Skip to content
Sign inTry it free

Goethe-Zertifikat B1 · Sprechen Teil 1

Gemeinsam etwas planen B1: practice tasks for Goethe B1 Sprechen Teil 1 (Part 1)

Gemeinsam etwas planen (planning something together) is Goethe B1 Sprechen Teil 1 (Part 1), the first part of the speaking exam. You and your partner get a situation – a party, a visit, a move – and in about 2–⁠3 minutes you make suggestions, react to each other and agree on a plan. This page gives you four original planning tasks, Redemittel (useful phrases) sorted by what you want to do, a short sample dialogue and the mistakes that make this part harder than it needs to be.

Hear an example ↓Download German PDF

Simulate the whole speaking exam: AI examiners and an AI partner, all three parts, then feedback in German on your own sentences – pay once, no subscription.

B1 Sprechen is an independent practice tool. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Goethe-Institut or telc gGmbH. All tasks, phrases and dialogues on this page are our own practice material, not tasks from real exams; for official material, please use the links at the end of this page.

German-language PDF · free · no sign-up

Last updated: · Published by

2–⁠3 min
approx. length of Teil 1 (Durchführungsbestimmungen)
15 min
preparation for all three parts
1 partner
another candidate, or an examiner in a single exam
4
original practice tasks below

Free practice booklet

The German edition: four original tasks, a moving-house dialogue, phrases, a self-check and notes. Topics differ from this English page.

German-language PDF · free · no sign-up

Download German PDF
01Task 1 · Task 2 · Task 3 · Task 4

Four practice tasks for Gemeinsam etwas planen

These four tasks are our own practice material, not tasks from real exams. Each one gives a situation and four points to help you plan. Take two or three minutes to note a few keywords, then talk for about three minutes – with a partner, or alone playing both roles. In the exam, Teil 1 takes approx. 2–⁠3 minutes according to the Durchführungsbestimmungen Goethe-Zertifikat B1 (as of 1 September 2025); the task sheet in the Modellsatz says approx. 3 minutes, and the official online Modellsatz calls this part Aufgabe 1. In a single exam, an examiner plays your partner.

  1. practice: approx. 3 min

    Task 1 · Abschiedsfeier für die Kursleiterin

    A farewell party for your course teacher

    Your German course ends next month and your teacher, Frau Berger, is moving to another city. Plan a small farewell party for her with your partner. Points: Wann und wo? · Essen und Getränke? · Geschenk? · Wer macht was?

    • Open with the situation, not with point one: „Frau Berger geht ja nächsten Monat weg. Sollen wir eine kleine Feier für sie machen?⁠“
    • The gift is a good place to disagree politely: „Blumen finde ich ein bisschen langweilig. Was hältst du von einem Buch?⁠“
    • „Wer macht was?⁠“ is the point candidates forget – split the jobs out loud before you finish.
  2. practice: approx. 3 min

    Task 2 · Einem Freund beim Umzug helfen

    Helping a friend move house

    Your friend Tobias is moving into a new flat on the other side of town and has asked you both to help. Plan the day together. Points: Wann anfangen? · Transport (Auto, Transporter)? · Essen für die Helfer? · Wer kümmert sich um was?

    • Ask before you decide: „Hast du am Samstag Zeit, oder passt dir Sonntag besser?⁠“
    • Give reasons with weil or denn: „Wir sollten früh anfangen, weil es am Nachmittag heiß wird.⁠“
    • If your partner has no car, that is a chance for an alternative: „Dann könnten wir einen Transporter mieten.⁠“
  3. practice: approx. 3 min

    Task 3 · Eine Kollegin im Krankenhaus besuchen

    Visiting a colleague in hospital

    Your colleague Sandra has had an operation and will be in hospital for a week. You want to visit her together. Points: Wann besuchen? · Was mitbringen? · Wie hinkommen? · Wer fragt die anderen Kollegen?

    • Think of the patient: „Vielleicht ist sie noch sehr müde. Wir sollten nicht zu lange bleiben.⁠“
    • Offer something concrete instead of only asking: „Ich kann sie vorher anrufen und fragen, ob sie Besuch möchte.⁠“
    • Before you finish, check the last point together: „Und wer fragt die anderen Kollegen? Soll ich eine Nachricht in die Teamgruppe schreiben?⁠“
  4. practice: approx. 3 min

    Task 4 · Überraschung zum 70. Geburtstag

    A surprise for a neighbour's 70th birthday

    Your neighbour, Herr Yilmaz, turns 70 next month. He often helps everyone in the building, so you want to surprise him. Points: Was für eine Überraschung? · Wann? · Wer wird eingeladen? · Wer organisiert was?

    • Collect two or three ideas before choosing one: „Wir könnten ein Fest im Hof machen, oder wir schenken ihm einen Ausflug.⁠“
    • Weigh them together: „Ein Fest ist schön, aber vielleicht ist das zu viel für ihn. Was meinst du?⁠“
    • End with a short summary of who does what – it shows the examiner and your partner that the plan is finished.

recorded in B1 Sprechen · all voices AI

Gemeinsam etwas planen (B1): an example from an AI simulation

Alex (AI) and Emilio (AI) plan a tool-lending scheme for their building. Listen to how each turn picks up the one before: a suggestion, an addition with a reason, an objection, a new suggestion – this back-and-forth is what Teil 1 is about.

Part 1 · Planning something together

Excerpt 00:54–01:56AI simulation
Frau Weber (AI)Examiner
Herr Braun (AI)Examiner
Alex (AI)Candidate
Emilio (AI)Fellow candidate

Emilio (AI) Alex, ich schlage vor, dass wir am Anfang nur einfache Werkzeuge verleihen, zum Beispiel einen Hammer und eine Leiter.

00:54 / 01:56Part 1 · Planning something together

From the feedback on this part

Said01:29Say it more accurately

„Für die Ausleihe, wir machen eine Liste an die Kellertür“

Better

„Für die Ausleihe machen wir eine Liste an die Kellertür.“

Why: So steht das Verb bei Ihrem Vorschlag zur Ausleihe an der richtigen Stelle.

Transcript excerpt · 00:54–01:25

  1. 00:54Emilio (AI)pre-recordedAlex, ich schlage vor, dass wir am Anfang nur einfache Werkzeuge verleihen, zum Beispiel einen Hammer und eine Leiter. Bist du einverstanden?
  2. 01:06Alex (AI)liveJa, das klingt, Ich denke auch an eine Bohrmaschine, weil viele Nachbarn sowas nicht haben. Und die Werkzeuge, wir könnten im Keller legen, vielleicht in einen kleinen Schrank

    Phrase from the feedback: Wir könnten … im Keller aufbewahren.

  3. 01:17Emilio (AI)liveHmm, eine Bohrmaschine okay, aber nicht zu teuer. Ich kann aus altem Holz ein großes Regal bauen, dann sind die Sachen besser sortiert. Was meinst du?

Redemittel (useful phrases) in this clip

  • „Ich schlage vor, dass wir …““I suggest that we …”: opens a suggestion. In the dass-clause the verb goes to the end.
  • „Bist du einverstanden?“ · „Was meinst du?““Do you agree?” / “What do you think?”: brings your partner in instead of planning alone
  • „Ich denke auch an …, weil …““I’m also thinking of …, because …”: adds your own idea with a reason
  • „… okay, aber nicht zu teuer.““… fine, but not too expensive”: agrees and sets a condition

In the full conversation from 00:54Feedback page for this simulation (Part 1)

Listen to this excerpt in the full conversation – or see what the feedback says about exactly these sentences.

All voices are AI · Candidate Alex (AI) plays a typical B1 learner – the feedback picks up his mistakes.

How this sample is made
  1. Real-time voice: the AI partner listens and responds live to what is said.
  2. An orchestrator steers candidate Alex (AI) part by part – with the same task sheets you get.
  3. B1 Sprechen records the conversation, transcribes it and builds the feedback page – about a minute later, just like yours.
  4. For the excerpts we only cut – each one jumps to its place in the full recording.

Where the lines come from

script pre-recorded live

Examiners: fixed texts, recorded in advance; only Herr Braun's questions to Alex in Part 3 are live. Partner: partly recorded in advance (introduction, first suggestion in Part 1, presentation, answer to Herr Braun's question), otherwise live.

02

Redemittel (useful phrases) for Gemeinsam etwas planen

You do not need many phrases – you need two or three per step that come out without thinking. Pick the ones below that feel natural to you and use them in every practice task until they do.

  • Making a suggestion:„Wie wäre es, wenn wir …?⁠“„Ich schlage vor, dass wir …⁠“„Wir könnten doch …⁠“„Was hältst du davon, wenn …?⁠“
  • Agreeing:„Gute Idee, das machen wir.⁠“„Da hast du recht.⁠“„Einverstanden – und dann könnten wir noch …⁠“
  • Disagreeing and offering an alternative:„Das finde ich nicht so gut, weil …⁠“„Ich weiß nicht, ob das klappt. Vielleicht lieber …?⁠“„Und wenn wir stattdessen …?⁠“
  • Asking your partner:„Was meinst du?⁠“„Hast du eine andere Idee?⁠“„Passt dir das?⁠“„Wie meinst du das genau?⁠“
  • Agreeing on a plan and summing up:„Also, dann machen wir es so: …⁠“„Ich kümmere mich um …, und du übernimmst …⁠“„Gut, dann haben wir alles.⁠“
03

Sample dialogue: the farewell party (Task 1)

A short example of how Task 1 can sound. Notice that nobody talks for long: each turn reacts to the previous one, there is one polite disagreement and the plan ends with a summary.

  • A: Frau Berger geht ja nächsten Monat weg. Sollen wir eine kleine Abschiedsfeier für sie organisieren?
  • B: Ja, gern! Wie wäre es mit Freitag nach dem Unterricht? Dann sind alle noch da.
  • A: Freitag passt mir gut. Und wo? Im Kursraum oder lieber woanders?
  • B: Was hältst du von dem Café gegenüber?
  • A: Hm, das Café ist ziemlich teuer. Wir könnten doch im Kursraum feiern, und jeder bringt etwas zu essen mit.
  • B: Stimmt, das ist günstiger. Dann backe ich einen Kuchen und kaufe die Getränke.
  • A: Super. Und als Geschenk? Ich schlage vor, wir kaufen ihr einen Gutschein für eine Buchhandlung. Sie liest doch so gern.
  • B: Schöne Idee. Ich kann das Geld von den anderen sammeln. Kaufst du dann den Gutschein?
  • A: Ja, das mache ich. Also: Freitag nach dem Unterricht im Kursraum, jeder bringt etwas mit, du sammelst das Geld und ich kaufe den Gutschein.
  • B: Genau, so machen wir es.

Our own example for practice, not an official model answer. Your conversation will go differently – that is the point of the task.

04

Use the sample dialogue for your next conversation

“Das Café ist ziemlich teuer” responds to the suggested venue. A then offers the classroom as a cheaper alternative. Try the same pattern with a different constraint, such as the time or the number of guests. You do not have to disagree if the suggestion works for both of you.

“Kaufst du dann den Gutschein?” turns an idea into a clear division of tasks. Change one detail before practising again, then respond to what your partner actually proposes. Use these questions afterwards:

  • Which suggestion did I respond to? Write down the suggestion and my reply.
  • What did I clarify or add to the plan?
  • At the end, was it clear when and where the party would happen and who would do what?

These are reflection questions, not a score. The downloadable German booklet contains the four tasks and the moving-house dialogue from the German version of this page; its topics differ from this English version.

05

Typical mistakes in Gemeinsam etwas planen

Most problems in this part are not about grammar. They come from treating a conversation like a short presentation.

  • Monologue: you go through all four points in one long turn and your partner has nothing left to say. Take one point, make a suggestion, then hand over: „Was meinst du?⁠“
  • Ignoring your partner: you say the sentences you prepared, whatever your partner just said. React to their idea first – „Das ist eine gute Idee, aber …⁠“ – then add yours.
  • Stopping at „gut⁠“: „Ja, gut.⁠“ ends the topic. Add a reason or the next step: „Gut, dann kümmere ich mich um die Getränke.⁠“
  • Agreeing with everything: a plan without a single „lieber …?⁠“ sounds like two people waiting for the time to run out. One polite alternative is enough.
  • Reading from your notes: write keywords during preparation, not full sentences, so you can look up and talk.
  • No ending: without a short summary, it is unclear whether you have agreed on anything.
06

How to practise: alone or with a partner

Alone, the hard part is that nobody surprises you. With a partner, the hard part is that you both know the task too well. Both can be fixed with a few rules.

  • Alone: set a timer for three minutes and play both roles out loud – say a suggestion, then answer it as your partner would, including one “no”.
  • Alone: record yourself and listen once for one thing only: did you react to every suggestion, or did you just continue with your own?
  • Alone: repeat the same task a few days later and change your partner's answers, so you cannot reuse the old dialogue.
  • With a partner: prepare separately for two minutes, keywords only, and do not tell each other your ideas beforehand.
  • With a partner: switch who starts, and take turns playing a difficult partner – very quiet, or against every idea.
  • With a partner: afterwards, swap tasks and note one phrase each of you wants to use next time.

Phrases and outlines only help once you can say them out loud, in time, while someone reacts. The B1 Sprechen simulation gives you an AI examiner and an AI partner who responds to what you say, runs the whole exam in order starting with Teil 1, and afterwards shows feedback on your own sentences together with your recording. It does not score you, predict your result or rate your pronunciation.

07

telc Deutsch B1: the same task is Teil 3

If you are registered for telc Deutsch B1 (Zertifikat Deutsch) instead, you will meet Gemeinsam etwas planen as Teil 3, not Teil 1. There it takes about 6 minutes, after 20 minutes of preparation. You organise an event together, make and answer suggestions, clarify what needs to be done and who takes which job, and agree on a joint plan. The tasks and Redemittel on this page work for that too – just practise for the longer time. We also offer a telc Deutsch B1 simulation.

Practise Gemeinsam etwas planen with a partner who reacts

  • Preparation and all three parts, in the order of your exam
  • An AI partner who responds live to what you say
  • Shortly after: feedback in German on your own sentences, with quotes and timestamps

An AI examiner and an AI partner take you through the whole Goethe B1 speaking exam in order, starting with Teil 1, and afterwards you get feedback on your own sentences and your recording. Packs of 1, 3 or 5 simulations, from €5.98 per simulation, one-off payment, no subscription.

Try one part for freeapprox. 5 minStart with 1 simulation · €7.90See prices

full simulation, all three parts · computer + microphone · no subscription · valid 90 days

Within 14 days of purchase, we refund unused simulations pro rata to the pack price – no reason needed. If you have not used any simulation yet, you get the full amount back. Refund policy

08

Questions about Gemeinsam etwas planen (Goethe B1 Teil 1)

01How long is Gemeinsam etwas planen in the Goethe B1 speaking exam?

Approx. 2–⁠3 minutes according to the Durchführungsbestimmungen Goethe-Zertifikat B1 (as of 1 September 2025). The task sheet in the Modellsatz gives approx. 3 minutes.

02Are these real Goethe exam tasks?

No. All four tasks, the phrases and the sample dialogue on this page are written by us for practice. For official material, use the Modellsatz and the online Modellsatz from the Goethe-Institut linked below.

03Do I have to agree with everything my partner suggests?

No. You can disagree politely and suggest something else – „Das finde ich nicht so gut. Vielleicht lieber …?⁠“ The task is to plan together, so in the end try to agree on what you will do.

04Can I use notes in Teil 1?

Yes. During the 15 minutes of preparation you may make notes for every task on the stamped scratch paper and take them into the exam. You are expected to speak freely, so keep them to keywords.

05What if I take the speaking exam alone?

In a single exam, one of the examiners takes the role of your partner in Teil 1.

06How many points is Teil 1 worth?

28 out of 100 points according to the marking scheme in the Modellsatz and Übungssatz. B1 Sprechen itself does not give scores or predict whether you will pass.

More practice material

Taking telc Deutsch B1? This task is Teil 3 there

In telc Deutsch B1, Gemeinsam etwas planen comes last as Teil 3 and lasts about 6 minutes, and Teil 1 is a different task. Our telc page explains all three parts of that exam. We also offer a telc Deutsch B1 simulation.

telc B1 speaking exam · Teil 3: Gemeinsam etwas planentelc Deutsch B1 speaking exam

Official material from the Goethe-Institut