Practise ÖSD B1 speaking
The oral exam takes only about 15 minutes, but many underestimate it. Learn the procedure and tasks here and practise with recording and AI feedback.
The Speaking module at a glance
The oral exam is the second module of the ÖSD Zertifikat Deutsch Österreich B1 (ZDÖ B1). It takes about 15 minutes, as an individual or a paired exam, with two examiners. Before it you get 10 minutes of preparation time, and you may use your notes in the exam. There are three tasks and up to 75 points; you pass the oral exam from 45 points (60%).
What is assessed is not “perfect” German, but whether you express yourself understandably, coherently and appropriately for the situation, and whether you interact with your partner.
The three speaking tasks
Task 1: Making contact
Talking about yourself and asking questions: name, where you live, languages, job, hobbies. The examiners may ask follow-up questions.
Task 2: Talking about a topic
You report on three statements from a newspaper, your partner on different ones. Then you give your opinions and discuss.
Task 3: Solving a task together
You plan something together using the notes on the task sheet: making suggestions, responding to your partner, agreeing.
What do the examiners look for?
In speaking, several things count at once, speaking fluently is not enough if you do not fulfil the task or do not engage with your partner.
- Task fulfilment & interaction, responding to your partner
- Fluency & pronunciation, understandable and coherent
- Vocabulary, appropriate to the topic
- Grammar & accuracy
Tips for the speaking module
Do not memorise
Memorised texts stand out and rarely fit the task. Practise flexible phrases instead.
Engage with your partner
Ask questions, react to suggestions, interaction is assessed, not just the monologue.
Practise out loud & record yourself
Really speak out loud and record yourself. You will hear your pronunciation and pauses, and get used to the situation.
Practise speaking with recording & transcript
With ExamReady you speak real B1 tasks, your answer is transcribed and you get feedback based on the exam criteria.
- Recording & automatic transcript
- Feedback on fluency, vocabulary, grammar, structure
- Concrete advice on structuring your answers better
Speaking training with the AI examiner comes with Pro. The lessons on the three speaking tasks are free to open with your daily keys.
Frequently asked questions about speaking
How long does the Speaking module take?
About 15 minutes, plus 10 minutes of preparation time. You may use your notes from the preparation, and a short warm-up chat at the start is not marked.
Is it a paired exam?
It can be: the oral exam takes place on your own or in a pair. In an individual exam, one of the examiners is your conversation partner. Either way, plan for interaction.
What is assessed?
Task fulfilment and interaction, fluency and pronunciation, vocabulary and grammar. Up to 75 points in total, passed from 45 (60%).
How do I practise speaking on my own?
Speak the tasks out loud, record yourself and compare against the requirements. With ExamReady you also get a transcript and AI feedback.