The DTZ Oral Exam: Structure, Parts and Speaking Phrases
How the DTZ Oral Exam Works
The oral exam in the German Test for Immigrants (DTZ) lasts about 15 minutes and is usually a pair exam: you speak together with a second candidate. Two examiners sit nearby and assess your performance. The exam has three fixed parts, which are always structured the same way. If you know these three parts and practice them beforehand, you’ll go into the exam calm and confident.
Important to know: the DTZ is an exam with two possible results. Depending on how well you speak and write, you get either A2 or B1 level. For most goals, for example, naturalization, you need B1 level.
The Three Parts of the Oral Exam
Part 1: Introducing Yourself
In the first part, you introduce yourself briefly. You talk about yourself: your name, country of origin, family, profession, hobbies, and why you are learning German. After that, the examiners usually ask one or two follow-up questions, for example: “How long have you been living in Germany?” or “What do you do in your free time?”
This part is your easy start. Learn a few sentences about yourself well beforehand, then you’ll begin confidently.
Part 2: Speaking About a Situation or Image
In the second part, you get a prompt, often a picture or a short everyday situation (shopping, work, family, health). You describe what you see and talk about the topic. For B1 level, it’s not enough to just say what’s in the picture. Also bring in your own experiences and a small opinion, for example: “In my country it’s different…” or “I think that’s good because…”.
Part 3: Planning Something Together
The third part is the most important for a real conversation. You and your partner plan something together: a birthday party, a trip, a gift, or a joint appointment. Here you need to make suggestions, react to the other person, agree or politely decline, and in the end reach a joint decision.
This is exactly where the difference between A2 and B1 shows: whoever genuinely conducts a conversation, asks follow-up questions, and responds to their partner is more likely to reach B1.
How the Oral Exam is Assessed
The examiners focus on five criteria:
- Task completion – Did you solve the task?
- Pronunciation – Can people understand you clearly?
- Fluency – Do you speak without long pauses?
- Accuracy – Are your sentences grammatically correct?
- Vocabulary – Do you use appropriate words?
You don’t have to be perfect. Small errors are allowed as long as people understand you well and you keep the conversation going.
The Most Important Speaking Phrases
Speaking phrases are fixed sentences that you can use right away in the exam. Learn these by heart, then you’ll always have a good sentence ready.
Introducing yourself (Part 1):
- “My name is … and I come from …”
- “I am learning German because …”
Describing a picture (Part 2):
- “In the picture I see …”
- “In the foreground / in the background …”
- “I think the person is …, because …”
- “From my experience I can say that …”
Planning together (Part 3):
- Making a suggestion: “I suggest we …” / “What if …?”
- Agreeing: “That’s a good idea.” / “I agree.”
- Declining: “I don’t think that’s so good, because …” / “I have a different idea.”
- Asking for clarification: “What do you mean?” / “Could you please repeat that?”
How to Prepare Best
The best trick against exam anxiety is speaking, speaking, speaking. Practice out loud, ideally with a learning partner or a teacher who corrects your mistakes. Record yourself with your phone and listen to it: Where do you pause? Which words are you missing?
A structured course helps because you practice exactly the topics and speaking phrases of the exam. In the B1 course from V-IZ you learn with a real German as a foreign language teacher and practice free speaking additionally with an AI trainer for pronunciation and letters. So you go into all three parts of the oral exam well-prepared. If you want to build from the beginning, you’ll find the whole path to the DTZ in the Complete Package A1 to B1.
In Brief
The DTZ oral exam is manageable if you know the three parts: introducing yourself, speaking about a picture, and planning something together. Learn fixed speaking phrases, stay engaged in the conversation, and show that you can respond. Then you’ll reach B1 level, which you need for your path in Germany. Practice regularly and you’ll be calm and confident on exam day.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the oral part of the DTZ take?
The oral part lasts about 15 minutes total. So each person doesn't have much time, which is why you should speak directly and without long pauses. Before that there is usually a short preparation time in which you are allowed to make notes.
Is the DTZ oral exam a solo or pair exam?
As a rule, it is a pair exam with two candidates. You speak mainly with each other in Part 3. Only if you don't have a partner does one of the examiners take on that role.
What do I do if I don't understand my conversation partner?
Stay calm and ask politely for clarification, for example: Excuse me, could you please repeat that? or What do you mean by that? Asking questions is not a mistake, but shows that you can manage a conversation. This is actually evaluated positively.
What level do I need for naturalization?
For naturalization, you typically need German language skills at B1 level. Even the 2024 reform has kept B1 as the standard. A higher level like C1 is only relevant for the rare faster naturalization, not for the normal process.
Can I retake only the oral part if I fail?
For the DTZ, the final result is calculated from both the written and oral parts. You can retake the DTZ if you still have entitlement to lessons in the integration course. Talk to your language school or BAMF about this.
What topics come up in the DTZ oral exam?
It's always about everyday topics like family, work, housing, shopping, health, leisure, or celebrations. In Part 3, you often plan a party, a trip, a gift, or a visit. These are exactly the topics you can practice well beforehand.