Goethe B1 Speaking: Present, Plan and Respond

Goethe B1 speaking requires both a short presentation and interaction. Prepare to plan something with a partner, present a familiar topic and respond to feedback or questions. Reading a complete prepared text does not train these different skills.

You have 15 minutes of preparation. The paired exam takes about 15 minutes; an exceptional individual exam takes about 10. In the official model, the presentation follows five prompts: introduce the topic and structure, describe personal experience, describe the situation in your home country with examples, discuss advantages and disadvantages with your opinion, and close with thanks. Afterwards, respond to questions; after your partner’s presentation, give feedback and ask a question.

Build notes around the task prompts

Use the preparation period according to the official instructions. Write keywords you can turn into speech, not a script you must read word for word. Link a personal experience to a broader point, then add an advantage, a disadvantage and your position where the prompt asks for them. Follow the actual prompts rather than forcing every topic into an identical speech.

Original presentation outline: learning online

• Opening: introduce learning online and explain the order of your presentation.
• Experience: describe an online course you used while working shifts.
• Home country: describe how people in your home country use online courses, using an example you know.
• Advantages, disadvantages and opinion: contrast flexible practice with fewer spontaneous conversations; explain your preference.
• Closing: summarize your main point and thank the listeners.

This is an original learning outline, not an official exam topic or a finished speech. Turn each note into two connected sentences. Then answer a follow-up: “What would you change about the course?” Give one specific improvement and a reason. A new detail shows that you can respond beyond your prepared notes.

Original planning exchange

Anna: Für unseren Ausflug schlage ich das Museum vor. Dort können wir auch bei Regen etwas unternehmen. Max: Das passt. Aber die Eintrittskarten sind teuer. Gibt es einen Gruppenpreis? Anna: Ich frage heute nach. Könntest du die Zugverbindung prüfen? Max: Ja. Wir sollten spätestens um neun losfahren, damit genug Zeit bleibt.

The partners explain choices and divide responsibilities. In your practice, do not accept every proposal immediately. Introduce a reasonable objection and solve it together. End with a summary of the decision. This gives you practice in the interaction the examination asks for, rather than two separate monologues.

Review clarity and interaction

Ask your listener to summarize your position and one reason. If they cannot, simplify the structure before adding vocabulary. Check whether you answered the follow-up question, invited your partner’s view and spoke understandably. A practice recording or AI comment can identify a next step, but it cannot certify an official speaking result.