„ ähm Ja, für mich ist das Wandern. In der Natur, wenn ich laufe, dann ich vergesse die Arbeit Das hilft mir viel“
„Wenn ich in der Natur laufe, vergesse ich die Arbeit. Das hilft mir sehr.“
Why: Die Sätze werden mit richtiger Verbposition klarer.
German B1 · Speaking exam practice
telc B1 speaking exam (German): how to practise Teil 1–3
The telc B1 speaking exam (Sprechen) is the oral part of telc Deutsch B1 (Zertifikat Deutsch). After 20 minutes of preparation on your own, you speak for about 15 minutes with a second candidate, in three parts, while two examiners listen and mark you. To pass the speaking part, you need at least 45 of 75 marks. This page explains how the exam works and how to practise each part, with sample questions, topics and phrases, a practice plan, and what to say when you go blank. All of it is our own material, not original exam tasks; the clips further down come from an AI simulation in B1 Sprechen.
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.
Independent practice service · not affiliated with the Goethe-Institut, telc gGmbH, the BAMF or g.a.s.t. Exam names are used only to describe the exams.
- 20 min
- Preparation, on your own
- 15 min
- Speaking (approx.), usually in pairs
- 3 parts
- approx. 3 + 6 + 6 min, all marked
- 45 of 75
- Speaking marks needed to pass
01
How the telc B1 speaking exam works
The speaking exam is normally a pair exam: you talk mainly with the other candidate, not with the examiners. Two examiners with a telc licence are in the room. One moderates and says as little as possible, the other observes; both mark you on their own during the conversation and agree on one result after you have left.
Before the exam you have 20 minutes to prepare on your own, with the task sheets for all three parts. You can take your notes (on paper stamped by the test centre) into the exam, but you shouldn't read from them. The conversation itself takes about 15 minutes:
- Teil 1, Einander kennenlernen (approx. 3 min, up to 15 marks): you introduce yourselves and ask each other questions.
- Teil 2, Über ein Thema sprechen (approx. 6 min, up to 30 marks): you tell each other about two opposing opinions on one topic, then discuss it and bring in your own experience.
- Teil 3, Gemeinsam etwas planen (approx. 6 min, up to 30 marks): you plan an activity together and agree who does what.
Each part is marked on the same four criteria: range of expression (Ausdrucksfähigkeit), task completion (Aufgabenbewältigung), accuracy (formale Richtigkeit), and pronunciation and intonation (Aussprache und Intonation). You pass the speaking exam with at least 45 of 75 marks, separately from the written exam.
To hear how a whole conversation in this format sounds, listen to an AI simulation by B1 Sprechen, with a transcript. The practice plan below shows how to practise the three parts step by step.
Hear the full telc B1 speaking exam example (approx. 11 min) Go to the practice plan
02
Practice material for the telc B1 speaking exam
Each part has its own practice page: Teil 1, Einander kennenlernen, with a sample dialogue and Redemittel for asking your partner questions; Teil 2, Über ein Thema sprechen, with our own opinion texts to report and discuss; Teil 3, Gemeinsam etwas planen, with practice tasks, checklists and Redemittel for sharing out tasks.
Teil 1: Einander kennenlernen
Sample questions and answers for introducing yourself, a sample dialogue, Redemittel for asking your partner questions, and mistakes to avoid.
View materialTeil 2: Über ein Thema sprechen
Four practice topics with opinion texts A and B, a sample dialogue, Redemittel for reporting and discussing, and mistakes to avoid.
View materialTeil 3: Gemeinsam etwas planen
Three practice tasks with checklists, a sample dialogue and Redemittel for making suggestions, reacting and agreeing who does what.
View material
03Teil 1 · Teil 2 · Teil 3
Teil 1–3: what to practise in each part
Task sheets use the German names, so we keep them. Exam facts come from telc's Übungstest 1 (13th edition, 2020) and the telc exam regulations valid from 15 April 2025. Timings are approximate; the Übungstest presents its sample flow only as a possible one, so who starts each part is not fixed. All questions, topics, scenarios and phrases below are our own practice material, not real exam tasks.
- approx. 3 min
Teil 1 · Einander kennenlernen
Getting to know each other
You and your partner introduce yourselves and ask each other questions. The points on the task sheet are only suggestions, you can talk about other things too, and the examiners may bring up a topic that is not on the sheet. Unlike the short, unmarked warm-up at the Goethe exam, this part is marked. Practise short answers that end with a question for your partner, and follow-up questions on what your partner has just said.
- Prepare building blocks, not a memorised text: „Ich komme aus … und wohne seit … in …“, „Ich arbeite als … bei …“, „Deutsch lerne ich, weil …“.
- Answer in two or three sentences, then hand over: „Und wie ist das bei Ihnen?“
- Follow up on your partner's answer: „Ach, Sie arbeiten in einer Klinik? Was gefällt Ihnen an der Arbeit?“
- Our own practice questions: „Seit wann lernen Sie Deutsch?“, „Was kochen Sie gern?“, „Wie war Ihre letzte Reise?“, „Was möchten Sie in fünf Jahren machen?“
- approx. 6 min
Teil 2 · Über ein Thema sprechen
Discussing opinions on a topic
You and your partner get different task sheets with contrasting opinions on the same topic (in the Übungstest, a short personal opinion as printed in a magazine). First you each tell the other what your text says, then you discuss the topic and bring in your own experience and opinion. Practise a one-minute summary in your own words, then a real exchange. Careful: at the Goethe exam, Teil 3 has the same name but is a different task.
- Summarise, don't read out: „In meinem Text geht es um … Die Person meint, dass …, weil …“
- Give your own view with an example from your life: „Ich sehe das ein bisschen anders. Bei mir war es so: …“
- React to your partner's point before adding your own: „Das stimmt, aber man muss auch sagen, dass …“
- Keep it a dialogue: „Was meinen Sie dazu?“, „Haben Sie das auch schon erlebt?“
- Our own practice topics: „Homeoffice oder Büro?“, „Handys für Kinder unter zwölf?“, „Ohne Auto in der Stadt leben?“ Write one short opinion for and one against each, then summarise one and argue with the other.
- approx. 6 min
Teil 3 · Gemeinsam etwas planen
Planning something together
Together you organise a given activity, such as a party, a concert or an exhibition. You make suggestions, respond to your partner's ideas and sort out what needs to be done and who takes on which task. The task sheet asks you to agree on a joint plan at the end. Practise making concrete suggestions, disagreeing politely and closing with a summary. At the Goethe exam this task comes first, as Teil 1.
- Suggest concretely: „Wie wäre es, wenn wir …?“, „Ich schlage vor, dass wir …“
- Disagree politely and offer an alternative: „Das finde ich etwas schwierig, weil … Vielleicht lieber …?“
- Share out the tasks: „Wer kümmert sich um die Tische? Das kann ich übernehmen.“
- Finish with what you agreed: „Also, wir machen Folgendes: …“
- Our own practice scenarios: a neighbourhood flea market, a day trip with your German course, a games evening at a language café. For each, cover the day and time, the meeting point, what to bring, how to let people know and who does what.
recorded in B1 Sprechen · all voices AI
telc B1 speaking exam: clips from an AI simulation
From one complete simulation in the telc Deutsch B1 format: one moment each from Teil 1, 2 and 3. The lines below show what each part asks of you; the whole conversation with transcript is in the complete example.
The key point from the feedback – and the moment it refers to
Excerpt 02:13–02:35AI simulation
Frau Weber (AI)Examiner
Herr Braun (AI)Examiner
Alex (AI)Candidate
Ivana (AI)Fellow candidate
Ivana (AI) Und manchmal spiele ich Schach mit meiner Tandempartnerin, das finde ich entspannend.
02:13 / 02:35Part 1 · Getting to know each other
From the feedback on this part
Part 1 · Getting to know each other
Excerpt 01:26–02:13AI simulation
Frau Weber (AI)Examiner
Herr Braun (AI)Examiner
Alex (AI)Candidate
Ivana (AI)Fellow candidate
Ivana (AI) Meine Muttersprache ist Kroatisch, und Englisch kann ich gut seit der Schule.
01:26 / 02:13Part 1 · Getting to know each other
From the feedback on this part
„ Und am Wochenende ich gehe wandern“
„Und am Wochenende gehe ich wandern.“
Why: Im Hauptsatz steht das Verb an zweiter Stelle.
In the full conversation from 01:26Feedback page for this simulation (Part 1)
One moment per part
- Part 1 · Getting to know each other
Das klingt nicht so einfach, besonders mit Einkaufen und vielen Treppen. Aber Dresden ist bestimmt schön. Danke für das nette Gespräch, Ivana
- Part 2 · Talking about a topic
Da stimme ich zu. Für mich ist Urlaub auch zum Auftanken. Und wenn ich zu viel Kontakt zur Arbeit habe, dann fühle ich mich schnell wieder müde.
- Part 3 · Planning something together
Ja, ich wohne nah am Zentrum. Wir können uns dort treffen, vielleicht am Bahnhof oder an der Haltestelle
Redemittel (useful phrases) in these moments
- „Das klingt nicht so einfach, besonders …“Part 1: react to what was said
- „Danke für das nette Gespräch.“Part 1: end the conversation in a friendly way
- „Da stimme ich zu. Für mich ist …“Part 2: agree and add a reason of your own
- „Wir können uns dort treffen, vielleicht …“Part 3: suggest a meeting point
Hear the full telc B1 speaking exam example (approx. 11 min)See the telc B1 speaking feedback
All voices are AI · Candidate Alex (AI) plays a typical B1 learner – the feedback picks up his mistakes.
How this sample is made
- Real-time voice: the AI partner listens and responds live to what is said.
- An orchestrator steers candidate Alex (AI) part by part – with the same task sheets you get.
- B1 Sprechen records the conversation, transcribes it and builds the feedback page – in under a minute, just like yours.
- 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; Herr Braun does not speak in this telc simulation. Partner: partly recorded in advance (summary of the text), otherwise live.
04
A practice plan for the telc B1 speaking exam
Knowing the format is not the hard part. What counts on the day is saying it out loud, within the time, while someone reacts to you. A plan for your last weeks before the exam (our suggestion, not an official rule):
- Teil 1, five minutes a day: answer three of the practice questions above out loud, each time ending with a question for your partner; then ask three follow-up questions on an imagined answer.
- Teil 2, three times a week: take a short opinion piece (a reader's comment or a blog post), summarise it aloud in about a minute without reading, then argue the opposite view for another minute.
- Teil 3, three times a week: plan one scenario for six minutes, playing both roles if you are alone, and end with a one-sentence summary.
- The 20 minutes' preparation, as we suggest splitting it: Teil 2 about 8 minutes (keywords for your summary and one example from your life), Teil 3 about 7 minutes (one suggestion with a reason for each point), Teil 1 about 2 minutes (two or three questions), and the last 3 minutes or so to go through your notes. Keywords only, so you look at your partner, not the paper.
- Once a week, a full run: 20 minutes' preparation with a timer, then all three parts in order, about 15 minutes, recorded.
- Listen back and check two things: did you read from your notes, and did you ask your partner anything?
Phrases and outlines only help once you say them out loud, in time, with a partner who reacts – and that is hard to set up alone. The telc simulation of B1 Sprechen is designed around exactly this: an AI examiner, an AI partner, all three parts in order, then feedback on the sentences you actually said, with a recording.
05
Mistakes to avoid in the telc B1 speaking exam
telc gGmbH describes in its Übungstest 1 what is expected of candidates. From this, here are five mistakes to iron out while you practise:
- Reading from your notes: write keywords during preparation, not full sentences.
- Giving a speech in Teil 1: the task is to talk about yourself and ask your partner questions, and the examiners may bring up a topic of their own. A memorised text doesn't fit that.
- Talking to the examiners instead of your partner: seats are arranged so you can see each other and talk to each other, not to the examiners. What to do if the conversation stalls is in the next section.
- Only reporting your text in Teil 2: say briefly what your task sheet says, then give your own view and experience.
- Ending Teil 3 without a plan: you are meant to agree on what needs to be done and who does what. Sum up the plan in one sentence at the end.
06
If your partner goes quiet, or you go blank
Your partner is part of your task, not your rival: the Übungstest states that asking follow-up questions and helping each other are rated positively. If your partner struggles, ask a simple, open question („Und was denken Sie?“, „Haben Sie das auch schon erlebt?“). If the conversation stops completely, the interlocutor is there to step in.
If you go blank yourself, say so in German and gain a moment instead of falling silent:
- „Moment, lassen Sie mich kurz überlegen.“
- „Entschuldigung, können Sie die Frage bitte wiederholen?“
- „Ich weiß das Wort nicht, aber ich meine so etwas wie …“
- „Wo war ich? Ach ja, ich wollte sagen, dass …“
07
How the telc B1 speaking exam is marked
Teil 1 gives up to 15 marks, Teil 2 and Teil 3 up to 30 each: 75 marks, 25% of the 300 for the whole exam. The four marking criteria are listed in the overview above.
You need 60% in the written exam and 60% in the speaking exam separately: 135 of 225 written marks and 45 of 75 speaking marks.
B1 Sprechen does not give marks, predict a result or assess pronunciation. Our feedback only refers to sentences you actually said in the simulation.
Practise the telc B1 speaking exam out loud, in exam order
- 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
With an account you practise all three parts in exam order with an AI examiner and an AI partner, then 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. The packs work for both Goethe and telc; you choose the exam when you start a simulation.
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
telc B1 speaking exam: frequently asked questions
01Are there real past papers or exam questions for the telc B1 speaking exam?
telc publishes an official mock exam, Übungstest 1, which you can download from the telc Deutsch B1 page on telc.net; telc's exam regulations say it sets the binding structure and timing of the exam. Taking, photographing or publishing real exam material counts as cheating under the same regulations, so we don't use it. The questions, topics and scenarios on this page and in our simulations are written by us and are not real exam tasks.
02How long is the telc B1 speaking exam?
About 15 minutes for a pair: approx. 3 minutes for Teil 1 and approx. 6 minutes each for Teil 2 and Teil 3. Before that you have 20 minutes to prepare.
03How many marks do I need to pass telc B1 speaking?
45 of 75 in the speaking exam, and separately 135 of 225 in the written exam (60% each). The two examiners agree on one final mark for your speaking.
04Can I take notes into the exam room?
Yes, but only the notes you made during the 20-minute preparation on paper stamped by the test centre. You may not write on the task sheets, and you shouldn't read your notes out. During preparation you may not talk to anyone or use a dictionary, phone or other device, and the examiners collect and destroy your notes after the exam.
05Is the speaking exam on the same day as the written exam?
It can be. According to telc's regulations, the speaking exam takes place on the same day as the written exam or up to seven calendar days afterwards. Your test centre tells you the exact time.
06Can I retake only the speaking part?
At B1 level, the 2025 exam regulations let you retake only the part you failed (speaking or written) within 12 months of your first exam, counted from the date its result sheet (Ergebnisbogen) was issued, and keep the result of the other part. The older Übungstest (2020) says within the same or the following calendar year; the 2025 regulations are the newer source. Ask your test centre to confirm.
07What happens if there is no partner for me?
If you are the only person registered, you can take the exam alone and one of the examiners plays the second candidate. If the number of candidates is odd, one exam may be held with a single candidate.
08How can I practise for the telc B1 speaking exam without a partner?
Answer Teil 1 questions aloud and always ask your partner one in return, summarise short opinion texts aloud for Teil 2, and plan Teil 3 scenarios playing both roles, then record yourself and listen back. What solo practice can't give you is someone who interrupts, disagrees or goes quiet; the telc simulation of B1 Sprechen is designed to have an AI partner and an AI examiner take those roles.
09Does B1 Sprechen give me a mark?
No. We don't give marks, predict whether you will pass or assess your pronunciation. After a simulation you get feedback on sentences you actually said, and a recording to listen back to.
10Is telc Deutsch B1 the same as telc English B1, telc Deutsch A2·B1 or the DTZ?
No. This page covers the German exam telc Deutsch B1 (Zertifikat Deutsch) for adults only. telc English B1, telc Deutsch A2·B1, telc Deutsch B1 Schule and telc Deutsch B1+ Beruf are separate exams. The DTZ (Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer) is also a separate exam, run since 2023 by g.a.s.t. on behalf of the BAMF, with no preparation time.
Taking the Goethe-Zertifikat B1 instead?
The Goethe B1 speaking exam runs differently: 15 minutes' preparation, planning together is Teil 1, Teil 2 is a presentation with slides, and in Teil 3 your partner and an examiner give feedback and ask questions. It is marked out of 100.
Goethe B1 speaking exam