German B1 speaking practice

The three parts of the B1 speaking exam

Goethe, telc and ÖSD all use this three-part shape at B1 with minor differences in timing. The skills being tested are identical: can you present, can you discuss, can you negotiate a plan.

• Presentation — you speak for about two minutes on a prepared everyday topic such as a celebration, an experience or an opinion question
• Discussion — you and your partner react to each other's presentations, ask questions and give opinions
• Joint planning — together you plan something concrete, such as a party, a trip or a gift, making suggestions and agreeing on details

The phrases examiners listen for

B1 speaking is scored on structure as much as grammar. Candidates who use clear signposting phrases score higher even with the same mistakes.

• Starting a presentation — Ich möchte heute über … sprechen / Zuerst erzähle ich …, dann …
• Structuring — Zuerst …, danach …, zum Schluss … / Einerseits …, andererseits …
• Giving an opinion — Meiner Meinung nach … / Ich bin der Ansicht, dass …
• Reacting to a partner — Da hast du recht, aber … / Das sehe ich ein bisschen anders …
• Making suggestions — Wir könnten doch … / Wie wäre es, wenn … / Ich schlage vor, dass …
• Agreeing and deciding — Okay, das machen wir. / Dann sind wir uns einig: …

The mistakes that cost the most marks

• Memorised monologues — examiners interrupt obvious recitation, and it collapses in the discussion part
• Not reacting to the partner — the discussion and planning parts score interaction, not two separate monologues
• One-word answers — always answer with a full sentence plus a reason
• Silence when stuck — paraphrase instead: Wie sagt man …? / Ich meine …
• Ignoring the task — every prompt card has two or three bullet points, and each one must be covered

How to practise B1 speaking alone

Speaking improves only by speaking, and a partner is not always available. The effective solo routine: pick a B1 presentation topic, speak for two minutes without stopping, record yourself, then listen once for structure (did you cover the points, did you signpost?) and once for language (word order, endings). Repeat the same topic immediately — the second attempt is where the improvement happens.

How Deutschtrainer practises speaking with you

Deutschtrainer runs the real B1 speaking format with AI examiners: you get a prompt card, speak your presentation aloud, and the examiner asks follow-up questions and plans with you in the planning part — in multiple examiner voices, so you learn to understand different speakers. After each attempt you get a CEFR-graded report: fluency, vocabulary range, grammar accuracy and task coverage, with the exact sentences to improve.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the B1 speaking exam?

About 15 minutes with a partner, plus roughly 15–20 minutes of preparation time beforehand, depending on the exam board.

Can I take the B1 speaking exam alone?

Goethe and ÖSD normally pair you with another candidate; telc B1 is also a paired exam. The examiner adapts if a partner is missing, but expect the paired format.

What are common B1 speaking topics?

Everyday areas: celebrations, travel, work and study, health, media, living situations and opinion questions such as city versus country life.

How is B1 speaking scored?

On fluency and pronunciation, vocabulary range, grammatical accuracy, and how well you complete the task and interact with your partner. You do not need perfect grammar to pass.

How can I practise B1 speaking without a partner?

Record two-minute presentations on typical topics and review them for structure and word order, or use an AI speaking partner like Deutschtrainer that runs the exam format, asks follow-up questions and grades each attempt.