The telc B2 oral exam runs ~15 minutes in pairs after ~20 minutes preparation: a short presentation on a personal-experience theme (with follow-up questions), a discussion based on a short text, and a joint planning task. The presentation themes are predictable enough to prepare fully in advance; the discussion and planning parts reward Redemittel and genuine interaction.
The three parts
| Part | Task | What it tests |
|---|---|---|
| Präsentation | Speak ~1.5 minutes on a personal-experience theme; your partner asks one or two follow-up questions. | Structured monologue, connected speech. |
| Diskussion | Discuss a short, often controversial text: state positions, argue, respond to counterarguments. | Argumentation, nuance, spontaneity. |
| Planung | Plan something together — an event, an excursion, a project. | Cooperation, negotiation, reaching decisions. |
Presentation themes you can prepare now
The presentation draws on personal-experience themes, typically of this kind:
- ein Buch, das mir wichtig ist
- ein Film, der mich beeindruckt hat
- eine Reise, die ich nicht vergesse
- ein Musikerlebnis / ein Konzert
- ein Sportereignis
- ein Mensch, der mir wichtig ist
- ein Erlebnis, das mich verändert hat
Build each presentation with the same skeleton: intro (what and when) → story (two or three concrete details) → meaning (why it matters to you) → closing sentence. Ninety seconds is roughly 10–12 sentences — short enough to rehearse each theme out loud several times before exam day.
Discussion topic areas
The discussion text can come from a broad range of everyday-society areas: family and partnership, technology and media, health and medicine, work culture, environment, education. You do not prepare the text — you prepare the moves:
- Der Text vertritt die Meinung, dass … — ich sehe das (nicht) so.
- Einerseits …, andererseits …
- Da muss ich widersprechen: …
- Das stimmt zwar, trotzdem finde ich …
- Könnten wir uns darauf einigen, dass …?
At B2, examiners expect subordinate clauses, passive constructions and Konjunktiv to appear naturally — not in every sentence, but available when the argument needs them.
The planning task
Structurally the same as B1's gemeinsam etwas planen — but the bar is higher: divide responsibilities, weigh alternatives, justify choices. The same Redemittel work; the difference is that your suggestions come with reasons attached.
Rehearse B2 discussions and planning out loud
- Open the B2 level in ZertFox: discussion topics and planning situations built for upper-intermediate learners.
- Argue a topic with the AI partner — it takes positions and pushes back, so einerseits/andererseits gets real use.
- Run planning situations until justified suggestions become automatic.
- Review AI-estimated feedback for expression and grammar — the two criteria where B2 expectations bite hardest.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the telc B2 speaking exam?
About 15 minutes with a partner, after roughly 20 minutes of preparation time in which you can make notes.
Is telc B2 speaking much harder than B1?
The format feels familiar, but grading expectations shift from "communicates successfully" to "argues precisely." If B1 tasks feel easy, you're ready to train at B2.
Compare: the B1 speaking exam →Do I need B2 for work in Germany?
Many regulated professions — nursing and medicine above all — require B2 certificates, and many employers prefer them. For citizenship, B1 is the standard requirement.
Learn more: B1 for citizenship →