My B1 Goethe Speaking Exam Experience — Teil 1: Planning Together (2 Months of Practice)

The B1 Goethe speaking exam has two parts: Teil 1 and Teil 2. This post focuses on Teil 1 — planning something together with your exam partner, usually lasting about 15 minutes. I took this part of the exam in Germany, in a room with candidates from many different countries; I was the only Vietnamese person that day.

Teil 1 doesn't just measure how fluently you speak — it also measures how well you listen to your partner, respond, and work together to cover all the points required by the prompt. Accents, conversational pace, and communication style can vary a lot — I learned that from my earlier A1 exam, where I was randomly paired and sometimes matched with a partner whose German was harder to follow.

I started preparing about two months before exam day. Every day, I practiced the exact Teil 1 format: read the prompt, brainstorm points, discuss with a practice partner, and finalize a plan within a real time limit.

Even more important: I practiced with many different partners — different voices, different paces, but all preparing for B1. The goal was building reflexes: no matter who I was paired with on exam day, I could still follow, respond, and not miss any required point from the prompt.

During Teil 1, I always tried to stay in control: opening the conversation first, guiding the discussion, and making sure all the required points from the prompt got covered. Some phrases I used often: „Was meinst du dazu?", „Sollen wir zuerst …?", „Welche Option findest du besser?" — they helped me sound natural while still steering the conversation.

Instead of waiting for my partner to lead, I actively asked questions to work through the full checklist of the prompt. This made me less dependent on my partner's level of German and reduced the risk of losing points for missing a required point.

If you're preparing for the B1 speaking exam, don't just practice alone with a teacher whose voice you're already used to. Simulate real exam conditions: practice in pairs with many different people and accents, and rehearse Teil 1 within the actual time limit.

Prepare a set of opening lines, follow-up questions, suggestion phrases, and closing lines — then practice until they become second nature. The exam room can be as international as it is in Germany, but whoever stays in control and sticks to the Teil 1 format still has a clear advantage.

After Teil 1, I wrote a separate post about Teil 2 — the presentation, Q&A, and how I practiced it at home. For regular speaking practice with peers at your level, see the B1 Speaking program.