telc Deutsch B1 Guides

telc Deutsch B1 oral partner examination: the three parts in detail

By PreparaioEditorial team & sourcesUpdated July 19, 2026

The oral telc B1 is a paired interview. You speak with another candidate while two examiners listen and grade. Before it starts you get short preparation time and task cards.

You are graded on expressive ability, task fulfilment, formal accuracy, and pronunciation. Interaction matters — this is not a monologue exam.

Contents

Part 1: introductions

You introduce yourself and answer a few simple personal questions (job, background, family, hobbies). The goal is a short, natural exchange.

Useful language: "Ich heiße …", "Ich komme aus …", "Ich arbeite als …", "In meiner Freizeit …". Also ask back: "Und Sie?".

Part 2: talking about a topic

You get a topic card (e.g. housing, travel, food). Each of you first describes personal experience, then you exchange views with your partner.

Useful language for opinions: "Ich denke, dass …", "Für mich ist wichtig …", "Was ist deine Meinung?", "Ich stimme dir zu / ich sehe das anders."

Part 3: solving a task together

You plan something concrete together: an outing, a birthday, a move. The goal is agreement, not a perfect plan.

Useful language for suggestions: "Wir könnten …", "Was hältst du davon, …?", "Ich schlage vor, …", "Einverstanden." / "Lieber nicht, weil …"

Keeping the flow

For pauses, buy time: "Moment, lass mich kurz überlegen …", "Das ist eine gute Frage." And ask your partner back — it keeps the conversation going.

Frequently asked questions

What if my partner speaks very little?

You can and should involve them actively: ask questions, encourage. Your own grade does not depend on how much the other candidate speaks.

What if I don't know a word?

Paraphrase. "It is a device that …" already shows B1 competence. Do not switch languages.

Sources & currency

Exam version: telc Deutsch B1, as of 2026
Editorial check: Source check by the Preparaio editorial team (31 July 2026)
Author: Preparaio RedaktionEditorial team, fact-checking against official primary sources
Reviewed by: Source-checked by PreparaioSource comparison with the exam providers' own pages
Fact-check status: Source check in progress (31 July 2026)
Content version: 2026-07-31

How we check: Every exam-relevant fact is compared with the exam providers' official pages (g.a.s.t./TestDaF-Institut, BAMF, ETS, IELTS Partners, telc). The check is editorial, supported by AI and automated test gates; it is not a review by certified examiners.

The hard exam facts in this article were verified against the official primary sources linked below on the date shown. This is not a review by an examination body and does not replace information from your test centre. Fees, dates and local procedures are set by the test centres themselves.

Official primary sources

telc Deutsch B1 – Zertifikat Deutsch — telc gGmbH · telc.net · official primary source · checked on 31 July 2026

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