is to supervise the conversation and are asked to speak as little as possible. For the exam to serve its purpose, it is more important for the candidate to engage in an active conversation with the speaking partner. The candidate should respond to what the speaking partner says without trying to dominate the conversation. Both candidates are expected to involve themselves in the conversation on various topics to create an interesting dialogue. In situations where the candidate struggles to express what they want to say, attempting to assist the speaking partner positively influences the score.

The oral exam lasts about 15 minutes with two candidates and 25 minutes with three candidates. Before the exam begins, the candidate has 20 minutes to prepare for the exam with the help of candidate papers detailing the tasks they need to complete. During this preparation time, the candidate is not allowed to communicate with the speaking partner.

How Long is Telc Valid For?

Just like TestDaF, DSH, and Goethe-Zertifikat, Telc language proficiency certificates do not expire, and after passing the test, the certificate is valid indefinitely. However, some universities may, based on their own policies and regulations, request candidates to retake the test if there is a significant time gap between the test date and the current date.

How to Prepare for Telc Language Proficiency Exams?

Exam preparation can be a challenging process for those who do not know German at all and have a language proficiency level below CEFR B2. Preparing for Telc requires specialized strategies and guidance from experts. Proper preparation for the exam involves using high-quality and official preparation materials, attending German language courses, taking practice tests, and getting accustomed to a non-conventional exam format. You can join our courses for proper preparation for the Telc exam, and for detailed information, you can contact us.

Frequently Asked Questions About What is Telc?