B1 Sprechen "Gemeinsam etwas Planen": The Ultimate Guide (Goethe Teil 1 & Telc Teil 3)

"Gemeinsam etwas planen" is the planning task where you and a partner organize something together like a birthday party, a trip, a gift purchase.

Many test takers freeze exactly in this part - they don't know when to speak, they wait for their partner to suggest things and then just... agree. Three minutes pass. They've barely demonstrated any German.

This section accounts for 28% of your Goethe B1 Sprechen score and 40% of your telc B1 Sprechen score. Fail here, and you're fighting uphill for the rest of the exam.

The good news? This is the most predictable section of the entire test. The format is always the same. The planning points are always similar. And with the right strategy, you can control exactly how this conversation goes.

Goethe throws you in immediately. Telc gives you two sections to warm up first.

Why Candidates Actually Fail

Most guides give you phrase lists. Nobody tells you WHY people fail.

Killer #1: The Passivity Trap

Here is what one test taker said on reddit: "In part 3, my partner answered everything in one go. I had to remind him that it was supposed to be a dialogue."

But often it's the opposite - the candidate becomes passive. They wait. They agree. They let their partner do the heavy lifting.

Rita explained her 51% failure: "I used to try to follow their lead because I'd be too intimidated."

Examiners can't give you points for words you don't say.

Killer #2: The Nervousness Cascade

One test taker reported: "I got stuck on the word 'Möbel' and fucked up both my Teil 1 and Teil 2 because of nervousness."

You hit one unknown word. Panic sets in. That panic bleeds into the next section.

The solution? Filler phrases that buy time: "Also..." "Naja..." "Moment, wie sagt man..."

Killer #3: The Silence Penalty

Here's what actually costs points, ranked:

1. Silence / One-word answers (MOST DANGEROUS)
2. Missing planning points (incomplete task)
3. Passivity (only responding, never proposing)
4. Grammar errors (minor penalty if you keep speaking)
5. Pronunciation (foreign accent is fine)

The hierarchy is clear: speaking imperfectly beats saying nothing.

60% vs. 80% answers: side-by-side

Scenario: Planning a day trip.

60% Dialogue (Barely Passing)

‍Problems: Long pauses. One-word answers. No back-and-forth. No disagreement. Mechanical.

80% Dialogue (Strong)

The key difference? Natural back-and-forth. Candidate disagrees politely (8 AM → 9 AM) and offers an alternative. Questions after every answer. That negotiation is exactly what examiners want.

Here is another example dialog for your reference:

Scenario: Planning a party

60% Dialogue (The "Yes-Man" Approach)

Why this is weak: Candidate B is passive, offers no alternatives, and speaks in short sentences. They pass because the task gets done, but the score is low.

80% Dialogue (The "Negotiator" Approach)

Why this is strong: Candidate B disagrees politely, makes counter-proposals ("Park" instead of "Home"), and uses complex sentence structures.

Redemittel B1 Gemeinsam Planen (Phrase Bank Cheat Sheet)

Get a PDF list of 100 B1 Goethe and telc phrase cheat sheet here.

Making Suggestions

• Ich habe eine Idee … — I have an idea …
• Wie wäre es, wenn wir …? — How about if we …?
• Wollen wir vielleicht …? — Maybe we could …?
• Ich würde vorschlagen, dass wir … — I would suggest that we …
• Was hältst du davon, wenn wir …? — What do you think about us …?

Asking Partner’s Opinion (critical for points)

• Was denkst du? — What do you think?
• Wie siehst du das? — How do you see it?
• Bist du damit einverstanden? — Do you agree with that?
• Passt dir das? — Does that work for you?

Agreeing (more than just “Ja”)

• Das finde ich eine gute Idee! — I think that’s a good idea!
• Das hört sich super an! — That sounds great!
• Du hast recht. — You’re right.
• Einverstanden! — Agreed!

Disagreeing Politely (this is where points are won)

• Das ist zwar ein guter Vorschlag, aber … — That’s a good suggestion, but …
• Ich sehe das ein bisschen anders. — I see it a bit differently.
• Ich fände es besser, wenn wir … — I would prefer it if we …
• Wie wäre es stattdessen mit …? — How about … instead?

Closing

• Alles klar, dann machen wir das so. — Alright, then we’ll do it like that.
• Gut, wir treffen uns also am … um … — Okay, so we’ll meet on … at …
• Ich freue mich darauf! — I’m looking forward to it.

Time Management (3 Minutes)

First 30 seconds: Opening + first proposal

Middle 2 minutes: Cover ALL planning points. Don't spend too long on any single one.

Final 30 seconds: Confirm what you agreed on.

Common planning points to cover:

• When? (Wann?)
• Where? (Wo?)
• How to get there? (Wie kommen wir dahin?)
• What to bring? (Was sollen wir mitnehmen?)
• Who does what? (Wer macht was?)

If your partner hasn't mentioned one, YOU bring it up.

Quick Fixes for Common Problems

Partner talks too much? Interrupt politely: "Ja, gute Idee. Aber ich habe noch einen Vorschlag..."

Don't understand a word? Ask: "Entschuldigung, was meinst du mit [word]?"

Can't agree? Compromise: "Okay, dann machen wir es so—9 Uhr statt 8 Uhr. Einverstanden?"

Forgot a word? Describe it: "Ein Ort wo man Kaffee trinken kann" works if you forget "Café."

Brain freezes? Use fillers: "Also... Moment... Wie sagt man das..."

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What are the most common exam scenarios?

• Birthday party: When/where? Gift? Food/drinks? Who invites guests?
• Day trip: Destination? Departure time? Transportation? What to bring?
• Helping someone move: When? How to transport furniture? What to do after?
• Group gift: What to buy? Budget? Where to buy? Who collects money?
• Dinner party: When? Who to invite? Who brings what food?
• Farewell party for colleague: When/where? Gift? How to keep it secret?

Do grammar mistakes cause you to fail B1 "Gemeinsam planen"? No, grammar is rarely the reason candidates fail this section. Silence and passivity are much bigger risks. Examiners prioritize your ability to interact and negotiate over perfect grammar. As long as your partner understands you, minor grammatical errors result in only small deductions.

Is "Gemeinsam etwas planen" Teil 1 or Teil 2? It depends on which exam you are taking. In the Goethe B1 exam, "Gemeinsam etwas planen" is Teil 1 (followed by the presentation). In the telc B1 exam, it is Teil 3 (the final part of the oral exam).

What happens if my partner talks too much or too little? This is part of the test. If your partner is silent, you must lead the conversation and ask them questions ("Was denkst du?"). If your partner dominates, you must politely interrupt ("Entschuldigung, darf ich dazu etwas sagen?"). Examiners grade you on your ability to manage these situations.

Can I memorize a script for the B1 planning task? You cannot memorize a full script because you don't know what your partner will say. However, you should memorize "functional" phrases for suggesting, agreeing, disagreeing, and compromising. These act as "Lego blocks" you can use in any scenario.

The Bottom Line

"Gemeinsam etwas planen" isn't about perfect German. It's about showing you can communicate, negotiate, and reach agreements. The test takers who fail stay silent, only agree, and wait for their partner to lead.

The test takers who pass speak, even imperfectly. They suggest. They disagree. They ask questions.