telc B1 Speaking Exam: All 3 Parts, Scoring and Model Phrases
The telc Deutsch B1 oral exam (mündliche Prüfung) takes about 15 minutes, comes after roughly 20 minutes of silent preparation, and is usually taken in a pair with another candidate. It has three parts, and you need at least 60% of the speaking points to pass that section. The oral part is 25% of the total score, and it’s the one people fear most and prepare least.
The format at a glance
| Preparation | About 20 minutes, alone, without learning materials |
| Exam | About 15 minutes |
| Format | In a pair with another candidate, with examiners present |
| Parts | 3 |
| Points | 75 of the exam’s 300 points (25%) |
| Pass mark | 60% of the speaking points (45 of 75) |
The written and oral sections are passed separately, and you need 60% in each. If you fail one, the exam is not passed, even with a high score in the other. This is one of the main differences to Goethe, where you can pass modules individually. For a full comparison see telc B1 vs DTZ vs Goethe B1.
Part 1: Kontaktaufnahme (about 3 to 4 minutes)
What it is: a get-to-know-you conversation. During preparation you receive a list of prompts, for example: name, origin, family, job, hobbies, reasons for learning German. You must talk about each point, and your partner does the same, then you both ask each other follow-up questions.
What earns points: speaking about every point, adding a detail to each, and asking questions back. Points are given for interaction, not just monologue.
Model:
Ich heiße Ana, ich komme aus Portugal und wohne seit einem Jahr in Stuttgart. Ich arbeite als Krankenschwester in einem Krankenhaus. Meine Familie lebt noch in Portugal: meine Eltern und meine Schwester. Und du? Woher kommst du? Was machst du in deiner Freizeit?
Useful phrases:
- Und du? / Und Sie? (Follow-up)
- Wirklich? Das ist interessant. Wie lange …? (React)
- Bei mir ist das ähnlich / anders. (Compare)
Part 2: Gespräch über ein Thema (about 5 to 6 minutes)
What it is: you and your partner each get a short text or statement on the same topic, but with different viewpoints. Each of you presents your text in your own words. Then you discuss the two positions, give your opinion and share your own experience.
What earns points: summarising in your own words, not reading aloud, plus a clear opinion with reasons and one personal example.
Structure to use:
- Introduce the text: In meinem Text geht es um das Thema … Der Autor sagt, dass …
- Give your opinion: Ich finde/denke, dass … , weil …
- Personal experience: Bei mir war das so: …
- Turn to your partner: Wie siehst du das? Hast du das auch schon erlebt?
Model (topic “Homeoffice”):
In meinem Text geht es um Arbeit von zu Hause. Der Autor sagt, dass man dadurch Zeit spart, aber mehr Kontakt zu Kollegen verliert. Ich finde, dass Homeoffice praktisch ist, weil man keinen Weg zur Arbeit hat. Bei mir im Krankenhaus ist das leider nicht möglich. Wie ist das bei dir?
Useful phrases:
| Function | Phrase |
|---|---|
| Summarising | In dem Text geht es um … / Der Autor meint, dass … |
| Giving an opinion | Meiner Meinung nach … / Ich bin der Ansicht, dass … |
| Agreeing | Da stimme ich dir zu. / Das sehe ich auch so. |
| Disagreeing | Das sehe ich anders, denn … |
| Personal example | Ich habe das selbst erlebt: … |
Part 3: Gemeinsam eine Aufgabe lösen (about 5 to 6 minutes)
What it is: you and your partner have to plan something together, usually an outing, a party or a joint purchase. You must decide what to do and when, explain your ideas and agree on a plan.
What earns points: making proposals, reacting to your partner’s ideas, and reaching a decision. The worst thing you can do is to announce a plan alone. The exam tests cooperation, so ask, agree, disagree politely and compromise.
Model (planning a farewell party for a colleague):
A: Ich schlage vor, dass wir eine kleine Feier im Büro machen. Was meinst du?
B: Gute Idee! Aber vielleicht ist ein Restaurant besser, weil wir da mehr Platz haben.
A: Das stimmt. Wie wäre es mit einem Abendessen am Freitag?
B: Freitag passt mir gut. Wer bestellt den Tisch?
A: Ich kann das machen. Und du kaufst das Geschenk?
B: Ja, gern. Dann ist alles geklärt.
Useful phrases:
- Ich schlage vor, dass … / Wie wäre es mit …? (proposing)
- Das ist eine gute Idee, aber … (softening a “no”)
- Was hältst du davon? (asking)
- Einverstanden! / Abgemacht! (agreeing)
- Sollen wir das so machen? (closing)
Practise your German out loud with SipLingo, free to try on iPhone and Android:
How you’re scored
Speaking is assessed on four broad areas: task fulfilment (did you do what was asked?), interaction and fluency, vocabulary and grammar range and pronunciation. Two things surprise candidates:
- Perfect grammar isn’t required. A mistake that doesn’t block understanding costs little. Silence, one-word answers and ignoring your partner cost a lot.
- Your partner matters. If they talk too little, you’re expected to draw them in with questions. If they talk too much, politely interrupt: Darf ich kurz etwas ergänzen?
The 20 minutes of preparation
Use them like this:
| Minutes | What |
|---|---|
| 0 to 3 | Read all three tasks quickly |
| 3 to 8 | Part 1: write keywords (not sentences) for each prompt |
| 8 to 14 | Part 2: read your text twice, underline 3 key points, note your opinion and one example |
| 14 to 20 | Part 3: note 4 ideas you can offer, plus 2 polite objections |
Write keywords, not full sentences. If you read sentences, you’ll sound like you’re reading, and you’ll lose the thread the moment your partner interrupts.
Common mistakes
- Reading the text aloud instead of summarising it in your own words
- Saying only “Ja, ich auch.” with no detail
- Wrong verb position after dass and weil: Ich finde, dass Homeoffice ist praktisch. The verb goes last: dass Homeoffice praktisch ist.
- Dominating Part 3. Ask questions.
- Switching between du and Sie. Candidates often address each other with du in the exam, but Sie is fine too. Pick one and stay with it.
How to practise
The hardest part of telc speaking is that it’s an interaction: you can’t fully rehearse a partner. So practise the reactions: proposals, polite objections, agreements. Do the exam tasks aloud at least 10 times, timed, and record yourself once a week.
SipLingo can be your practice partner for Parts 1 and 3, with voice conversations and corrections in your own language. It’s not the official telc test and it doesn’t replace real exam materials, but it gives you the speaking hours the exam rewards. Try it free →
Also useful: our list of 50 questions you’ll be asked in the B1 speaking exam and the guide on how to practise the speaking exam alone.
Official sources
For the official details and the latest updates, see:
- telc gGmbH: Zertifikat Deutsch / telc Deutsch B1 – official exam page – Written and oral parts, timings, 3-part pair speaking exam with 20-min prep
Frequently asked questions
How long is the telc B1 speaking exam?
About 15 minutes, after around 20 minutes of preparation. It’s usually done with one other candidate.
What is the passing score for the telc B1 speaking part?
60% of the speaking points (45 out of 75). You also need 60% in the written part.
What are the three parts of the telc B1 oral exam?
Part 1 is Kontaktaufnahme (getting acquainted), Part 2 is Gespräch über ein Thema (discussing a topic) and Part 3 is Gemeinsam eine Aufgabe lösen (planning something together).
Do I take the telc B1 speaking exam alone?
Usually with a partner, another candidate. Some centres take single candidates with an examiner as the partner if there is an odd number.
What if I fail only the oral part?
You have not passed the whole exam. Ask your test centre about the current retake rules, since they can differ by centre. Our post on what happens if you fail the German B1 exam explains the options.
Get the speaking hours the exam rewards. SipLingo runs real voice conversations and corrects your German as you talk. A1 to B2.
