German B1 online — intermediate Mittelstufe course, mascot Bruno the bear, Konjunktiv II, Passiv, Relativsätze, Genitiv, preparation for Goethe-Zertifikat B1, DTZ Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer, telc Deutsch B1, OSD Zertifikat B1, Free plan no card
German B1 — the threshold of language independence
Are you already at A2 and feel you have moved past the survival phase? Do you want to express opinions, explain reasons, narrate experiences without stumbling at every sentence? B1 is the level that makes you independent in German. Bruno the bear guides you calmly through Konjunktiv II, Passiv, Relativsätze and complex sentences — no pressure, no rush, structured. 18-24 months at 15 min/day from zero, or 5-7 months at 1 hour/day if you are already at A2.
What you can do with German B1
According to official CEFR descriptors (Common European Framework, Companion Volume 2018), at B1 level (Mittelstufe, independence threshold) you can:
- Describe experiences, events, dreams, hopes and ambitions
- Explain reasons and justify opinions on familiar topics
- Understand main points of standard speech on familiar topics
- Read articles about contemporary problems and simple reports
- Write coherent text on familiar topics and personal letters
- Handle most situations during travel (solo travel possible)
- Maintain conversations in basic professional environments
- Understand TV programs and films on familiar topics (with effort)
Bruno the bear — your B1 guide
Each CEFR level on Deutsch-Landia has its mascot. For B1, Bruno the bear is your companion: calm, structured, takes you out of survival mode and into real communication. Speaks with native accent (premium synthesized TTS voice), explains intermediate grammar without pressure or rush.
What you learn at B1 on Deutsch-Landia
The B1 curriculum covers everything you need to pass the official B1 exam (Goethe-Zertifikat B1, DTZ, telc Deutsch B1 or OSD B1). All topics below are covered with interactive lessons, varied exercises, and fact-check by native translators.
- 1Konjunktiv II — würde + Infinitive + irrealis conditions (wenn ich Zeit hätte / if I had time...)
- 2Passiv — Vorgangspassiv with werden + Zustandspassiv with sein
- 3Relativsätze — Relativpronomen in Nominativ, Akkusativ, Dativ, Genitiv
- 4Genitiv — possession + prepositions with Genitiv (wegen, trotz, während, statt)
- 5Indirekte Rede + basic Konjunktiv I (er sagt, dass er komme)
- 6Extended Nebensatze (obwohl, damit, falls, sobald, solange, nachdem, bevor)
- 7Adjective declension — extended system, gemischte Deklination
- 8Verbs with prepositions + Pronominaladverbien (darauf, davon, dafur)
- 9n-Deklination — nouns with -n/-en (der Mensch, des Menschen)
- 10Partizip I + Partizip II as adjective (das lesende Kind, das gelesene Buch)
Official B1 exams — all internationally recognized
If you want official certification after B1, you have 4 major options. All are accepted internationally for CV, studies and administrative procedures. Deutsch-Landia prepares you for any of them — our curriculum is aligned with the common CEFR B1 format.
Goethe-Zertifikat B1
Goethe-Institut
- Audience
- Adults and teens, modular
- Price
- ~115-130 EUR in Romania
- Format
- Modular — 4 separate parts: Lesen, Horen, Schreiben, Sprechen
Most internationally recognized B1 exam. Modular structure allows re-taking only the failed part. Lifetime certification.
Deutsch-Test fur Zuwanderer (DTZ)
telc / Goethe-Institut
- Audience
- Integration course participants
- Price
- ~125-145 EUR in Romania
- Format
- 4 CEFR parts (reading, listening, writing, speaking); practical everyday topics
Standardized B1 exam for integration courses in the DACH region. Test content is oriented on practical situations (bureaucracy, health, school, neighborhood).
telc Deutsch B1
telc gGmbH
- Audience
- All ages
- Price
- ~110-130 EUR in Romania
- Format
- Common CEFR format, international recognition
Alternative to Goethe, often accepted in Germany for administrative procedures. Specialized variants (e.g. telc Deutsch B1 Beruf).
OSD Zertifikat B1
OSD (Osterreichisches Sprachdiplom Deutsch)
- Audience
- All ages, adult and youth variants
- Price
- ~115-135 EUR in Romania
- Format
- Common CEFR format, focus on Austrian standard German
Austrian alternative, equal value in the DACH region. Useful if the target is Austria or institutions that prefer OSD.
How long does B1 take
The official CEFR guide estimates 350-400 cumulative hours of study for stable B1 from zero (all 4 skills: reading, listening, writing, speaking). If you are already at A2, you have about 200 more hours. Translated into human pace:
These durations assume you study consistently (4-5 days per week). Long breaks reduce retention — if you can do 20 minutes daily, it is better than 2 hours only on weekends. At B1, consistency matters more than at A1: complex structures (Konjunktiv II, Passiv) need regular practice.
How to start — plans and pricing
All plans allow upgrade / downgrade anytime, without penalty. We do not require credit card at signup. One-click cancellation.
Free
- Complete placement test (1002 questions, adaptive MST)
- First B1 lessons from curriculum (free sample)
- Access to a few bilingual B1 stories
- Access to 2 educational games
- Dashboard with your progress
Student Premium
- Complete B1 curriculum (dozens of Konjunktiv II + Passiv + Relativsätze lessons)
- Access to A1 + A2 + B2 + C1 curriculum
- 4892 vocabulary words, all levels
- All bilingual stories (55+)
- All 16 educational games
- Adaptive spaced repetition for vocabulary
- Progress reports + personalized recommendations
Family
- Everything in Student Premium
- Up to 5 children accounts
- Real-time parental dashboard
- Weekly email report
- COPPA + GDPR-K compliant
After B1 — what comes next?
B1 is the independence threshold — the first moment you are an autonomous user of the language. After B1 comes:
Advanced independent user. Complex texts on abstract topics, negotiations, articulate arguments. Vocabulary 4000+ words. Extended Konjunktiv I, sophisticated Partizip I. Bella the bee guides you.
Proficient user. Near-native. Nuanced, idiomatic, professional conversations. Vocabulary 5000+ words. Leo the dog guides you. Prep for studies in Germany (TestDaF, DSH).
Mastery — perfected user. Fine distinctions, irony, stylistic registers. Almost indistinguishable from a native in a specific area of expertise. For deep linguistic and academic careers.
Frequently asked about German B1
What does German B1 mean and what can I do at this level?
B1 is the Mittelstufe (intermediate) level on the European CEFR scale — the independence threshold. At B1 you can handle most situations in a German-speaking country, describe experiences, dreams and ambitions, give reasons and explanations for your opinions. Typical B1 vocabulary is 2500-3000 words. It is the level frequently required for introductory university courses and administrative integration in the DACH region.
How long does it take to reach German B1 level?
The official CEFR guide estimates 350-400 cumulative hours of study for stable B1 (from zero). With Deutsch-Landia and 15 minutes per day, the total A1-B1 journey takes 18-24 months. With 30 minutes per day, 10-14 months. With 1 hour per day (sprint), 5-7 months. If you are already at A2, you have about 200 more hours — half of the entire path.
What official exams exist for German B1 level?
The 4 internationally recognized B1 exams: (1) Goethe-Zertifikat B1 (adults and teens, MODULAR — you can take the 4 parts separately, Goethe-Institut, ~115-130 EUR in Romania), (2) Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer (DTZ — integration exam, organized jointly by telc/Goethe, ~125-145 EUR), (3) telc Deutsch B1 (~110-130 EUR), (4) OSD Zertifikat B1 (Austrian variant, ~115-135 EUR). All follow the common CEFR format: reading, listening, writing, speaking.
What is DTZ and who is it designed for?
DTZ (Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer) is the standardized B1 exam for integration courses in the DACH region. It is jointly organized by telc and Goethe-Institut, has 4 parts (reading, listening, writing, speaking) and is designed around practical everyday topics: bureaucracy, health, school, work, neighborhood. Format and result are similar to Goethe-Zertifikat B1, but the test content is oriented toward daily life situations.
Bruno the bear is the B1 mascot — what exactly does he do?
Bruno is your guide through German B1: calm, structured, takes you out of survival mode and into real communication. Explains without pressure Konjunktiv II (ich würde gehen, if I were to...), Passiv (Vorgangspassiv with werden + Zustandspassiv with sein), Relativsätze in all 4 cases (Nominativ, Akkusativ, Dativ, Genitiv), Genitiv prepositions (wegen, trotz, während). The calm bear who does not rush you to become fluent overnight.
What is the difference between A2 and B1 in German?
A2 = simple communication in past, present, future. Predictable conversations, vocabulary 1500-2000 words. B1 = independence threshold. You can travel solo, handle bureaucracy, express structured opinions with reasons. Konjunktiv II (irrealis), Passiv (passive constructions), Relativsätze in all cases, complex sentences with multiple nebensätze (obwohl, damit, falls, nachdem, bevor) appear. Vocabulary grows to 2500-3000 words. A2 makes you understood; B1 makes you independent.
What is the difference between B1 and B2 in German?
B1 = independence threshold (you handle most daily situations + express opinions with reasons). B2 = advanced independent user (you understand complex texts on abstract topics, can negotiate, defend articulate arguments, understand films/news without major difficulty). B1 vocabulary = 2500-3000 words; B2 = 4000+. At B2 appear Konjunktiv I (correct indirect speech), extended Partizip I (das lesende Kind), sophisticated nominal constructions, idiomatic phrases.
The Goethe-Zertifikat B1 modular exam — what does that mean?
Goethe-Zertifikat B1 has 4 modules: reading (Lesen), listening (Hören), writing (Schreiben), speaking (Sprechen). Modular means you can take them separately, on different sessions, and you pay for each module individually. If you fail just one, you only repeat that one — not the entire exam. This flexibility is useful if you are strong on 3 parts and want to focus on the 4th. Telc B1 and OSD B1 have similar structures, but their own re-take rules.
How many B1 grammar topics does Deutsch-Landia have?
The B1 curriculum covers: Konjunktiv II (würde + Infinitive + irrealis conditions), Passiv (Vorgangspassiv with werden + Zustandspassiv with sein), Relativsätze with Relativpronomen in Nominativ/Akkusativ/Dativ/Genitiv, Genitiv (possession + prepositions wegen/trotz/während), Indirekte Rede + basic Konjunktiv I, extended Nebensätze (obwohl, damit, falls, sobald, solange, nachdem, bevor), the adjective declension system (gemischte Deklination), verbs with prepositions + Pronominaladverbien (darauf, davon, dafür), n-Deklination (der Mensch/des Menschen), Partizip I + II as adjective. Plus 2500-3000 B1 vocabulary words, bilingual B1 stories, educational games.
Can I use a free B1 course on Deutsch-Landia?
The Free Plan includes: complete placement test (15 min, no card) that confirms if you are at B1; first lessons from the B1 curriculum (free sample); access to a portion of the bilingual B1 stories; dashboard with your progress. For the complete B1 curriculum (dozens of Konjunktiv II + Passiv + Relativsätze + Genitiv lessons) you need Student Premium (5 EUR/month or 37 EUR/year), which also includes A1, A2, B2 and C1.
Ready to reach B1?
Free placement test, no card. 15 minutes and you find out your real level. If you are at A2 or above, we suggest the next path to B1 with Bruno.