Goethe B2 Speaking Exam: Format, Scoring and Model Phrases
The Goethe-Zertifikat B2 speaking module (Sprechen) has two parts: a presentation of about 4 minutes on a topic you choose from two, and a discussion of about 5 minutes in which you exchange arguments with your partner. The whole exam takes about 15 minutes, preceded by 15 minutes of preparation alone, in which you’re allowed to make notes. It’s where B2 differs most from B1: you’re no longer asked to tell, you’re asked to argue.
The format at a glance
| Preparation | 15 minutes, alone, notes allowed |
| Exam duration | About 15 minutes |
| Part 1 | Vortrag (presentation), about 4 minutes, one topic out of two |
| Part 2 | Diskussion (discussion) with your partner, about 5 minutes |
| Partner | Usually another candidate, at the same time |
| Pass mark | 60% of the points in the module, like all Goethe modules |
Each module is assessed independently. If you fail Sprechen but pass the others, you can retake just the speaking module. For how that works in practice, see the Goethe B1 passing score post, where the same modular logic applies.
Part 1: Vortrag (the presentation)
What it is: you get two topics, choose one and prepare a short talk with an introduction, a main section and a conclusion. Then you present for about 4 minutes, and your partner may react or ask a question. Typical topics are social and everyday issues, for example: Soll man im Homeoffice arbeiten? Sind Smartphones bei Kindern sinnvoll? Wie wichtig ist Sport?
What earns points: a clear structure, your own position, relevant examples and a natural delivery. It’s not a memorised recitation, and reading from notes lowers your score.
A structure that works
| Step | Content | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Einleitung | Introduce the topic and say what you’ll cover | 30 sec |
| 2. Persönliche Erfahrung | One example from your life | 45 sec |
| 3. Situation im Heimatland | How it looks in your country | 45 sec |
| 4. Vor- und Nachteile | 2 advantages and 2 disadvantages | 90 sec |
| 5. Meine Meinung + Schluss | Your conclusion and a closing sentence | 30 sec |
Model presentation opening and closing
Einleitung: Guten Tag, ich möchte heute über das Thema „Homeoffice“ sprechen. Zuerst erzähle ich von meinen Erfahrungen, dann sage ich etwas zur Situation in meinem Heimatland, danach nenne ich Vor- und Nachteile, und am Schluss gebe ich meine Meinung.
Schluss: Zusammenfassend kann man sagen, dass Homeoffice für viele Menschen eine gute Möglichkeit ist, wenn es klare Regeln gibt. Meiner Meinung nach ist eine Kombination aus Büro und Homeoffice ideal. Vielen Dank für Ihre Aufmerksamkeit.
Phrases for a presentation
| Function | Phrase |
|---|---|
| Opening | Ich möchte heute über das Thema … sprechen. |
| Structure | Zuerst …, dann …, danach …, zum Schluss … |
| Personal experience | Aus eigener Erfahrung kann ich sagen, dass … |
| Home country | In meinem Heimatland ist das ganz anders / ähnlich. |
| Advantage | Ein großer Vorteil ist, dass … |
| Disadvantage | Auf der anderen Seite gibt es den Nachteil, dass … |
| Statistic | Laut einer Studie … / Nach Angaben von … |
| Concluding | Zusammenfassend lässt sich sagen, dass … |
| Closing | Vielen Dank für Ihre Aufmerksamkeit. |
Don’t invent statistics. “Viele Studien zeigen …” is fine, and “Laut einer Studie von 2023, 68 Prozent …” isn’t if it isn’t real.
Part 2: Diskussion (the discussion)
What it is: you and your partner discuss a topic. Each of you takes a position, gives arguments, reacts to the other person’s points and, at the end, summarises your position. It should feel like a real conversation, not two speeches.
What earns points: reacting to what your partner said (not just delivering your prepared points), giving reasons and examples, agreeing and disagreeing politely, and keeping the exchange going. Both candidates are assessed, and a partner who talks too much doesn’t help either of you.
Phrases for a discussion
| Function | Phrase |
|---|---|
| Stating your position | Ich bin der Meinung, dass … / Ich vertrete die Ansicht, dass … |
| Giving a reason | Der Hauptgrund dafür ist, dass … |
| Giving an example | Ein Beispiel dafür wäre … |
| Agreeing | Da stimme ich Ihnen voll und ganz zu. |
| Partly agreeing | Da haben Sie einerseits recht, andererseits … |
| Disagreeing | Das sehe ich etwas anders, weil … |
| Countering | Sie haben zwar recht, aber man darf nicht vergessen, dass … |
| Asking for opinion | Wie sehen Sie das? Was halten Sie davon? |
| Taking the floor | Darf ich kurz etwas ergänzen? |
| Summarising | Zusammenfassend würde ich sagen, dass wir uns in … einig sind, aber … |
Model exchange
A: Ich bin der Meinung, dass man in der Schule mehr Zeit für Sport haben sollte. Kinder sitzen heute zu viel vor dem Bildschirm.
B: Da stimme ich Ihnen teilweise zu. Sport ist wichtig, aber man darf nicht vergessen, dass die Schüler auch viel für andere Fächer lernen müssen.
A: Das ist ein guter Punkt. Trotzdem glaube ich, dass Bewegung die Konzentration verbessert, sodass man beim Lernen sogar Zeit spart.
B: Das sehe ich etwas anders: In meiner Schule hatten wir viel Sport, und die Noten waren trotzdem schlechter. Wie war das bei Ihnen?
Note how each reply starts by reacting to the previous point. That’s the skill.
Practise your German out loud with SipLingo, free to try on iPhone and Android:
How you’re scored
Goethe assesses the speaking module with a rubric across several criteria, which include:
- Task fulfilment: did you do what the task asked, with enough content?
- Coherence: are your ideas well structured and connected?
- Interaction: do you react to your partner and keep the conversation going?
- Vocabulary and structures: range and accuracy of your language
- Pronunciation and intonation: is it understandable and natural?
At B2, examiners expect complex sentences (obwohl, während, sodass, damit), a wider vocabulary than “gut/schlecht”, and some correction of your own errors. But a sentence with a small mistake, said fluently, scores better than a perfect sentence after a long silence.
How B2 differs from B1
| B1 | B2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Task | Plan together, present, react | Present formally, discuss and argue |
| Language | Simple and correct | Varied, with connectors and abstract vocabulary |
| Content | Personal | Social topics and arguments |
| Speaking alone | Short (a minute or two) | Longer, structured (about 4 minutes) |
| Expected register | Everyday | More formal, with a “Vortrag” style |
For the B1 side of this see the Goethe B1 speaking exam. And if you’re not sure how hard B2 is overall, read is the German B2 exam hard.
The 15 minutes of preparation
| Minutes | What |
|---|---|
| 0 to 2 | Read both topics, choose the one where you have the most to say (not the one you find easiest to understand) |
| 2 to 6 | Write 5 to 6 keywords for the presentation: not sentences |
| 6 to 10 | Add 2 arguments for and 2 against, plus one example from your life |
| 10 to 13 | Write your first and last sentence in full (these are the hardest to improvise) |
| 13 to 15 | Think of 2 counter-arguments for the discussion |
Common mistakes
- Reading your notes aloud. Keywords only.
- Presenting without your own opinion. B2 needs a clear position: Meiner Meinung nach …
- Ignoring your partner in the discussion. React, ask, build.
- Talking too long or too short. Aim for about 4 minutes, and practise with a timer. Three minutes suggests you have little to say, and six means you didn’t structure it.
- Repeating B1-level words. Gut, schlecht, sehr again and again. Prepare alternatives: vorteilhaft, problematisch, erheblich, entscheidend.
- Wrong verb position in subordinate clauses: …, weil das ist wichtig. Correct: …, weil das wichtig ist.
How to practise
- Pick a topic a day and give a 4-minute presentation with a timer. Record it.
- Listen for structure, not only mistakes: Did you have an opening, three points and an ending?
- Practise discussion with a real partner, or with a voice tool that pushes back on your arguments.
- Build a stock of 20 connectors and use at least five in every practice run.
- Use official sample papers from the Goethe-Institut website for the real format and topics.
The hardest thing to replicate alone is the discussion. SipLingo can take the opposing side in a voice discussion, and corrects your grammar, word order and vocabulary in your own language. It’s not a substitute for the official materials, but it gives you the speaking time the exam rewards. Try it free →
Related guides: the Goethe B2 passing score · the Goethe B2 exam structure
Official sources
For the official details and the latest updates, see:
- Goethe-Institut: Goethe-Zertifikat B2 – official exam page – B2 modules and timings: listening 40, reading 65, writing 75, speaking 15 min
- Goethe-Institut: Goethe B2 practice materials (model set, audio, speaking video) – Free B2 model sets for adults and teens plus a 16-min speaking-module video
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Goethe B2 speaking exam?
About 15 minutes for the exam itself, after 15 minutes of preparation.
What are the two parts of Goethe B2 Sprechen?
Part 1 is a presentation (Vortrag) of about 4 minutes on a topic you choose from two. Part 2 is a discussion (Diskussion) of about 5 minutes with your partner.
Can I use notes in the B2 speaking exam?
You can make notes during the 15 minutes of preparation and use them while speaking, but reading full sentences will lower your score.
What is the passing score for Goethe B2 speaking?
60% of the points, like the other modules. Modules are assessed independently.
Is B2 speaking much harder than B1?
Yes, in the way it asks you to argue and structure your speech, not because of harder grammar. See is the German B2 exam hard.
Practise the discussion, not just the presentation. SipLingo runs real voice conversations and corrects your German as you talk. A1 to B2.
