In order to apply for permanent residence in Austria or Austrian citizenship, you must provide proof of German language skills at level B1. An ÖIF exam (Austrian Integration Fund) is considered proof. The B1 integration exam serves to fulfill Module 2 of the Integration Agreement and also covers language content as well as values and orientation knowledge.

The written exam lasts 140 minutes (excluding a 15-minute break) and consists of the listening, reading and writing subtests, including values and orientation knowledge. This is followed by the oral exam, which can be taken either individually or in pairs and lasts approx. 16 minutes.

I need to be able to do this for the B1 integration exam:

Listening comprehension (25 min)
I can understand what people say to me in an everyday conversation if they speak clearly, but I sometimes have to ask for certain words and phrases to be repeated.
I can listen to a short story and hypothesize what will happen next.
I can grasp the main points of television programmes on familiar topics if they are spoken reasonably slowly and clearly.

Reading comprehension (45 min)
I can read commentaries or interviews in newspapers and magazines in which someone comments on a current topic or event and understand the basic messages.
I can understand simple messages and standard letters (e.g. from stores, associations or authorities).
In private letters I understand well enough what is written about events, feelings or wishes to be able to correspond regularly with a pen pal.

Writing (30 min)
I can describe the plot of a movie or a book in a personal letter or report on a concert.
I can respond to advertisements in writing and request additional or more detailed information about the products (e.g. about a car or a training course).
I can write a CV in tabular form.

Speaking (16 min)
The examiner will ask you to introduce yourself and tell them something about yourself. Using key points, you should be able to respond spontaneously to prescribed topics. Later, you will have a dialog with another candidate. Finally, you should be able to plan or organize something, for example.

Values and orientation knowledge (40 min)
The exam questions on values and orientation knowledge are based on the learning objectives in the A1 framework curriculum of the ÖIF and belong to central topics of daily coexistence such as education and language, work and economy, health, housing and neighborhood as well as principles and diversity of coexistence related to legal and cultural integration. Materials to prepare for the exam are available at www.sprachportal.at.