DTZ German test gets stricter on 1 November

Germany is tightening the scoring rules for the DTZ German test, the Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer that marks the end of every state-funded Integrationskurs (integration course). From 1 November 2026, candidates can no longer reach an overall B1 result while leaving one of the written parts blank or doing it very badly. The change comes through an amended Integrationskurstestverordnung, the ordinance that sets out how integration course exams are graded. It was published in the Bundesgesetzblatt, the federal law gazette, on 20 October and takes effect on the first day of November.

For many foreigners in Germany, the DTZ has consequences beyond the classroom. A B1 result is the language proof that most people need for a settlement permit or for German citizenship, so even a small change to the scoring rules can decide whether an application moves forward or stalls.

What changes in the DTZ German test

The DTZ German test has three parts that count towards the language level: speaking, a combined listening and reading section, and writing. Until the end of October, the rule for an overall B1 allowed more flexibility. Candidates needed B1 in speaking and B1 in either listening and reading or in writing. The remaining part had no minimum at all, so a person could score close to nothing there and still receive a B1 certificate.

The refugee law information network asyl.net, which summarises the amended ordinance and the Interior Ministry's draft, describes the new rule as follows: speaking still has to reach B1, and one of the two written components still has to reach B1, while the other component must now reach at least A2. As asyl.net points out, this means both written sections have to be worked on properly. An exam with an empty section can no longer end with a B1 pass.

Candidates who fall short may still receive a certificate. According to the migration portal Migrando, they receive either an A2 certificate or only a notice of their results, depending on their scores. That distinction matters, because an A2 level is not enough for naturalisation.

Why the Interior Ministry is tightening the rules

The Federal Interior Ministry (BMI), led by Alexander Dobrindt of the CSU, says the reform is a response to a rise in cheating. Its draft ordinance, dated 8 October, described a specific pattern: candidates bought the correct answers for the multiple-choice listening and reading section on the internet, filled them in, and left the writing section completely blank. Under the old scoring, that was enough to pass.

A ministry spokesperson told The Local that test questions and answers had repeatedly been offered for illegal sale in recent years. The ministry has not published any figures on how many cases were detected, and it said it could not yet judge whether the stricter scoring will change the share of candidates who reach B1. The government also argues that written German is important in everyday life, for example when dealing with public authorities or applying for jobs.

Who is affected by the stricter DTZ German test

The new rules apply to everyone who sits the DTZ German test on or after 1 November, according to the ministry's statement to The Local. This includes people who started their integration course months ago under the old rules. There is no exemption for learners who are already halfway through a course or who have an exam date in early November.

The reform does not change the legal language requirements themselves. German citizenship law still generally asks for B1, and the settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis) rules are unchanged as well. What changes is only how the DTZ result is calculated. In practice, a weak written section now costs people planning to use the DTZ for permanent residence or a German passport their B1 certificate.

The change applies only to the DTZ taken at the end of an integration course. It does not touch the B1 exams of other recognised providers, which can be taken after a private language course or independently, without attending an integration course at all.

Old certificates and other B1 exams stay valid

Existing DTZ certificates remain valid. After a clarification by the Interior Ministry and the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), The Local reported on 28 October that DTZ certificates issued before 1 November remain valid for citizenship and residence procedures. Holders do not have to retake the exam just because the scoring has changed.

The DTZ is not the only way to prove B1 proficiency. Both Migrando and The Local list other certificates that the authorities accept, including telc Deutsch B1, the Goethe-Zertifikat B1 and the ÖSD Zertifikat B1. The Local also names the DSD I, a German language diploma for school students. These exams follow their own scoring systems and are not affected by the amended ordinance. According to The Local, certain German school-leaving qualifications, vocational training certificates and university degrees can also satisfy the language requirement for citizenship.

What the DTZ German test change means for expats

If you are in an integration course and your DTZ German test is still ahead, the most important step is to take the writing section as seriously as the rest of the exam. Ask your course teacher for extra writing practice and mock exams, and make sure you can produce short, clear texts at A2 level at the very least. Skipping the writing task to focus on listening and reading is now a sure way to miss B1.

If you need B1 for a settlement permit or naturalisation and are not tied to an integration course, it can make sense to book one of the alternative exams, such as telc or Goethe B1, at a language school or adult education centre. Before you pay any exam fee, check with your local immigration office (Ausländerbehörde) or naturalisation office which certificates it accepts in your case. If you are unsure of your current level, our guide on assessing your German language level can help you decide which exam to aim for.

If you already have a DTZ certificate at B1, keep the original and a copy in a safe place and use it as planned. With demand for naturalisation still high, as our report on record citizenship numbers shows, a valid language certificate remains one of the most important documents in any application file.