Language course
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Are you afraid of the photo in DTZ Sprechen Teil 2? With the 6-word method you always know what to say. A simple strategy, set phrases and tips for migrants from all over the world.
The oral exam section of the Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer (DTZ) consists of three tasks. Teil 2 is officially called Über Erfahrungen sprechen and lasts approximately 6 minutes. This task is often referred to in the B1 DTZ as picture description, because candidates receive a photo and are asked to speak about it.
Both candidates receive different photos on a similar topic. They speak about their photo one after the other. There is no preparation time — candidates see the picture and begin speaking immediately.
Important to know: this task is not only about describing the photo. You are also expected to talk about your own experiences and draw a comparison with your home country. This is precisely where it becomes clear whether you have reached level B1 or remain at level A2.
| Parameter | Information |
|---|---|
| Official name | Über Erfahrungen sprechen |
| Duration | approx. 6 minutes (for both candidates together) |
| Preparation time | none |
| Material | One photo per candidate (different pictures, same topic) |
| Assessment | maximum 20 points (10 for the description + 10 for the experiences) |
| Order | TN 1 first, then TN 2 — not simultaneously |
The task consists of two parts. In the first part you should describe what you see in the photo and what situation is shown. In the second part you should talk about your own experiences with the topic. Afterwards the examiner asks additional questions or gives speaking prompts.
👉 Exercises to prepare for the DTZ B1 examMany candidates know the task well, have learnt vocabulary and can form sentences — and yet they panic in the exam when they see the photo. Why? Because they do not know where to start and where to go next.
The problem is not the language level, but the absence of a clear plan. Those who speak without a strategy often get stuck at the beginning and only describe the colours or clothing in the photo. This means the most important points — personal experiences and comparison with the home country — remain unsaid. Yet these are precisely the points that are decisive for level B1.
The photo is only a starting point. The examiners do not want to hear every detail of the picture. They want to see how well you can talk in German about your own life and your culture. Anyone who only describes the photo demonstrates at most level A2.
The solution is simple: learn a fixed sequence of six words by heart. These six words are your plan for every photo you will see in the exam. They work like a navigation system in your head.
WO → WER → WAS → WIE → ICH → HEIMAT
These six stations guide you step by step through the entire task. You move upwards as if climbing a staircase — no jumping, no going back, no stopping. Each station gets a few sentences, then you move on to the next station.
1. WO — Where is the situation? (Park? Kitchen? Restaurant? Street?) Here you briefly describe the location and the general surroundings.
2. WER — Who is in the photo? (A family? Two women? Children? A group?) Here you name the people.
3. WAS — What are the people doing? (Are they eating? Talking? Working? Playing?) Here you describe the action.
4. WIE — How do the people appear? (Happy? Tired? Concentrated?) Here you also name the topic of the photo.
5. ICH — And you yourself? Do you know this situation? What have you already experienced? Here comes a small story from your own life.
6. HEIMAT — How is it in your home country? The same or different? Here you compare Germany with your homeland.
Only a few sentences per station — no more! If you talk about the photo for too long, you will have no time for ICH and HEIMAT. But these are precisely the two stations that demonstrate level B1.
| Station | Recommended number of sentences | Content |
|---|---|---|
| 1. WO | 3 to 4 sentences | Location and surroundings |
| 2. WER | 3 to 4 sentences | People in the photo |
| 3. WAS | 3 to 4 sentences | Action and activity |
| 4. WIE | 3 to 4 sentences | Mood and topic |
| 5. ICH | 4 to 5 sentences | Personal experience — most important part! |
| 6. HEIMAT | 3 to 4 sentences | Comparison with the home country |
Here you will find concrete set phrases for each station. Learn two to three sentences from each block by heart — that is enough for every photo that can appear in the DTZ exam.
There is a simple trick that makes the 6-word method even more effective: your eyes guide your mouth. You look at a specific part of the photo — and your mouth automatically speaks about what your eyes see.
The brain works better when seeing and speaking function together. This means that in the exam you do not have to think about what to say — your eyes know the way.
| Step | Eyes look … | Mouth says … |
|---|---|---|
| 1. WO | at the background | Location and surroundings |
| 2. WER | at the people as a whole | Who is there, how many people |
| 3. WAS | at the hands and movements | What action is happening |
| 4. WIE | at the faces | Feelings and topic |
| 5. ICH | away from the photo, briefly to the side | Personal experience, personal story |
| 6. HEIMAT | briefly upwards | Comparison with the home country |
With practice this eye movement becomes a physical habit. After a few weeks of training the body reacts automatically: the eyes move across the photo in the right sequence and the mouth follows with the appropriate sentences.
Find a new photo from the internet or a magazine every day. Speak aloud while your eyes follow the route. After one week you will notice: the plan works by itself.
The 6-word method works best when you observe a few important rules. There are also emergency sentences that help you when you briefly do not know how to continue in the exam.
It is completely normal to need a moment to think in the exam or to forget a word. The important thing is just that you do not stay silent. With the following emergency sentences you keep the conversation alive:
If you politely ask for clarification when you have not understood something, this is assessed positively. It shows that you command an important communication strategy. You do not have to understand everything perfectly!
The method works best when you practise it regularly. Say the six words aloud every day — for example before going to sleep. After one week the sequence is firmly fixed in your head, and in the exam the plan comes automatically.
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