Language course
Englisch
The telc B1 oral exam lasts only 15 minutes. Here you will find the exact structure, the three parts of the exam, typical questions, important set phrases and the best tips for a good mark.
The oral exam is the last part of the telc B1 exam. Many candidates are nervous about this part. But don’t worry: if you know what to expect, the oral exam is not that difficult.
The oral exam lasts only 15 minutes. Before that you receive 20 minutes of preparation time. This means you have enough time to prepare calmly.
The oral exam is a pair exam. This means you do not speak alone — you speak together with another candidate. Two examiners listen and assess your German. Don’t worry: the examiners are friendly. They want you to pass.
The oral exam has three parts. Each part has a different goal. Important: the exam is a conversation, not an interrogation. You should speak as you would in real life — naturally and in a friendly way.
The oral exam has 75 points in total. To pass you need at least 45 points (60 %). If you do not pass the oral exam, you can retake only this part — not the whole exam.
The oral exam has three parts. Each part has its own goal and its own points. Here you can see everything at a glance:
| Part | What do you do? | Duration | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teil 1 | Kontaktaufnahme: you introduce yourself and get to know your partner | 3–4 minutes | 15 points |
| Teil 2 | Conversation about a topic: you talk with your partner about an everyday topic | 5–6 minutes | 30 points |
| Teil 3 | Solving a task together: you plan something together (e.g. a party) | 5–6 minutes | 30 points |
Important to know: Teil 2 and Teil 3 give more points than Teil 1. This means: concentrate especially well on Teil 2 and Teil 3!
Before the exam begins you receive 20 minutes of preparation time. During this time:
Make good use of the 20 minutes! Read the tasks twice. Note down important words, your opinion on the topic and questions for your partner. If you are well prepared, you will speak more calmly during the exam.
In the first part you get to know each other. This is the easiest part of the exam. You introduce yourself and ask your partner questions. Duration: 3–4 minutes.
The most important thing in Teil 1: this is a conversation, not a monologue! You do not speak alone for 3 minutes. You speak with your partner. You take turns.
The topics in Teil 1 are always similar. There is no need to worry — you can prepare well:
At the end the examiner asks one extra question that is not on your sheet. For example: “Was machst du am Wochenende?” or “Was ist dein Lieblingsessen?”
A typical conversation might look like this:
You: Hallo, ich heiße Maria. Und wie heißt du?
Partner: Hallo Maria, ich bin Ivan. Woher kommst du, Maria?
You: Ich komme aus der Ukraine. Und du?
Partner: Ich komme aus Polen. Wie lange wohnst du schon in Deutschland?
You: Ich wohne seit zwei Jahren in Dortmund. Ich arbeite als Verkäuferin. Und was machst du?
Partner: Ich studiere hier Informatik. Hast du Familie in Deutschland?
You: Ja, ich habe eine Tochter. Sie ist sechs Jahre alt. Hast du auch Kinder?
Never answer with just one word! After every answer, ask your partner a question back. The little phrase “Und du?” is your best friend in this exam.
You can learn these sentences by heart. They help you when you are nervous:
In the second part you talk with your partner about an everyday topic. Duration: 5–6 minutes. Max. 30 points.
You and your partner receive different pictures or texts on the same topic. For example: both of you receive something on the topic “Ferien und Reisen”. But the information on your picture is different from the information on your partner’s picture.
The conversation has four steps:
The topics come from everyday life. For example:
You: Auf meinem Bild sehe ich eine Statistik. Die meisten Deutschen machen Urlaub in Deutschland. Nur wenige fahren in ferne Länder.
Partner: Auf meinem Bild sehe ich, wohin die Deutschen am liebsten reisen. Italien und Spanien sind sehr beliebt.
You: Interessant! Ich mache gerne Urlaub am Meer. Und wo machst du am liebsten Urlaub?
Partner: Ich fahre gerne in die Berge. Ich wandere sehr gerne. Magst du auch Berge?
You: Hmm, nicht so. Ich mag warmes Wetter. Im letzten Jahr war ich in der Türkei. Das war super!
Talking about the picture/text:
Expressing your opinion:
Asking for an opinion:
Reacting to an opinion:
Don’t just describe the picture! Far more important is: say your opinion and ask your partner. Also talk about your own experiences. This gives you the most points.
Teil 3 is the most important part of the oral exam. You and your partner must plan something together. Duration: 5–6 minutes. Max. 30 points.
The key word is “gemeinsam” (together). You are not planning alone. You make suggestions. Your partner reacts. They make suggestions. You react. Step by step you arrive at a shared solution.
In Teil 3 you often have to organise something together:
A colleague is moving to another city. You plan a farewell party together. The sheet contains points to plan:
You: Lass uns über die Party sprechen. Wann wollen wir sie machen?
Partner: Ich schlage Samstag vor. Am Samstag haben alle Zeit.
You: Samstag ist eine gute Idee. Und wo wollen wir feiern?
Partner: Bei mir zu Hause? Ich habe einen großen Garten.
You: Super! Aber was ist, wenn es regnet?
Partner: Dann feiern wir im Wohnzimmer. Was machen wir mit dem Essen?
You: Ich schlage vor, jeder bringt etwas mit. Ich mache einen Salat. Und du?
Partner: Gute Idee! Ich kaufe Getränke. Wen laden wir ein?
You: Alle Kollegen aus unserem Büro. Einverstanden?
Partner: Ja, einverstanden!
Making a suggestion:
Accepting a suggestion:
Rejecting a suggestion:
Involving your partner:
Don’t dominate the conversation! If you speak the whole time alone, you will receive fewer points. Even if your partner is weaker: help them, ask questions, let them speak too. This is assessed positively.
Two examiners listen to you and assess your German. They assess you according to four criteria:
| Criterion | What is assessed? |
|---|---|
| 1. Ausdrucksfähigkeit | How well can you express yourself? Do you have enough vocabulary? |
| 2. Aufgabenbewältigung | Do you complete the task? Do you speak fluently? Do you react to your partner? |
| 3. Formale Richtigkeit | Is your grammar correct? Do you use verbs, cases and sentence structure correctly? |
| 4. Aussprache und Intonation | Can you be understood easily? Do you sound natural? |
| Part | Maximum points |
|---|---|
| Teil 1: Kontaktaufnahme | 15 |
| Teil 2: Conversation about a topic | 30 |
| Teil 3: Solving a task together | 30 |
| Total | 75 |
To pass you need at least 45 points (60 %).
Here are the most important tips so that you score well in the oral exam:
Many candidates want to speak in a complicated way to make a good impression. This is a mistake! A simple, correct sentence is much better than a complicated sentence with many errors.
You don’t know a word? No problem! Paraphrase the word with other, simpler words. For example:
Or simply ask: “Wie sagt man das auf Deutsch?” This is much better than silence.
The examiners also assess how well you react to your partner. Look at them, listen, answer their questions. You should not simply “play back” your own text.
Smile, look at your partner, be polite. If your partner is unsure: help them! Ask them a question. This is assessed very positively.
There are many sentences you need in every exam: greeting, asking questions, expressing an opinion, making suggestions. Learn these sentences well. This gives you more time to think during the exam.
The oral exam can be practised! Find a learning partner. Speak German together. Do role plays. The more you speak, the better you will become.
The examiners want to see that you can communicate. Small mistakes are not so bad. The most important thing is: you speak, you react, you understand. Stay calm and speak as naturally as possible!
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