telc German C2 – Oral Expression (Speaking)
In Oral Expression – the speaking exam – you give a presentation and have an in-depth discussion. Unlike the lower levels, the C2 exam is an individual exam. Here are the structure, useful phrases and examples.
As of 2026 · Built to the official exam format
Key takeaways
- The speaking exam has 2 parts and lasts around 15 minutes – as an individual exam.
- Part 1: give a presentation · Part 2: have an in-depth discussion about it.
- 40 points in total (20 per part). Beforehand you get preparation time.
Overview
Oral Expression – the speaking exam – is the last part of the telc C2 exam. Unlike the lower levels, it’s an individual exam: you speak with the examiner, not with a partner. The exam lasts around 15 minutes; beforehand you get preparation time. In total you can earn 40 points.
It tests whether you can express yourself in a near-native, differentiated and stylistically assured way at C2 level: present a topic in a structured and intellectually penetrated way and then deepen it in discussion, respond to questions in a differentiated way and justify your position convincingly.
The two parts call for two abilities: in Part 1 you give a presentation (around 6–8 minutes) on a topic. In Part 2 you have an in-depth discussion about it (around 7–9 minutes), in which you respond to questions, develop your position further and argue in a differentiated way. Fixed phrases and good preparation help you.
C2 demands near-native, differentiated and stylistically assured expression. Demanding are the structured presentation and the spontaneous, differentiated deepening in discussion.
The parts at a glance
| Part | Task type | Focus | Tasks | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part 1 – Presentation | Presentation | Presenting | 1 | 20 |
| Part 2 – In-depth discussion | In-depth discussion | Differentiated argumentation | 1 | 20 |
Tips & strategy
Use the preparation time to structure your presentation and think through arguments, examples and possible questions – but don’t learn a text by heart.
Structure your presentation: introduction, several well-considered points with examples, conclusion with a summary. A clear structure carries a good presentation.
At C2 it’s not enough to describe a topic. Penetrate it: tensions, implications, different perspectives and a reasoned position.
In the in-depth discussion, respond to questions, develop your position further, weigh up and justify in a differentiated way – spontaneously and fluently.
Show linguistic range: precise vocabulary, varied structures, appropriate register. Avoid repetition and filler words.
Speak coherently and with assurance. If a word escapes you, paraphrase it elegantly without faltering.
Useful phrases
Learn a demanding set of phrases for the presentation and discussion:
- Introducing the presentation
- Ich möchte im Folgenden der Frage nachgehen, ob … / Mein Vortrag gliedert sich in …
- Developing arguments
- Zunächst ist festzuhalten, dass … / Ein gewichtiger Aspekt besteht darin, dass … / Hinzu kommt …
- Weighing & nuancing
- Zwar …, gleichwohl … / Bei näherer Betrachtung zeigt sich … / Einschränkend ist anzumerken …
- Responding in discussion
- Das ist ein wichtiger Einwand; dennoch würde ich argumentieren, dass … / Da muss ich differenzieren: …
- Position & conclusion
- Letztlich vertrete ich die Auffassung, dass … / Zusammenfassend lässt sich sagen, dass …
Common topics
The presentation and discussion topics come from society, science and culture:
- Science & technology
- research, AI, digitalization, ethics
- Society & politics
- change, values, democracy, globalization
- Education & language
- education system, multilingualism, language
- Culture & media
- art, literature, media change
- Environment & future
- climate, sustainability, responsibility
1-week study plan
- Day1Learn the format
Read this guide and look at an example of the speaking exam: how do the presentation and in-depth discussion run?
- Day2Part 1 – presentation
Practice presentations of around 6–8 minutes on demanding topics. Structure clearly and penetrate the topic intellectually.
- Day3Part 2 – in-depth discussion
Practice responding to questions in a differentiated way, developing your position and weighing up.
- Day4Argue in a differentiated way
Practice weighing different perspectives and justifying a nuanced position spontaneously.
- Day5Style & vocabulary
Prepare precise vocabulary and demanding phrases for common topics.
- Day6Practice the full speaking exam
Run through both parts – with preparation time and under real conditions.
- Day7Get feedback
Have your speaking assessed – by a teacher or via a Prepliq mock that scores speaking automatically.
Are you ready?
- I give a clearly structured presentation of around 6–8 minutes.
- I penetrate a demanding topic intellectually and develop a position.
- I respond to questions spontaneously and in a differentiated way in discussion.
- I weigh different perspectives and justify with nuance.
- I speak with stylistic assurance, precision and linguistic range.
- I stay fluent and assured, even when a word escapes me.
Frequently asked questions
How is the telc C2 speaking exam structured?
It has two parts: Part 1 (a presentation on a topic) and Part 2 (an in-depth discussion about it). It lasts around 15 minutes and is an individual exam with the examiner.
Is the C2 exam a paired or individual exam?
An individual exam. Unlike the lower levels, you don’t speak with a partner but with the examiner.
Do I get preparation time?
Yes. Before the speaking exam you have time to structure your presentation and think through arguments and examples – but not to memorize a text.
How long is the presentation in Part 1?
The presentation lasts around 6–8 minutes. It is followed by the in-depth discussion of around 7–9 minutes.
How is the speaking exam assessed?
Above all on fluent, coherent and stylistically assured expression, intellectual penetration of the topic, differentiated responding in discussion, and accuracy. There are 40 points in total (20 per part).
Which topics come up in the speaking exam?
Demanding factual and social topics like science, politics, education or culture. You should penetrate them intellectually and discuss them in a differentiated way.
What’s the best way to practice the speaking exam?
Practice presentations and spontaneous, differentiated arguing on many topics. At Prepliq you practice speaking with a mock that scores your answers automatically against the official criteria – the PDF answer key doesn’t cover speaking.