The telc B1 oral exam lasts ~15 minutes in pairs, after 20 minutes of note-taking preparation. It has three parts — introduction interview, topic conversation, planning a task together — worth 75 points. You pass with 45+ points (60%). Examiners grade task completion, expressiveness, grammar and pronunciation. The single best preparation: rehearse all three parts out loud, repeatedly.
What happens in the exam room
You take the oral exam together with another candidate, in front of two examiners. Before you go in, you get 20 minutes of preparation time with the task sheets — you may write notes and take them into the exam. Then the conversation itself runs about 15 minutes across three parts:
| Part | Task | ~Time |
|---|---|---|
| Teil 1 — Kontaktaufnahme | Getting to know each other: origin, family, work, languages, travel. The question areas repeat in nearly every exam. | 3 min |
| Teil 2 — Gespräch über ein Thema | You and your partner each get a short text or statement on the same everyday theme. You report on yours, then discuss opinions and experiences. | 6 min |
| Teil 3 — Gemeinsam etwas planen | Plan something together — a visit, a party, help for a friend. Make suggestions, react to your partner, reach a decision. | 6 min |
Two details surprise most candidates: your partner is another learner (not an examiner), and interaction is part of the grade — asking your partner questions is not politeness, it is points. If you want the exact question areas for Teil 1, we list them in the Part 1 questions guide.
How the 75 oral points are graded
The oral exam is worth 75 of the 300 total exam points, and you must reach 60% in the oral part on its own — 45 points — regardless of how strong your written exam was. Examiners rate four criteria:
- Aufgabenbewältigung — did you actually do the task: report, discuss, plan, decide?
- Ausdrucksfähigkeit — range and flexibility of expression; do you paraphrase when a word is missing?
- Formale Richtigkeit — grammar. Mistakes are fine as long as the meaning stays clear.
- Aussprache und Intonation — clear pronunciation beats fast pronunciation.
Notice what is not on the list: perfection and speed. B1 examiners want functional, connected, comprehensible German. The full point breakdown — including the written sections and retake rules — is in the telc B1 passing score guide.
The five mistakes that cost the most points
- Monologuing. Answering with a rehearsed speech and never asking your partner anything. Interaction is graded in every part.
- Memorized-sounding Teil 1 answers. Examiners hear the same recited introduction daily; they ask follow-ups precisely to break the script.
- Going silent when a word is missing. Paraphrasing («das Ding, mit dem man…») shows exactly the skill B1 tests.
- Ignoring the partner's suggestions in Teil 3. The task is to plan together — agree, disagree politely, build on their idea. The Redemittel guide gives you the phrases.
- First-time nerves. If the exam is the first time you speak German under time pressure with a stranger, your working memory goes to fear, not grammar.
A 4-week practice plan
| Week | Focus | Goal |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Teil 1. Answer every interview question out loud, 2–3 sentences each. Record yourself once. | Natural, unscripted answers about your life. |
| 2 | Teil 2. Pick 3 common topics per session; state an opinion, give a reason, add an experience. | Opinion + reason + example, without notes. |
| 3 | Teil 3. Run planning dialogues with the key Redemittel until suggesting and disagreeing is automatic. | Reach a decision in under 5 minutes. |
| 4 | Full runs. All three parts back to back, ~15 minutes, then review your recording and feedback. | Two clean full simulations before exam day. |
Rehearse all three parts with an AI exam partner
ZertFox was built around exactly this exam. Instead of reading model dialogues, you speak them:
- Open the B1 level and pick Teil 1, 2 or 3 — the same three parts as the real exam.
- Speak with an AI partner who answers in German, asks follow-up questions and keeps the dialogue going.
- Replay your session afterwards — every answer is recorded with a transcript.
- Check your AI-estimated scores on task completion, expressiveness, grammar and pronunciation — the same four criteria from this guide.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the telc B1 speaking exam?
About 15 minutes in pairs, plus 20 minutes of preparation time beforehand. You may bring the notes you make during preparation into the exam room.
How many points do I need in the oral exam?
45 of 75 points (60%). The oral requirement is independent — a strong written exam cannot compensate for a failed speaking part.
Learn more: telc B1 passing score →What if my exam partner is much stronger or weaker?
You are graded on your own performance, not your partner's. If your partner says little, take initiative and ask questions — leading the dialogue counts in your favor.