Goethe B1 Listening Part 3: Format, Scoring and Topics

In short: In Listening Part 3, you hear an everyday conversation between two people who know each other. There are seven statements about this conversation. For each statement, you decide whether it agrees with what was said in the conversation (True) or not (False). You hear the conversation only once.

The third part of the listening comprehension exam focuses on specific information from a private conversation. For example, the two people might meet on a tram, on a train or at a bus stop and tell each other about what they have experienced or what they are planning. You do not need to understand every word. What matters is listening carefully to the details: Who did what? When? Why? And did something actually happen, or was it only a plan?

Part 3 in the Listening Module – Overview

The Listening module of the Goethe-Zertifikat B1 consists of four parts and a total of 30 tasks. Part 3 is the only part in which you listen to a conversation between two private individuals and hear it only once.

You have approximately 40 minutes for the entire Listening module. This includes 5 minutes at the end to transfer all your answers to the answer sheet.

Source: Goethe-Institut, "Tips and Tricks for Exam Preparation – Goethe-Zertifikat B1, Listening" (PDF).

In short: You hear the instructions, have 60 seconds to read the introductory sentence and statements 16 to 22, listen to the conversation once and mark your answers while listening. You transfer your answers to the answer sheet only at the end of the entire module.

What Is on the Task Sheet?

• The instructions: You are told that you will hear a conversation once, complete seven tasks and have 60 seconds to read the statements.
• The introductory sentence: It describes in one sentence where you are, who is speaking and often what they are talking about. An example in the style of the exam: "Sie sitzen im Zug und hören, wie sich zwei Kolleginnen über ihren Urlaub unterhalten." Sometimes the sentence also mentions the names of the two people.
• Seven statements numbered 16 to 22: Each statement is a short sentence. Next to it are the options "Richtig" (True) and "Falsch" (False).
• No example: Unlike Part 4, Part 3 does not include a completed sample task. You start directly with task 16.

The Procedure in Five Steps

1. Listen to the instructions: The voice on the recording explains that you will now hear a conversation, and that it will be played only once.
2. Read for 60 seconds: Read the introductory sentence and the seven statements. Mark the most important word in each statement.
3. Listen to the conversation: The conversation lasts approximately three minutes. The speakers greet each other, share their experiences and say goodbye at the end.
4. Mark your answers while listening: Because there is no second playback, you must decide immediately as you listen. Part 4 begins straight afterwards.
5. Transfer your answers: After Part 4, you have 5 minutes to transfer the answers from all Listening parts to the answer sheet.

In short: You receive 1 point for each correct answer. With all seven tasks, you can earn a maximum of 7 out of the 30 raw points available in the Listening module. This corresponds to approximately 23 out of 100 scaled score points. You need 60 scaled score points to pass the module.

From Raw Points to Scaled Score Points

• Each task is worth either 1 point or 0 points. There are no half points.
• No points are deducted for an incorrect answer.
• The raw points for the entire module (maximum 30) are converted using a factor of 3.33 and then rounded.
• The Listening module is considered passed with 60 scaled score points (60%). This corresponds to 18 correct answers out of 30.

Source: Goethe-Institut, Regulations for Conducting the Goethe-Zertifikat B1 Examination (PDF). All scaled score points in the tables are rounded.

In short: Two acquaintances meet by chance or by arrangement in a public place and tell each other about their everyday lives: their weekend, a trip, a celebration, work or health. Usually, one person does most of the talking while the other asks questions and responds.

Where Does the Conversation Take Place?

What Do They Talk About?

Who Is Speaking to Whom?

• Storyteller and questioner: This is the most common format. One person gives a detailed account, while the other asks short questions ("Und wie war das Wetter?") and reacts ("Wirklich?").
• Switching roles: One person tells a story first, and the other takes over in the second half. In this case, the tasks contain statements about both speakers.
• Problem and advice: One person has a question or a problem, and the other offers advice. The tasks may also ask what someone recommends or is worried about.

The speakers use the informal German form of address "du" if they are friends, and the formal "Sie" if they know each other only slightly – for example, older neighbours or patients in a waiting room. Other people who are not actually present are often mentioned in the conversation: a sister, a colleague or the children. A statement may also refer to one of these people.

In short: Here is a short extract from a dialogue in the style of Listening Part 3, with three statements and their answers. In the actual exam, the conversation is approximately three times as long and includes seven statements.

Sie warten am Bahnsteig und hören, wie sich zwei Kollegen über ein Konzert unterhalten.

Ben: Und, wie war das Konzert am Samstag?
Lea: Super! Na ja, die ersten zwanzig Minuten habe ich verpasst – der Bus kam einfach nicht. Aber dann hat die Band fast drei Stunden gespielt.
Ben: Bist du mit deiner Schwester hingegangen?
Lea: Das war der Plan. Aber sie hatte Fieber, also ist mein Nachbar mitgekommen.
Ben: Und die Karten waren bestimmt teuer, oder?
Lea: Das dachte ich auch. Im Vorverkauf habe ich aber nur 30 Euro bezahlt – an der Abendkasse wären es 45 gewesen.

In short: If you know the following points, you will not encounter any unpleasant surprises in Listening Part 3.

• ✅ The conversation is played only once. There is no repetition.
• ✅ You have 60 seconds to read the introductory sentence and seven statements – approximately 8 seconds per statement.
• ✅ There is no sample task. Task 16 is already a real exam task.
• ✅ The information appears in the same order as the tasks.
• ✅ You mark your answers while listening. Part 4 begins immediately afterwards.
• ✅ "False" means that the conversation says something different – or that the information is not mentioned at all.
• ✅ There is no penalty for an incorrect answer. Do not leave any answer blank.