The oral part of telc B1 Sprechen often makes candidates nervous. Even if you know German well at B1 level, it is easy to feel blocked in the exam: you may forget a word, start reading the text word for word, or answer too briefly.
Below are the most common mistakes in the TELC B1 Speaking exam and simple ways to avoid them.
Mistake 1: Staying Silent When You Forget a Word
If you forget the word you need, do not stop for a long time. It is better to explain your idea in a simpler way.
You can say:
- Ich kenne das genaue Wort nicht, aber ich meine ... - I do not know the exact word, but I mean ...
- Ich möchte sagen, dass ... - I want to say that ...
At B1 level, the goal is not to speak perfectly. The goal is to keep the conversation going.
Mistake 2: Reading the Text Word for Word in Teil 2
In Teil 2, you should not read the text aloud. You need to report the main information in your own words.
Use a simple structure:
- In meinem Text geht es um ... - My text is about ...
- Die Person sagt, dass ... - The person says that ...
- Ein wichtiger Punkt ist, dass ... - An important point is that ...
For example:
In meinem Text geht es um Gruppenreisen. Die Person findet Gruppenreisen praktisch, weil man nicht alles allein planen muss.
Mistake 3: Forgetting Your Own Opinion
In Teil 2, it is not enough to summarise the text. You also need to give your own opinion.
For example:
Meiner Meinung nach sind Gruppenreisen praktisch, weil man sich sicherer fühlt.
You can also add a personal example:
Ich bin schon einmal mit einer Gruppe gereist, und das war interessant.
Useful phrases:
- Meiner Meinung nach ... - In my opinion ...
- Ich finde, dass ... - I think that ...
- Aus meiner Erfahrung kann ich sagen, dass ... - From my experience, I can say that ...
Mistake 4: Answering Too Briefly
Answers like Ja, Nein, or Gut sound too weak for B1 level. It is better to use a complete sentence and add a reason.
Instead of:
Ja, gut.
Say:
Ja, ich finde das gut, weil es praktisch und nicht so teuer ist.
Use this simple structure:
opinion -> reason -> example
For example:
Ich finde Sport wichtig, weil er gesund ist. Ich gehe zweimal pro Woche schwimmen.
Mistake 5: Not Discussing All Points in Teil 3
In Teil 3, you and your partner need to plan something together. The task usually includes several points, and it is important to discuss all of them.
For example:
- when;
- where;
- who will come;
- what to buy;
- who will do what;
- how much it will cost.
You can go point by point:
- Wann sollen wir das machen? - When should we do it?
- Wo können wir feiern? - Where can we celebrate?
- Was sollen wir kaufen? - What should we buy?
- Wer bezahlt das? - Who will pay for it?
This shows that you understand the task and can take part in a real dialogue.
Conclusion
For TELC B1 Speaking, you do not need perfect German. You need to stay active, answer in complete sentences, use simple Redemittel, and react to your partner.
For more practice, use our Sprechen exercises for all three parts of the oral exam.