Goethe-Zertifikat B1 · Modul Sprechen
Goethe B1 speaking exam: practise all three parts (Teil 1–3)
The Goethe B1 speaking exam – Modul Sprechen of the Goethe-Zertifikat B1 – is normally taken in pairs: two candidates, two examiners, about 15 minutes, after 15 minutes of preparation on your own. This page walks through the exam pattern part by part, with the official timings and marks, practical tips and original example phrases. B1 Sprechen is building a simulation of this oral exam with an AI examiner and an AI partner, so you can go through Teil 1 to Teil 3 even when you have no one to practise with.
Goethe B1 simulation coming soon – you can already create an account.
B1 Sprechen is an independent practice tool. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Goethe-Institut or telc gGmbH. All tasks in our simulation are original; for official material, please use the links above.
- 15 min
- preparation
- approx. 15 min
- exam in pairs (approx. 10 alone)
- 3 parts
- Teil 1–3
- 60 / 100
- points to pass (official)
Exam format: Teil 1, Teil 2 and Teil 3
Before the three parts there is a short warm-up of about one minute in which you introduce yourself; it is not marked. Before each part the examiner briefly explains the task. Timings below follow the Durchführungsbestimmungen Goethe-Zertifikat B1 (as of 1 September 2025); the task sheets in the Modellsatz give approx. 3, 3 and 2 minutes instead. The official online Modellsatz calls the parts "Aufgabe" 1–3; candidates usually say Teil.
- approx. 2–3 min
Teil 1 · Gemeinsam etwas planen
Planning something together
You and your partner plan something together: you make suggestions, react to your partner's ideas and agree on a plan. In a single exam, one examiner takes the role of your partner.
- Make concrete suggestions instead of only agreeing: "Wie wäre es, wenn wir am Samstag zusammen einkaufen?"
- React to what your partner says and give a reason: "Gute Idee, aber am Samstag habe ich leider keine Zeit. Geht es auch am Sonntag?"
- Bring your partner in: "Was meinst du?" or "Was ist dir wichtig?" – a plan needs two people.
- Close with a short summary: "Also, dann machen wir das so: Ich kümmere mich um …, und du …"
- approx. 3–4 min per candidate
Teil 2 · Ein Thema präsentieren
Presentation
You choose one of two topics and present it along five slides (Folien) on your task sheet. The order is: candidate 1 presents, then feedback and questions (Teil 3); then candidate 2 presents, followed by feedback and questions again. In a single exam you give a short presentation alone.
- Use each of the five slides as your outline and move through them in order, so nothing is left out.
- Signpost the structure out loud: "Ich spreche heute über das Thema …" – "Damit komme ich zum nächsten Punkt." – "Zum Schluss möchte ich sagen …"
- Write keywords, not full sentences: the examiner's script in the Modellsatz asks candidates not to read everything from their notes.
- Have a clear last sentence ready, e.g. "Vielen Dank fürs Zuhören. Haben Sie Fragen?"
- approx. 1–2 min per candidate
Teil 3 · Über ein Thema sprechen
Rückmeldung geben, Fragen stellen (feedback and questions)
After each presentation, the other candidate and the second examiner give feedback and ask questions; the presenter answers. So you do both: react to your partner's presentation and answer questions about your own. In a single exam only the examiner asks.
- While your partner presents, note one point you found interesting and one question.
- Start your feedback with something specific: "Danke für deine Präsentation. Besonders interessant fand ich den Punkt über …"
- Ask an open question: "Wie ist das bei dir? Hast du selbst Erfahrungen damit?"
- If you did not understand a question, ask again instead of guessing: "Entschuldigung, können Sie die Frage bitte wiederholen?"
15 minutes of preparation: how to use them
You prepare on your own before the exam. You receive the task sheets (Kandidatenblätter) with all tasks and may make notes for every task on stamped scratch paper (Konzeptpapier). You may take these notes into the exam room. Dictionaries and mobile phones are not allowed, and in the exam you are expected to speak freely.
There is no official split of the 15 minutes. As a rule of thumb, spend most of the time on the presentation – Teil 2 carries the most points – and keep a few minutes for the planning task.
- Presentation (Teil 2): choose your topic quickly, then write 2–3 keywords per slide plus an opening and a closing sentence.
- Planning (Teil 1): note two or three suggestions and one alternative in case your partner disagrees.
- Last minute: read your opening sentence once more; that is often the hardest part to get out.
The split above is a suggestion, not an official rule.
Exam pattern & marks: the official marking scheme
The speaking module is marked out of 100 points. The two examiners each mark you independently; your result is the average of both, rounded to whole points (0.49 and below down, 0.5 and above up). If the task fulfilment of a part (Erfüllung) is rated E, that task gets 0 points.
Marks distribution according to the Modellsatz (© Goethe-Institut · ÖSD · Universität Freiburg/Schweiz, 2nd ed. 2015) and the Übungssatz (© Goethe-Institut · ÖSD 2016):
- Teil 1 (planning together): 28 points
- Teil 2 (presentation): 40 points
- Teil 3 (feedback and questions): 16 points
- Pronunciation (Aussprache): 16 points
- Passing marks: 60 points (Durchführungsbestimmungen, as of 1 September 2025)
B1 Sprechen does not give scores, does not predict whether you will pass and does not assess pronunciation. After a simulation you get feedback on your own sentences and your recording.
If your partner goes silent – or you go blank
Your partner is assigned at random, so you cannot rehearse with them. It helps to have a few phrases ready that keep a conversation going, whoever is sitting next to you. Many candidates also fear a blackout; a short, honest phrase gives you time to think without falling silent.
- Partner says nothing in Teil 1: ask a direct question – "Was möchtest du lieber machen, … oder …?"
- Partner talks a lot: join in politely – "Darf ich kurz etwas dazu sagen?"
- You need a moment: "Moment, da muss ich kurz überlegen."
- You lost the thread: look at your keywords and go on with the next slide – "Ich komme jetzt zum nächsten Punkt."
- You did not understand: "Können Sie das bitte noch einmal sagen?"
How the telc Deutsch B1 speaking exam differs
telc Deutsch B1 (Zertifikat Deutsch) is a different exam from a different provider, telc gGmbH. It also lasts about 15 minutes in pairs, but gives you 20 minutes of preparation and has no presentation: Teil 1 is Einander kennenlernen (getting to know each other, approx. 3 minutes), Teil 2 is Über ein Thema sprechen (you each get a different task sheet with opinions on one topic, report them to each other and discuss, approx. 6 minutes) and Teil 3 is Gemeinsam etwas planen (approx. 6 minutes). The oral exam is marked out of 75 points and you need at least 45 of them; the written exam has to be passed separately. So "Teil 1" and "Über ein Thema sprechen" mean different tasks in the two exams – check which one you are registered for.
Practising for the Goethe B1 speaking exam without a partner
Two of the three parts are conversations, which are hard to practise alone. Still, you can do a lot on your own:
- Give your presentation with a timer and record it; listen back once for structure, not for every mistake.
- Play both roles in the planning task: say a suggestion, then answer it as your partner would.
- After every presentation you practise, ask yourself one question about it in German and answer it.
- Practise the whole sequence in one go – preparation, Teil 1, Teil 2, Teil 3 – so the timing feels familiar.
The B1 Sprechen simulation runs all three parts with an AI examiner and an AI partner on a computer, then gives you feedback on your own sentences and the recording. It does not score you or predict your result.
Questions about the Goethe B1 speaking exam
01How long is the Goethe B1 speaking exam?
About 15 minutes in pairs, or about 10 minutes if you take it alone, plus 15 minutes of preparation in both cases (Durchführungsbestimmungen, as of 1 September 2025).
02How many points do I need to pass Goethe B1 Sprechen?
60 out of 100 points. Teil 1 is worth 28, Teil 2 40, Teil 3 16 and pronunciation 16. B1 Sprechen does not calculate points or predict whether you will pass.
03Are there real past papers for the Goethe B1 speaking exam?
B1 Sprechen does not offer past papers and does not use tasks from real exams. The official practice material from the Goethe-Institut is the Modellsatz and the Übungssatz on goethe.de – see the links below. All tasks in the B1 Sprechen simulation are written by us.
04Can I take my notes into the exam room?
Yes. Notes you make during preparation on the stamped scratch paper may be used in the exam. Try not to read everything from them – you are expected to speak freely. Dictionaries and phones are not allowed.
05Who will my partner be – and what if there is no partner?
Partners are assigned at random. If you take the exam alone, it lasts about 10 minutes and an examiner plays your partner in Teil 1. For the online exam (Online-Deutschprüfung) the exam centre decides whether you speak alone or in pairs.
06Can I take only the speaking module?
Yes. The modules of the Goethe-Zertifikat B1 can be taken separately, and you can retake a module as often as the exam centre is able to offer a place.
07Will B1 Sprechen tell me whether I will pass?
No. There are no scores, no pass prediction and no pronunciation diagnosis. After a simulation you see feedback on the sentences you actually said, together with your recording.
Taking telc Deutsch B1 instead?
In telc Deutsch B1, Gemeinsam etwas planen is Teil 3, not Teil 1, and Über ein Thema sprechen is Teil 2 with a different task. Our page on the telc speaking exam explains the three parts. Our telc simulation is in preparation.
telc Deutsch B1 speaking examPractise the whole Goethe B1 speaking exam before it counts
The simulation is coming soon. You can create your account now; simulations will be sold in packs of 1, 3 or 5, from €4.90 per simulation, as a one-off payment with no subscription.