Goethe B1 Sprechen: understand and practise Teil 1, 2 and 3
Plan something together, present a topic, give feedback and answer questions. Here you see every part with its points, how it runs and the mistakes that cost the most.
Sprechen is the oral exam, usually taken in pairs. First you get 15 minutes of preparation, on your own. You may take your notes into the exam, but you are expected to speak freely. The exam itself takes approx. 15 minutes for a pair, with two examiners. Pairs are formed at random. A single exam only happens in exceptional cases, and then an examiner talks with you.
There are 100 points: Teil 1 is worth 28, Teil 2 40 and Teil 3 16 points, plus 16 points for pronunciation across all three parts. You pass from 60 points. As in Schreiben: if a part gets an E in Erfüllung, that part scores 0 points.
Part by part
The 3 parts of Sprechen
The minutes are approximate times per person from the exam regulations. The 16 points for pronunciation come from all three parts.
Teil 1 · Gemeinsam etwas planen
Planning something together
approx. 2–3 min
28 points
You plan something together, for example a visit or a party. Four guide points are given, such as when, how, what to bring. You make suggestions, react to each other and agree.
How to approach it
During preparation, note one idea with a reason for each guide point, in keywords.
One conversation, not two monologues: suggest, react, ask, agree.
At the end, sum up the shared plan in one or two sentences: “Also, dann machen wir es so …”
Typical traps
Only presenting your own ideas and not reacting to your partner.
Getting stuck on one guide point: cover all four, otherwise find a compromise and move on.
A word is missing and you go silent: describe it or ask.
You choose one of two topics and present it along 5 slides: introduce the topic, your own experience, the situation in your home country, pros and cons with your opinion, conclusion and thanks.
How to approach it
Choose the topic you have an experience and examples from your country for.
Notes in keywords, one line per slide, and a bridging sentence before each slide.
About 40 seconds per slide, about 3 minutes in total.
Typical traps
Skipping a slide: all 5 slides earn 12 points in Erfüllung, 3 or 4 only 9.
Writing out full sentences and reading them aloud instead of speaking freely.
Getting stuck and stopping: better to paraphrase and keep talking.
After your partner’s presentation you give short feedback and ask a question. After your own presentation you answer questions from your partner and the examiners.
How to approach it
Listen with a note: something new or interesting and a point for your question.
Make your feedback specific: thanks, one detail, why it interests you.
Answer in three or four sentences: answer, reason, example.
Typical traps
Just “Das war gut”: that is not specific feedback.
A yes/no question instead of a W-Frage about the presentation.
Not understanding the question and simply guessing: “Können Sie die Frage bitte wiederholen?”
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The course: 28 lessons
Short lessons take you step by step through every exam task: how it is built, where points get lost and how to win them. With exercises and checkpoints.
You get the tasks and have 15 minutes of preparation, on your own. Then you speak in pairs for approx. 15 minutes: in Teil 1 you plan something together, in Teil 2 each person presents a topic, in Teil 3 you give each other feedback and ask questions. Before that there is a short warm-up conversation that is not scored.
How many points are there in Teil 1, 2 and 3?
Teil 1 is worth 28 points, Teil 2 40 and Teil 3 16 points. On top of that come 16 points for pronunciation. That makes 100 in total, and you pass from 60.
Can I use my notes in the exam?
Yes, you can use your notes from the preparation. But you are expected to speak freely, not read aloud. So write keywords, not full sentences.
What if my partner’s German is weak?
Pairs are formed at random. What is scored is what you say: your suggestions, how you react and ask, your presentation and your pronunciation. If your partner gets stuck, help the conversation along with a question.
Can I take Sprechen on my own?
Only in exceptional cases. Then an examiner is your partner in Teil 1 and asks you the questions in Teil 3. The exam then takes approx. 10 minutes, and the preparation stays at 15 minutes.
ExamReady is an independent learning platform and is not affiliated with the Goethe-Institut or ÖSD. All tasks are original materials written in the exam format.
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