Reading Comprehension Strategies

The Three Parts of Reading Comprehension

The Reading Comprehension section of the TELC B1 exam consists of three parts with different task types:

  • Part 1: Matching (headings to texts)
  • Part 2: Multiple choice (questions about a longer text)
  • Part 3: Matching situations (advertisements/situations)

General Reading Strategies

Skimming – Quick Overview

Read the text quickly first to understand the main topic. Pay attention to headings, the first sentence of each paragraph, and keywords.

Once you know the questions, search specifically for certain information in the text. You don't need to understand every word.

Mark Keywords

Underline important words in the questions and text. Look for synonyms and paraphrases — the answer is rarely stated word-for-word in the text.

Tips for Each Part

Part 1: Matching

  • Read all headings first
  • Then read each short text and find the matching heading
  • Cross out headings you've already used

Part 2: Multiple Choice

  • Read the questions BEFORE the text
  • Find the relevant passage for each question
  • Be careful with answers that only sound partially correct

Part 3: Situations

  • First understand the situation (Who is looking for what?)
  • Then skim the advertisements
  • Check that ALL requirements are met

Common Traps

  • Distracting answers: Sometimes individual words from the text appear in wrong answers
  • Missing negations: Watch for words like nicht (not), kein (no), nie (never)
  • Answering too quickly: Always double-check your answer

Ready to Practice?

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