German Language Practice vs Deutsche Welle (DW)
We are not going to pretend DW is bad — it is remarkable, it is free, and it is public-service funded. But DW teaches German; it does not put you through the telc or Goethe exam. There are no five complete timed papers, no official answer sheet, and nothing that tells you your Hören score.
Sound familiar?
- Hundreds of hours of material and no way to know if you are exam-ready.
- Courses are structured by topic and level, not by exam module and timing.
- Listening exercises are teaching tools, not exam simulations played at native pace.
- No complete paper you can sit against a clock and get a score for.
How we help
The missing exam layer
Five full papers per level in the official format, on the real clock.
Scored, not just studied
A percentage per module the moment you submit, so "I think I am B1" becomes a number.
Exam-pace listening
Every listening section plays the way the exam plays it, next to the paper.
Cheap enough to add on top
The first section at your level is free. DW stays free too; this is the part it does not do.
What Deutsche Welle (DW) does well
Deutsche Welle is the best free German resource on the internet, full stop. Nico's Weg, the audio series and the news in slow German are professionally produced, CEFR-aligned and cost nothing. Everyone learning German should use them.
Side by side
| Feature | German Language Practice | Deutsche Welle (DW) |
|---|---|---|
| Full timed mock exams | 5 per level | None |
| Free learning course A1–C2 | No | Yes — excellent |
| Official telc / Goethe format | Yes | No |
| Per-module scoring on a full paper | Yes, instantly | Exercise-level answers |
| Exam-pace listening in the paper | Yes | Podcast / course audio |
| Writing graded on exam criteria | Yes | No |
| Price | First section free, then €1.12 per exam (€45 for 3 months) | Free |
Our honest verdict
Learn with DW — genuinely, use it, it is free. Then sit the free section for the level you are booking, and unlock the rest if you want the full paper. That converts a lot of free study into a certificate.
Pick your level
Five complete mocks per level, sat online on the official clock and scored the moment you submit. One mock at every level is free. One level is €29. All 40 mocks, every level, are €45 — €1.12 per exam.
Frequently asked questions
+Is Deutsche Welle enough to pass the B1 exam?
It can get you to B1 as a language level. Passing the exam also needs format familiarity, timing practice and knowing how the modules are marked.
+Does DW give certificates?
DW issues course completion certificates for some courses, but these are not recognised language certificates for visas, residency or naturalisation. Those come from telc, Goethe, ÖSD or TestDaF.
+Why pay if DW is free?
For the one thing DW does not have: complete, timed, official-format exams with real audio that are marked for you the moment you submit.