Goethe A1 Speaking Part 3 – Make Requests
In Part 3 you make a polite request using a picture card and respond to the others’ requests. Here’s how to request reliably.
As of 2026 · Built to the official exam format
Key takeaways
- You get a picture card and make a polite request about it.
- You also respond to the requests of the other participants.
What this part tests
Part 3 tests whether you can politely ask for something in everyday life and respond to a request. You get a picture card (for example a door, a lamp, a book) and make a request about it to another participant.
In the same way you respond to the others’ requests – usually with “Ja, gern.” or a short, friendly answer. It’s about simple, polite sentences: “Können Sie bitte …?”, “Kannst du mir … geben?”.
What matters is that your request fits the picture card and is polite and that you respond in a friendly way to the others’ requests. A few fixed phrases are enough to solve this part reliably.
How to approach it
- 1
Look at your picture card and consider what you can ask for.
- 2
Make a polite request (“Können Sie bitte die Tür zumachen?”).
- 3
Make your request to another participant.
- 4
Respond to the others’ requests in a friendly way (“Ja, gern.”).
- 5
Speak in simple, polite sentences.
Example task with answer
A short example in the same format: how to make a request and respond.
Deine Bildkarte zeigt ein Buch. Formuliere eine Bitte und reagiere auf die Bitte deines Partners.
Example (request & response):
Why? The example makes a polite request that fits the picture card (book) and responds in a friendly way to the partner’s request – exactly what’s expected in Part 3.
Practice: test yourself
In Teil 3 zeigt deine Bildkarte eine Tür. Du möchtest deinen Partner um etwas bitten.
Which request fits the picture card?
Common mistakes
Your request must fit the picture. If the card shows a door, ask about the door.
Use “bitte” and “Können Sie …?”. A polite form is part of it.
Respond to the partner’s request, for example with “Ja, gern.”.
Say a full request, not just “Tür”. For example “Können Sie bitte die Tür zumachen?”.
Tips
- Learn fixed phrases: “Können Sie bitte …?”, “Kannst du mir … geben?”.
- Always respond in a friendly way to a request: “Ja, gern.”, “Natürlich.”.
- Practice requests for typical pictures (door, lamp, book, window).
Frequently asked questions
What do I have to do in Part 3?
Make a polite request using a picture card and respond to the requests of the other participants.
How do I make a polite request?
With “Können Sie bitte …?” or “Kannst du mir … geben?” and the word “bitte”. The request must fit the picture card.
How do I respond to a request?
In a friendly and short way, for example “Ja, gern.” or “Natürlich.”.
What’s the best way to practice Part 3?
Practice requests for various pictures and responding in a friendly way. A Prepliq mock scores your speaking automatically against the official criteria.
Other parts
Useful resources
Learn 600+ of the most important Goethe-Zertifikat A1 words interactively with flashcards.
Preview and download the official Goethe-Zertifikat A1 practice test – with answers and study material.