telc German A1 · Sprechen
Request–responseRequesting & responding

telc 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

1
Tasks
5
Points

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 window, 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.

What you practice:Requesting politelyResponding to requestsUsing picture cards

How to approach it

  1. 1

    Look at your picture card and consider what you can ask for.

  2. 2

    Make a polite request (“Können Sie bitte das Fenster öffnen?”).

  3. 3

    Make your request to another participant.

  4. 4

    Respond to the others’ requests in a friendly way (“Ja, gern.”).

  5. 5

    Speak in simple, polite sentences.

Example task with answer

A short example in the same format: how to make a request and respond.

Aufgabe

Deine Bildkarte zeigt eine Lampe. Formuliere eine Bitte und reagiere auf die Bitte deines Partners.

Example (request & response):

Answer: Bitte: „Kannst du bitte die Lampe anmachen? Es ist dunkel." – Reaktion auf die Bitte des Partners („Können Sie bitte die Tür schließen?"): „Ja, gern."

Why? The example makes a polite request that fits the picture card (lamp) 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 ein Fenster. Du möchtest deinen Partner um etwas bitten.

Which request fits the picture card?

Common mistakes

1
Request doesn’t fit the card

Your request must fit the picture. If the card shows a window, ask about the window.

2
Not requesting politely

Use “bitte” and “Können Sie …?”. A polite form is part of it.

3
Not responding to the request

Respond to the partner’s request, for example with “Ja, gern.”.

4
Only saying one word

Say a full request, not just “Fenster”. For example “Können Sie bitte das Fenster öffnen?”.

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 (window, lamp, book, door).

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

Back to overview · Sprechen