DTZ Sprechen Teil 3: Planning Together – Useful Phrases and Dialogue

How does DTZ Sprechen Teil 3 work?

Teil 3 is the last part of the oral exam in the Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer (DTZ, German test for immigrants). It takes about 6 minutes. You usually take the whole oral exam in pairs with two examiners; it takes about 16 minutes: Teil 1 about 4, Teil 2 about 6 and Teil 3 about 6 minutes.

Unlike in Teil 2, both candidates get the same task sheet. It describes a situation and has notes on the points you should settle together. In the official Übungssatz 1 by g.a.s.t. (practice set) this is a trip with the German course: where to go, what to visit, where to stay, what to eat and who should come. Your task is to share ideas, make suggestions and respond to the other person's suggestions.

Teil 3 is a conversation between the two of you, not an interview with the examiners. Our tip: look at your partner, not at the examiners, and speak to the other person directly.

Which points does the plan have to settle?

The notes on the task sheet are your guide. Go through them in order and stay with each point until you have a solution. Our tip: sort the notes by W-questions. The notes in the practice set (where to go, what to visit, where to stay, what to eat, who comes) all fit „wann“ (when), „wo“ (where), „was“ (what) or „wer“ (who) – with this grid you keep track even in a different task.

At the end, briefly sum up what you have decided: „Gut, dann fahren wir am 12. Mai mit dem Regionalzug nach Heidelberg, besichtigen das Schloss, und ich frage im Kurs, wer mitkommt.“ ("Good, so on 12 May we take the regional train to Heidelberg and visit the castle, and I will ask in the course who is coming.") This makes it clear that you have discussed all the points.

How do I start the conversation?

Our tip: prepare for both roles – making the first suggestion and giving the first response.

• If you start: briefly name the task and make the first suggestion. „Wir sollen ein Fest für unseren Kurs planen. Ich würde vorschlagen, dass wir zuerst über den Termin sprechen. Was meinen Sie, passt der Freitagabend?“ – "We are supposed to plan a party for our course. I would suggest we talk about the date first. What do you think, does Friday evening suit you?"
• If the other person starts: first respond to the suggestion, then bring in an idea of your own. „Freitag ist gut für mich. Aber vielleicht lieber um sieben, weil viele bis sechs arbeiten.“ – "Friday is good for me. But maybe better at seven, because a lot of people work until six."

Our tip on forms of address: whether you say „Sie“ or „du“ (the formal or informal "you") depends on the situation. In the course, many participants say „du“ to each other; in the exam, „Sie“ is the safe choice if you do not know the person. The only important thing is that you stick to one form.

Useful phrases (Redemittel): suggesting, agreeing, disagreeing, compromising

The task in the practice set is: share ideas, make suggestions and respond to suggestions. For each of these actions you need a few sentences you are sure of – and an agreement for the end of the conversation. Two sentences that you know well are enough for each function.

Our tip: disagreeing is not a problem – it makes the conversation lively. But always give a reason with „weil“ or „denn“ (because) and then offer another solution.

What if your partner says very little?

You may wonder what happens if your partner is quiet or very unsure. First the facts: each candidate gets their own result in speaking, with up to 100 points. The practice set does not describe how exactly the examiners mark a pair with very different levels. But there is a lot you can do yourself to keep the conversation going.

1. Offer two options to choose from. Instead of „Was meinen Sie?“ ("What do you think?"), ask: „Lieber Samstag oder Sonntag?“ ("Saturday or Sunday?"). Your partner can start the answer with one word.
2. Ask again in a simpler way. „Haben Sie eine Idee für das Essen?“ ("Do you have an idea for the food?") – no answer – „Mögen Sie Pizza? Oder lieber etwas Selbstgekochtes?“ ("Do you like pizza? Or would you prefer something home-made?")
3. Pick up short answers and build on them. Partner: „Park.“ You: „Ein Picknick im Park, das ist eine schöne Idee. Dann brauchen wir eine Decke und Getränke.“ ("A picnic in the park, that is a nice idea. Then we need a blanket and drinks.")
4. Do not give a monologue. Even if the other person says little: pause after each suggestion and ask a question. Teil 3 is a conversation.
5. Stay friendly and calm. Not „Sagen Sie doch etwas!“ ("Say something!"), but: „Kein Problem, ich mache einen Vorschlag.“ ("No problem, I will make a suggestion.")

The other way round: if your partner talks a lot, interrupt politely: „Darf ich kurz etwas dazu sagen?“ ("May I say something about that?") or „Entschuldigung, ich habe noch eine Idee.“ ("Sorry, I have another idea."). You also need time for your suggestions.

Sample dialogue at B1: planning a farewell party

LexDeutsch's own example, not exam material. Situation: your course teacher, Frau Klein, is leaving the school after the course. The two of you plan a small farewell party. Notes: when, where, food and drinks, present, who does what.

• Amira: Wir sollen ein Abschiedsfest für Frau Klein planen. Ich schlage vor, wir sprechen zuerst über den Termin. Wie wäre es mit dem letzten Kurstag, also nächsten Freitag? – "We are supposed to plan a farewell party for Frau Klein. I suggest we talk about the date first. How about the last day of the course, so next Friday?"
• Pavel: Freitag ist gut. Aber nach dem Unterricht oder am Abend? Am Abend haben einige keine Zeit, weil sie Kinder haben. – "Friday is good. But after class or in the evening? Some people have no time in the evening because they have children."
• Amira: Stimmt. Dann lieber direkt nach dem Unterricht, um zwölf. Und wo? Im Kursraum oder in einem Café? – "True. Then better straight after class, at twelve. And where? In the classroom or in a café?"
• Pavel: Ein Café ist teuer für zwanzig Leute. Ich finde den Kursraum besser, da können wir auch Musik hören. – "A café is expensive for twenty people. I think the classroom is better; we can listen to music there too."
• Amira: Einverstanden. Dann zum Essen: Jeder bringt etwas aus seinem Heimatland mit. Was halten Sie davon? – "Agreed. Now the food: everyone brings something from their home country. What do you think?"
• Pavel: Sehr gute Idee! Ich bringe Pelmeni mit. Und Getränke? Saft und Wasser reichen, glaube ich. – "Very good idea! I will bring pelmeni. And drinks? Juice and water are enough, I think."
• Amira: Ja, und vielleicht Kaffee. Jetzt das Geschenk. Ich dachte an Blumen. – "Yes, and maybe coffee. Now the present. I was thinking of flowers."
• Pavel: Blumen sind schön, aber sie halten nicht lange. Wie wäre es mit einem Fotobuch vom Kurs? – "Flowers are nice, but they do not last long. How about a photo book of the course?"
• Amira: Das gefällt mir, aber ein Fotobuch dauert lange. Was halten Sie von einem Kompromiss: eine große Karte, auf die alle etwas schreiben, und dazu ein paar Blumen? – "I like that, but a photo book takes a long time. What do you think of a compromise: a big card that everyone writes something on, and a few flowers as well?"
• Pavel: Gut, so machen wir es. Wer kümmert sich um die Karte? – "Good, let's do it that way. Who takes care of the card?"
• Amira: Ich kaufe die Karte und sammle die Unterschriften. Können Sie die Blumen besorgen und die anderen per Gruppenchat informieren? – "I will buy the card and collect the signatures. Can you get the flowers and tell the others in the group chat?"
• Pavel: Ja, das mache ich. Also: Freitag um zwölf im Kursraum, jeder bringt etwas zu essen mit, Sie kümmern sich um die Karte, ich um die Blumen und die Nachricht an die Gruppe. – "Yes, I will do that. So: Friday at twelve in the classroom, everyone brings something to eat, you take care of the card, and I take care of the flowers and the message to the group."
• Amira: Genau. Dann ist alles klar. – "Exactly. Then everything is clear."

Why this works well: every point in the notes comes up, both make suggestions, a disagreement is backed up with a reason, there is a compromise, the tasks are shared out and there is a summary at the end.

Which common mistakes should you avoid?

1. Talking to the examiners instead of your partner. Teil 3 is a conversation between the two of you.
2. Forgetting points on the sheet. Go through the notes on the sheet in order.
3. Only agreeing. If you say „Ja, gut“ ("Yes, fine") to everything, you are not making suggestions of your own. Bring at least one idea of your own to every point.
4. Disagreeing without a reason. „Nein“ ("No") on its own stops the conversation. Say why, and make a counter-suggestion.
5. Long monologues. Two or three sentences, then a question to the other person.
6. No result. A plan without a decision is not a plan. Sum up at the end.

How is Teil 3 scored?

Speaking has a total of 100 points. For task completion (Aufgabenbewältigung) in Teil 3, the examiners give up to 20 points – more than for any other part (Teil 1A and 1B 5 each, Teil 2A and 2B 10 each). The other 50 points apply to the whole conversation: pronunciation/intonation (Aussprache/Intonation) 10, fluency (Flüssigkeit) 10, accuracy (Korrektheit) 15 and vocabulary (Wortschatz) 15.

The two examiners mark independently of each other and do not have to agree; the result is the average. With 75–100 points you reach B1 in speaking, with 35–74.5 points A2. Without B1 in speaking there is no B1 certificate. DTZ B1 exam explains how the three part results come together.

How do you practise Teil 3 in pairs?

At the moment LexDeutsch has no practice page of its own for DTZ Sprechen Teil 3. The best way is to practise with someone from your course – a video call works too.

1. Write five situations on cards: a course party, a trip, helping with a move, a present for a colleague, an afternoon of games for children. For each situation, four or five notes, as on the task sheet.
2. Draw a card and talk for six minutes. Set a timer on your phone.
3. The second time, one person deliberately plays a quiet partner. This way you practise either-or questions and follow-up questions.
4. Record the conversation and check: did all the notes come up? Was there a compromise and a summary?
5. Learn the useful phrases from the table above by heart – the two sentences per function that you feel most confident with.

The official sample task sheet for Teil 3 is in Übungssatz 1 and Übungssatz 2 by g.a.s.t. (PDF). For the first two parts of the oral exam, read DTZ Sprechen Teil 1 and DTZ B1 picture description. There is no guarantee of success, but if you know the useful phrases well, your head is clear for the content during those six minutes.