--- title: "TestDaF TDN 5 Speaking: Tasks 1–7, Examples & Tips" description: "Oral Expression in the TestDaF (TDN 5): all 7 tasks – get information, report, describe a graphic, discuss, weigh up, form hypotheses and take a stance. Structure and examples." canonical: "https://prepliq.com/en/practice-test/testdaf-german-tdn5/speaking" url: "https://prepliq.com/en/practice-test/testdaf-german-tdn5/speaking.md" locale: "en" provider: "TestDaF" level: "TDN 5" alternates: de: "https://prepliq.com/de/modelltest/testdaf-deutsch-tdn5/sprechen.md" en: "https://prepliq.com/en/practice-test/testdaf-german-tdn5/speaking.md" fr: "https://prepliq.com/fr/examen-blanc/testdaf-allemand-tdn5/expression-orale.md" it: "https://prepliq.com/it/simulazione-esame/testdaf-tedesco-tdn5/parlato.md" es: "https://prepliq.com/es/modelo-de-examen/testdaf-aleman-tdn5/expresion-oral.md" --- # TestDaF TDN 5 – Oral Expression (Sprechen) > Oral Expression in the TestDaF (TDN 5): all 7 tasks – get information, report, describe a graphic, discuss, weigh up, form hypotheses and take a stance. Structure and examples. ## Key takeaways - Oral Expression has 7 tasks and lasts around 30 minutes – computer-based. - The tasks get harder: from getting information to taking a stance on abstract topics. - For each task you have short preparation and speaking time. Oral Expression is the fourth module of the TestDaF exam and is recorded on a computer. You don’t speak with an examiner but respond to given situations: you read and hear the task, then have short preparation time and speak into a microphone afterwards. The module lasts around 30 minutes. There are seven tasks of increasing difficulty. They cover various speech acts from university life: getting information, reporting something to someone, describing a graphic, taking a stance in a discussion, weighing up alternatives and advising, forming hypotheses and taking a stance on an abstract topic. The tasks correspond to different levels: the first are rather easy, the last demanding. What matters is the right speech act, a clear structure and free, fluent speaking. Fixed phrases per task type help you. - Parts: 7 - Tasks: 7 - Points: 35 - Time: 30 min - Difficulty: very hard (5/5) ## The parts at a glance - [Task 1 – Get information](https://prepliq.com/en/practice-test/testdaf-german-tdn5/speaking/part-1) — Getting information · Asking for information · 1 Tasks · 5 Points. Task 1 of the Oral Expression is about: getting information. Here’s how to respond to the situation correctly. - [Task 2 – Report & suggest](https://prepliq.com/en/practice-test/testdaf-german-tdn5/speaking/part-2) — Reporting and making suggestions · Reporting & suggesting · 1 Tasks · 5 Points. Task 2 of the Oral Expression is about: reporting and making suggestions. Here’s how to respond to the situation correctly. - [Task 3 – Describe a graphic](https://prepliq.com/en/practice-test/testdaf-german-tdn5/speaking/part-3) — Describing a graphic · Describing a graphic orally · 1 Tasks · 5 Points. Task 3 of the Oral Expression is about: describing a graphic. Here’s how to respond to the situation correctly. - [Task 4 – Take a stance](https://prepliq.com/en/practice-test/testdaf-german-tdn5/speaking/part-4) — Taking a stance in a discussion · Arguing · 1 Tasks · 5 Points. Task 4 of the Oral Expression is about: taking a stance in a discussion. Here’s how to respond to the situation correctly. - [Task 5 – Weigh up & advise](https://prepliq.com/en/practice-test/testdaf-german-tdn5/speaking/part-5) — Weighing up alternatives and advising · Weighing up & advising · 1 Tasks · 5 Points. Task 5 of the Oral Expression is about: weighing up alternatives and advising. Here’s how to respond to the situation correctly. - [Task 6 – Graphic & hypotheses](https://prepliq.com/en/practice-test/testdaf-german-tdn5/speaking/part-6) — Describing a graphic and forming hypotheses · Describing & forming hypotheses · 1 Tasks · 5 Points. Task 6 of the Oral Expression is about: describing a graphic and forming hypotheses. Here’s how to respond to the situation correctly. - [Task 7 – Take a stance (abstract)](https://prepliq.com/en/practice-test/testdaf-german-tdn5/speaking/part-7) — Taking a stance on an abstract topic · Abstract argument · 1 Tasks · 5 Points. Task 7 of the Oral Expression is about: taking a stance on an abstract topic. Here’s how to respond to the situation correctly. ## Tips & strategy - **Recognize the speech act:** Each task requires a specific act: ask, report, describe, discuss, advise, form hypotheses, take a stance. Recognize it immediately. - **Use the preparation time:** You have only short preparation time per task. Quickly note keywords and a structure. - **Have phrases ready per task:** There are fixed phrases for each task type. Learn a set so you speak confidently even under time pressure. - **Speak in a clear structure:** Even in the short speaking time: introduction, body, conclusion. Use structuring signals. - **Fill the speaking time:** Speak until the time is up, but without rushing. Plan so that you fill the given time well. - **Speak freely and fluently:** Don’t read out your notes. Speak freely, coherently and in whole sentences. ## What TDN 5 means in Speaking At TDN 5 you speak fluently, precisely and appropriately, with nuanced argumentation and a wide range of phrasing. - **CEFR level** — C1 - **To reach TDN 5** — To reach TDN 5, aim for near-complete comprehension, nuanced argumentation and a wide, accurate range of language under time pressure. ## Useful phrases Learn a set of phrases for the various tasks: - **Asking (Task 1)** — Ich hätte eine Frage zu … / Können Sie mir sagen, ob …? / Wäre es möglich, …? - **Reporting (Task 2)** — Stell dir vor, … / Es ist so, dass … / Ich schlage vor, dass wir … - **Graphic (Tasks 3 & 6)** — Die Grafik zeigt … / Auffällig ist, dass … / Das könnte daran liegen, dass … - **Taking a stance (Tasks 4 & 7)** — Ich bin der Meinung, dass … / Einerseits … andererseits … / Ein Vorteil/Nachteil ist … - **Advising (Task 5)** — An deiner Stelle würde ich … / Du solltest bedenken, dass … / Ich würde dir raten, … ## The 7 tasks at a glance The tasks become progressively more demanding: - **Tasks 1–2** — getting information · reporting and making suggestions - **Tasks 3–4** — describing a graphic · taking a stance in a discussion - **Tasks 5–6** — weighing up alternatives and advising · describing a graphic and forming hypotheses - **Task 7** — taking a stance on an abstract topic and weighing up ## Free practice exercises - [Deutschlandfunk](https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/) — Demanding topics and arguments as a model for discussing and taking a stance. - [Statistisches Bundesamt](https://www.destatis.de/) — Real graphics for practicing oral graphic description (Tasks 3 and 6). ## 1-week study plan - Day 1 – **Learn the format:** Read this guide and look at the official Modelltest: how do the seven tasks work? - Day 2 – **Practice Tasks 1–2:** Practice getting information and reporting with suggestions. - Day 3 – **Task 3 – describe a graphic:** Practice describing graphics orally with useful phrases. - Day 4 – **Task 4 – discuss:** Practice taking a stance in a discussion with arguments. - Day 5 – **Practice Tasks 5–6:** Practice weighing up and advising as well as forming hypotheses about a graphic. - Day 6 – **Task 7 + full run:** Practice taking a stance on abstract topics and do a complete speaking run under time. - Day 7 – **Get feedback:** Have your speaking graded – by a teacher or via a Prepliq mock that scores speaking automatically. ## Are you ready? - I quickly recognize the right speech act for each task. - I can get information and report something to someone. - I can describe a graphic orally. - I can take a stance in a discussion and weigh up alternatives. - I can form and justify hypotheses. - I speak freely and fluently and fill the speaking time. ## Frequently asked questions ### What do I need to reach TDN 5 in speaking? At TDN 5 you speak fluently, precisely and appropriately, with nuanced argumentation and a wide range of phrasing. To reach TDN 5, aim for near-complete comprehension, nuanced argumentation and a wide, accurate range of language under time pressure. ### How is Oral Expression in the TestDaF structured? It has seven tasks of increasing difficulty and is recorded by computer. You respond to given situations: read/hear, prepare briefly, speak into the microphone. The module lasts around 30 minutes. ### Do I speak with an examiner? No. Oral Expression is computer-based: you speak alone into the microphone, and your answers are recorded and graded later. ### How much preparation time do I have? Only short preparation time per task (from a few seconds to a few minutes, depending on the task). Use it for keywords and a structure. ### How is Oral Expression scored in TDN 5? Like all TestDaF modules, speaking is graded in TDN levels. The seven tasks cover various levels; depending on your performance you reach TDN 3, 4 or 5. TDN 5 is the highest level and corresponds roughly to C1. It is accepted for all degree programs, including linguistically very demanding subjects. ### Which speech acts come up? Getting information, reporting and making suggestions, describing a graphic, taking a stance in a discussion, weighing up alternatives and advising, forming hypotheses and taking a stance on an abstract topic. ### What’s the best way to practice Oral Expression? Practice all seven task types separately and under time pressure – ideally out loud and recorded. At Prepliq you practice speaking with a mock that scores your answers automatically – because the PDF answer key does not cover speaking. ## Ready for the exam? [Practice this part on Prepliq](https://prepliq.com/en/practice-test/testdaf-german-tdn5?action=start§ionId=Oral%20Expression) ## Other exam parts - [Lesen](https://prepliq.com/en/practice-test/testdaf-german-tdn5/reading) - [Hören](https://prepliq.com/en/practice-test/testdaf-german-tdn5/listening) - [Schreiben](https://prepliq.com/en/practice-test/testdaf-german-tdn5/writing) [TestDaF TDN 5 – Oral Expression (Sprechen)](https://prepliq.com/en/practice-test/testdaf-german-tdn5/speaking)