The oral exam is worth 75 of the 300 total points on the TELC B1 exam, and you need at least 60% (45 points) in this section alone to pass. It is conducted in pairs with two examiners present: one who guides the conversation and one who observes and evaluates. The entire speaking exam takes about 15 minutes per pair. Before the exam begins, you receive a 20-minute preparation period to review the task cards.
Key facts at a glance
- Duration: about 15 minutes, plus 20 minutes of preparation beforehand
- Format: paired exam – usually two candidates talk to each other
- Three parts: getting to know each other (approx. 3 min), talking about a topic (approx. 6 min), planning something together (approx. 6 min)
- Points: 75 maximum (15 + 30 + 30), pass mark 45 (60 %)
- Important: the oral and the written exam must be passed separately
The Oral Exam at a Glance
The three parts follow each other directly. Timings and points are taken from telc’s official practice test 1 (in German).
| Part | Task | Duration | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part 1 | Getting to know each other (Einander kennenlernen): introduce yourselves and ask each other questions | approx. 3 min | 15 |
| Part 2 | Talking about a topic (Über ein Thema sprechen): report an opinion from your task sheet and discuss it | approx. 6 min | 30 |
| Part 3 | Planning something together (Gemeinsam etwas planen), e.g. a party or an outing | approx. 6 min | 30 |
The 20-Minute Preparation Phase
Before you enter the exam room, you are given task cards for Teil 2 and Teil 3. You can make notes on paper during this time, but you may not bring a dictionary. Use these 20 minutes wisely:
- Read your Teil 2 topic card carefully. Write down 4-5 key points you want to mention.
- Look at the Teil 3 planning task. Think about practical suggestions you can make.
- Prepare opening phrases for each part so you can start speaking confidently.
- Do not write out complete sentences to read aloud. The examiners will notice, and reading from notes is penalised.
Teil 1: Getting to Know Each Other (Einander kennenlernen)
Duration: approximately 3 minutes. Up to 15 points.
You and your partner introduce yourselves and have a short get-to-know-you conversation. The examiner may ask a few guiding questions to keep the dialogue flowing. This part is the gentlest warm-up, the topics are personal and predictable.
Typical Questions
- Woher kommen Sie? / Wo wohnen Sie?
- Was machen Sie beruflich? / Was studieren Sie?
- Was machen Sie in Ihrer Freizeit?
- Wie lange lernen Sie schon Deutsch?
- Warum lernen Sie Deutsch?
- Haben Sie Familie hier?
Useful Phrases for Teil 1
- Ich komme aus ... und wohne seit ... in ...
- Von Beruf bin ich ... / Ich arbeite als ...
- In meiner Freizeit ... gehe ich gern ... / treibe ich Sport / lese ich ...
- Ich lerne seit ... Deutsch, weil ...
- Darf ich fragen, woher Sie kommen? (showing interactive competence)
Tips for Teil 1
Speak naturally, not like a rehearsed monologue. Ask your partner questions back, this shows conversational ability and scores points for interaction. Even simple follow-up questions like "Und Sie?" or "Was meinen Sie?" demonstrate communicative competence. Smile, make eye contact, and speak at a comfortable pace.
Practise Part 1 with typical questions and translations →
Teil 2: Talking About a Topic (Über ein Thema sprechen)
Duration: approximately 6 minutes in total. Up to 30 points.
Both candidates talk about the same everyday topic, but each gets a different sheet with a short opinion on it. In the official telc practice test 1, the topic is group travel. Typical everyday topics include:
- Fremdsprachen lernen (learning foreign languages)
- Gesunde Ernährung (healthy eating)
- Fernsehen und Internet (television and internet)
- Reisen (travel)
- Sport und Fitness (sport and fitness)
- Arbeit und Beruf (work and career)
- Kinder und Erziehung (children and upbringing)
You tell your partner what the opinion on your sheet says, then you discuss the topic together: your own opinion, your experiences, and questions to each other.
Not a presentation: in telc B1 you don’t give a talk in Part 2. A presentation belongs to the Goethe B1 exam. In telc, Part 2 is a conversation: you report, ask questions and react to your partner.
Structure Your Contribution
- Report: Say what your sheet is about. "Auf meinem Blatt geht es um ... Die Person meint, dass ..."
- Your opinion: Agree or disagree and give a reason. "Ich sehe das ähnlich / anders, weil ..."
- Personal experience: Give an example. "In meinem Heimatland ist es so, dass ..." or "Ich persönlich ..."
- Pros and cons: If it fits, mention both sides. "Einerseits ... andererseits ..."
- Ask your partner: "Was steht auf Ihrem Blatt?" or "Wie sehen Sie das?"
Useful Phrases for Teil 2
- Giving your opinion: Ich finde, dass ... / Meiner Meinung nach ... / Ich denke, dass ...
- Agreeing: Da stimme ich Ihnen zu. / Das sehe ich genauso. / Ja, das finde ich auch.
- Disagreeing politely: Da bin ich anderer Meinung. / Das sehe ich etwas anders. / Ich verstehe Ihren Punkt, aber ...
- Asking for clarification: Könnten Sie das genauer erklären? / Was meinen Sie damit?
- Adding a point: Außerdem möchte ich erwähnen, dass ... / Darüber hinaus ...
- Giving examples: Zum Beispiel ... / Ein gutes Beispiel dafür ist ...
Tips for Teil 2
Do not just read your notes. Use them as a guide, but speak freely. The examiners are evaluating your ability to communicate, not your ability to memorise a script. When your partner is reporting, listen actively. Nod, react, and ask a genuine follow-up question. Reacting to your partner is part of the task, so it counts towards your score.
Practise Part 2 with topics and phrases →
Teil 3: Planning Something Together (Gemeinsam etwas planen)
Duration: approximately 6 minutes. Up to 30 points.
You and your partner receive a shared task card describing a situation. You must plan something together by discussing practical details and reaching agreements. Typical planning scenarios:
- Planning a farewell party for a colleague
- Organising a weekend excursion for a group
- Planning a birthday celebration
- Organising a language exchange evening
- Planning a group trip or outing
The card usually lists aspects to discuss, such as: When? Where? What food/drinks? Who to invite? What activities?
Useful Phrases for Teil 3
- Making suggestions: Ich schlage vor, dass wir ... / Wie wäre es, wenn wir ... ? / Wir könnten doch ...
- Asking for input: Was meinen Sie dazu? / Haben Sie eine Idee? / Was würden Sie vorschlagen?
- Agreeing with a suggestion: Das ist eine gute Idee. / Ja, das klingt gut. / Einverstanden.
- Offering an alternative: Ich hätte noch eine andere Idee. / Vielleicht wäre es besser, wenn ...
- Dividing tasks: Ich könnte mich um ... kümmern. / Könnten Sie ... übernehmen?
- Summarising: Also, wir haben uns geeinigt, dass ... / Zusammenfassend ...
Tips for Teil 3
This part is about cooperation, not competition. The examiners want to see that you can negotiate, compromise, and build on your partner's ideas. Do not dominate the conversation, and do not stay silent either. A good balance is: make a suggestion, ask your partner's opinion, respond to their idea, and build the plan together step by step.
If your partner is very quiet, gently draw them in: "Was denken Sie, sollen wir lieber am Samstag oder am Sonntag feiern?" If your partner talks too much, find natural moments to add your input: "Das ist ein guter Punkt. Ich möchte auch noch vorschlagen, dass ..."
Practise Part 3 with a dialogue plan and phrases →
Evaluation Criteria: How the 75 Points Are Awarded
Each part is scored on four criteria, each with a band from A to D. Parts 2 and 3 count twice as much as Part 1: up to 15 points for Part 1 and up to 30 points each for Parts 2 and 3.
| Criterion | Part 1: A / B / C / D | Parts 2 and 3: A / B / C / D |
|---|---|---|
| Range of expression (Ausdrucksfähigkeit) | 4 / 3 / 1 / 0 | 8 / 6 / 2 / 0 |
| Task completion (Aufgabenbewältigung) | 4 / 3 / 1 / 0 | 8 / 6 / 2 / 0 |
| Formal accuracy (Formale Richtigkeit) | 4 / 3 / 1 / 0 | 8 / 6 / 2 / 0 |
| Pronunciation and intonation (Aussprache und Intonation) | 3 / 2 / 1 / 0 | 6 / 4 / 2 / 0 |
| Maximum | 15 | 30 each |
- Range of expression (Ausdrucksfähigkeit): Do you use suitable vocabulary and phrases to say what you mean? (Part 1: 4 points, Parts 2 and 3: 8 points)
- Task completion (Aufgabenbewältigung): Did you complete the task, respond to your partner and keep the conversation going? (4 / 8 points)
- Formal accuracy (Formale Richtigkeit): Grammar and sentence structure. Minor errors are fine as long as you are understood. (4 / 8 points)
- Pronunciation and intonation (Aussprache und Intonation): Are you easy to understand? (3 / 6 points)
You pass the oral exam with 45 out of 75 points. This result counts separately from the written exam (at least 135 out of 225 points): a strong oral result cannot make up for a weak written one. For the structure of the whole exam, see TELC B1 exam: structure, process and tips.
How to Practise Speaking
- Find a practice partner: The exam is done in pairs, so practise in pairs. Take turns reporting an opinion, discussing it and planning tasks.
- Record yourself: Speak into your phone for 2 minutes on a topic, then listen back. Notice filler words, long pauses, and repeated mistakes.
- Learn set phrases: The phrases listed above are building blocks. Memorise them until they come automatically. This frees your brain to focus on content rather than searching for words.
- Practise under time pressure: Set a timer for 6 minutes and discuss a short opinion with a partner. This builds the habit of reporting briefly and then reacting.
- Use our exercises: Our telc B1 speaking pages explain all three parts in English, with German phrases, translations and practice topics.
On Exam Day
Arrive early and use the 20-minute preparation time fully. When you enter the room, greet the examiners politely. Speak clearly and at a natural pace, speaking too fast does not earn extra points, but speaking clearly does. If you make a mistake mid-sentence, correct yourself and move on. The examiners know you are still learning, and self-correction is actually a positive sign that shows awareness of your own language use.
Above all, remember that the speaking exam is a conversation, not a test of perfection. The examiners want to hear that you can communicate in German. Be yourself, use the phrases you have practised, and engage genuinely with your partner.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the telc B1 speaking exam take?
About 15 minutes for two candidates. Before that, you have 20 minutes of preparation time.
How many points do I need to pass the oral exam?
At least 45 out of 75 points, i.e. 60%. Part 1 is worth up to 15 points, Parts 2 and 3 up to 30 each.
Do I have to give a presentation in Part 2?
No. In telc B1 Part 2 you report an opinion from your task sheet and discuss it with your partner. A presentation is part of the Goethe-Zertifikat B1, not telc B1.
Am I tested alone or in pairs?
Usually in pairs. That is why the way you react to your partner and ask questions also counts towards your score.
Keep Practising
- telc B1 speaking: all three parts explained in English
- Speaking Part 1: typical questions with translations and sample answers
- Speaking Part 2: phrases, topics and practice cards for the discussion
- Speaking Part 3: planning together with a dialogue plan and checklist
- telc B1 speaking: tips and examples: sample answers for every part