The speaking section (Sprechen) is worth 55 marks — the highest of any single component in the TELC B1 exam. Yet it's the section most candidates prepare least for. That's backwards. Here's how it works and how to actually approach it.
Structure of TELC B1 Sprechen
The speaking exam is conducted in pairs and lasts approximately 15 minutes. Three parts:
| Part | Task | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Sprechen Teil 1 | Present a topic from a card | ~5 min |
| Sprechen Teil 2 | Discussion/conversation with partner | ~5 min |
| Sprechen Teil 3 | Plan something together with your partner | ~5 min |
You're usually paired with another candidate. An examiner observes and scores both candidates throughout.
Teil 1: Topic Presentation
You receive a card with a topic — Mein Alltag, Reisen, Arbeit und Freizeit, that kind of thing. You get 1 minute to prepare and then speak for approximately 2 minutes.
Your presentation should cover:
- What the topic means to you personally
- A brief description or story related to the topic
- Your opinion, or a question for your partner
What examiners look for: fluency (can you keep talking without stopping completely?), vocabulary range, and basic grammatical accuracy. Hesitation is normal at B1 level — examiners aren't expecting perfection.
A structure that works every time:
- Zum Thema [X] möchte ich Folgendes sagen... — Introduce the topic
- In meinem Alltag... — Personal connection
- Ich finde, dass... — Opinion
- Was denken Sie darüber? — Question to partner
Teil 2: Discussion
Your partner gives their presentation, and you ask a follow-up question or comment. The examiner may then ask a question to both candidates.
Useful response phrases:
- Das finde ich auch interessant, weil... (I also find that interesting, because...)
- Das sehe ich ähnlich / anders. (I see that similarly / differently.)
- Haben Sie schon mal...? (Have you ever...?)
- Könnten Sie das erklären? (Could you explain that?)
The key: keep talking. An imperfect attempt at communication scores higher than silence. Examiners are assessing whether you can maintain a conversation, not whether your German is elegant.
Teil 3: Planning Task
You and your partner need to plan something together — organising a class trip, deciding what to cook for a group, planning a birthday party. You get a prompt card with 4–5 suggestions.
What to do:
- Make suggestions: Wir könnten... / Was hältst du von...?
- Agree: Das ist eine gute Idee. / Ich bin damit einverstanden.
- Disagree politely: Ich bin nicht sicher, ob... weil... / Vielleicht wäre es besser, wenn...
- Reach a conclusion: Also, wir haben uns entschieden... / Wir sind uns einig, dass...
The goal: demonstrate you can negotiate, make suggestions, and reach an agreement in German. You don't need to solve a complex problem — you need to have a coherent conversation about one.
What Examiners Are Actually Scoring
The TELC B1 Sprechen rubric assesses four criteria:
| Criterion | What it means |
|---|---|
| Kommunikative Kompetenz | Did you communicate your ideas effectively? |
| Aussprache/Prosodie | Pronunciation and natural rhythm (not accent) |
| Formale Richtigkeit | Grammatical accuracy |
| Spektrum sprachlicher Mittel | Vocabulary range — do you use varied expressions? |
Accent is not penalised. You're not expected to sound like a native German speaker. You're expected to be comprehensible and to use B1-level vocabulary and structures. The difference matters.
How to Prepare
1. Speak German every day Even 10 minutes of speaking German out loud daily is more effective than 2 hours of passive study. Talk to yourself, describe what you're doing, read a text aloud. It feels strange at first. Do it anyway.
2. Prepare 6–8 topic introductions Common TELC B1 topics: family, work, hobbies, travel, technology, environment, health, daily routine. Prepare 2–3 sentences on each. You won't know which topic card you receive, but covering these common themes means you'll never be completely unprepared.
3. Practise with a partner — seriously The speaking exam is interactive. You need to respond to another person in real time, not recite a prepared speech into the void. Practise with a friend, a tutor, or a language exchange partner. No partner available? Record yourself speaking and listen back. Uncomfortable as it is, it works.
4. Learn the filler phrases When you need a moment to think, these buy you time without sounding like you've stopped:
- Also... (So...)
- Moment mal... (Just a moment...)
- Das ist eine interessante Frage. (That's an interesting question.)
- Ich überlege gerade... (I'm just thinking...)
5. Don't neglect the written exam The more confident you are about the written sections, the more mental energy you have for Sprechen. Candidates who are anxious about writing and reading often under-prepare for speaking because the written exam anxiety takes up all the available headspace. A solid written preparation frees you up.
Build your written exam confidence with a free B1 mock →
Common Speaking Mistakes
- Stopping completely when you make an error — keep going, self-correct naturally if you can
- Only using simple present tense — show range by using past (Perfekt), future (werden), and Konjunktiv II
- Speaking too quietly — examiners note this specifically; speak at a normal, clear volume
- Not engaging with your partner — ask questions, respond to what they actually say, not just to what you prepared