What Is the Aim of Gemeinsam etwas planen?
The exam situation usually includes a goal and several points for discussion. For example, you may need to organise a day trip for your language course. In that case, you might have to decide:
where the group should go;
which day and time are most suitable;
how everyone will get there;
how much the activity may cost;
what should be included in the programme;
who will be responsible for each task.
The examiners are not simply counting how many ideas you mention. They are looking at the quality of the joint discussion. A strong performance sounds like genuine planning: one candidate makes a suggestion, the other responds, asks a question or offers an alternative, and both eventually agree on a solution.
That is why a long monologue is less effective here than short, logically connected contributions from both candidates.
Which Skills Should You Demonstrate?
During the conversation, try to show that you can:
open and structure a discussion;
make specific suggestions;
give reasons and explain advantages;
ask for your partner’s opinion;
agree and develop someone else’s idea;
express doubts politely;
offer an alternative;
take the task requirements into account;
divide responsibilities;
summarise the decisions you have made.
Grammar and vocabulary matter, but interaction is equally important. A candidate may produce correct sentences and still perform poorly if they barely react to their partner. The purpose of the task is to create a real dialogue, not to deliver two separate speeches.
How to Prepare Your Plan
Do not write a complete script during the preparation stage. You cannot know in advance what your partner will suggest, so a memorised dialogue may stop being useful as soon as the conversation takes an unexpected turn.
Instead, create a compact list of keywords:
PointPossible optionsOrtStadtpark / Museum / JugendzentrumTerminSamstag, 10 Uhr / Sonntag, 11 UhrAnreiseZug / Bus / FahrgemeinschaftBudgetbis 20 Euro pro PersonProgrammFührung / Picknick / WorkshopAufgabenreservieren / Tickets kaufen / Gruppe informieren
Prepare one main idea and, if possible, one backup option for each point. This will help you remain flexible if your partner does not support your first suggestion.
A useful preparation routine is:
Identify the exact goal of the task.
Mark all mandatory conditions and restrictions.
Write down four to six questions that need to be resolved.
Note possible solutions using keywords only.
Think of at least one reason for each important suggestion.
Prepare an alternative for any idea that may not work.
Your notes should support spontaneous speaking. They should not become a script that you read aloud during the exam.
Identify the Restrictions First
Certain expressions in the task immediately determine which suggestions are appropriate. Pay particular attention to wording such as:
Tagesausflug — a day trip;
ohne Übernachtung — without an overnight stay;
möglichst preiswert — as inexpensive as possible;
maximal 20 Euro pro Person — no more than 20 euros per person;
für Familien mit Kindern — for families with children;
für ältere Menschen — for older people;
außerhalb Deutschlands — outside Germany;
in der Nähe — nearby.
If the task is to organise a day trip without an overnight stay, discussing hotel accommodation makes little sense. A long walking route may not be suitable for a group of older participants. If the budget is limited, every suggestion should be checked against the expected cost.
A realistic plan that respects the task requirements will make a stronger impression than complex language that fails to solve the actual problem.
A Reliable Structure for the Conversation
Use the following sequence to stay focused throughout the dialogue:
state the task → choose the first point → make a suggestion → give a reason → respond to your partner → agree on a decision → move to the next point → divide the tasks → summarise the result
Let us look at each step in more detail.
1. Briefly State the Goal
One sentence is enough to show that you have understood the situation:
Wir sollen heute gemeinsam einen Ausflug für unseren Deutschkurs planen.
Today we need to plan a trip for our German course together.
Unsere Aufgabe ist es, ein Sommerfest für die Kursteilnehmenden zu organisieren.
Our task is to organise a summer celebration for the course participants.
Do not repeat the entire task sheet. Move on to the actual planning as quickly as possible.
2. Choose the First Point to Discuss
Invite your partner to begin with a specific question:
Lass uns zuerst entscheiden, wann die Veranstaltung stattfinden soll.
Let us first decide when the event should take place.
Ich denke, wir sollten zuerst den Ort auswählen. Was meinst du?
I think we should choose the location first. What do you think?
Womit sollen wir anfangen — mit dem Termin oder mit dem Programm?
What should we start with — the date or the programme?
The final option is particularly useful because it involves your partner immediately.
3. Give a Reason for Your Suggestion
The short statement “Wir fahren mit dem Bus” is understandable, but it does not show much ability to develop an argument. Add a reason and a possible benefit:
Wir könnten einen Bus mieten, weil die Gruppe ziemlich groß ist. So könnten alle gemeinsam fahren.
We could hire a bus because the group is quite large. That way, everyone could travel together.
A simple and effective pattern is:
suggestion + reason + advantage
Here are two more examples:
Ich schlage vor, dass wir uns am Samstag treffen, weil die meisten Kursteilnehmenden dann frei haben.
I suggest meeting on Saturday because most course participants are free then.
Wir könnten das Fest im Park veranstalten. Dort haben wir viel Platz und brauchen keinen Raum zu mieten.
We could hold the celebration in the park. There is plenty of space, and we would not need to rent a room.
Your argument does not need to be complicated. What matters is that the connection between the idea and its advantage is clear.
4. Show That You Are Listening
The answer “Ja, gute Idee” is acceptable. However, if you use it repeatedly throughout the conversation, it does not demonstrate genuine interaction. Refer directly to what your partner has said:
Dein Vorschlag klingt gut, besonders weil der Bahnhof leicht erreichbar ist.
Your suggestion sounds good, especially because the station is easy to reach.
Damit bin ich einverstanden. Zusätzlich könnten wir dort eine Führung buchen.
I agree. We could also book a guided tour there.
Das wäre praktisch. Wir sollten nur noch prüfen, ob es am Sonntag geöffnet ist.
That would be practical. We only need to check whether it is open on Sunday.
Responses like these evaluate the suggestion and move the discussion forward at the same time.
5. Disagree Politely and Constructively
You do not have to accept every idea in the exam. A calm and relevant disagreement can actually demonstrate linguistic flexibility. Do not simply reject a proposal; explain your concern and suggest an alternative:
doubt + reason + alternative
For example:
Ich bin mir nicht sicher, ob das passt, weil die Fahrt sehr lange dauert. Vielleicht wählen wir lieber ein Ziel in der Nähe.
I am not sure that this is suitable because the journey takes a very long time. Perhaps we should choose a nearby destination instead.
Ein Restaurant wäre bequem, aber für unsere Gruppe wahrscheinlich zu teuer. Wie wäre es stattdessen mit einem Picknick?
A restaurant would be convenient, but it would probably be too expensive for our group. How about a picnic instead?
Grundsätzlich finde ich die Idee gut. Allerdings müssen wir daran denken, dass auch kleine Kinder teilnehmen.
In general, I like the idea. However, we need to remember that young children will also be taking part.
The aim is not to win an argument. You and your partner are expected to find a suitable solution together.
Once you have resolved one issue, state the result briefly and move on to the next point:
Gut, dann treffen wir uns am Samstag. Jetzt müssen wir noch den Treffpunkt festlegen.
Good, then we will meet on Saturday. Now we still need to decide on the meeting point.
Damit ist die Anreise geklärt. Sprechen wir als Nächstes über die Kosten.
That settles the travel arrangements. Next, let us discuss the costs.
Den Ort haben wir schon gewählt. Was fehlt noch?
We have already chosen the location. What is still missing?
Transitions like these make the conversation sound organised and help you avoid forgetting an important point.
7. Divide the Responsibilities
A collection of ideas becomes a real plan only when the responsibilities are clear. Use polite forms when assigning tasks:
Ich kann mich um die Reservierung kümmern. Könntest du die Gruppe informieren?
I can take care of the reservation. Could you inform the group?
Ich übernehme die Fahrkarten, und du könntest nach einer passenden Führung suchen.
I will take care of the tickets, and you could look for a suitable guided tour.
Wer fragt im Restaurant nach einem Gruppenrabatt?
Who will ask the restaurant about a group discount?
Soll ich eine Nachricht an alle Teilnehmenden schreiben?
Shall I write a message to all the participants?
Forms such as könnte, würde and sollte help your suggestions sound polite and appropriate for B2 level.
8. Summarise the Final Plan
At the end, repeat the most important decisions in two or three sentences:
Dann fassen wir kurz zusammen: Wir fahren am Samstag mit dem Zug nach Bonn und treffen uns um neun Uhr am Hauptbahnhof. Ich kaufe die Gruppentickets, und du reservierst die Führung.
Let us briefly summarise: we are travelling to Bonn by train on Saturday and meeting at the main station at nine o’clock. I will buy the group tickets, and you will book the guided tour.
You can then check whether anything is still missing:
Haben wir an alles gedacht?
Have we thought of everything?
Gibt es noch etwas, das wir klären sollten?
Is there anything else we should clarify?
A clear summary shows that you have guided the discussion towards a concrete result.
Useful Phrases for telc B2 Speaking Part 3
Making a Suggestion
Ich würde vorschlagen, dass wir … — I would suggest that we…
Wie wäre es, wenn wir …? — How about…?
Wir könnten … — We could…
Meiner Meinung nach wäre es sinnvoll, … — In my opinion, it would make sense to…
Eine Möglichkeit wäre, … — One option would be to…
Asking for Your Partner’s Opinion
Was hältst du davon? — What do you think of that?
Wie findest du diesen Vorschlag? — What do you think of this suggestion?
Bist du damit einverstanden? — Do you agree with that?
Hast du eine andere Idee? — Do you have another idea?
Welche Lösung wäre für dich besser? — Which solution would be better for you?
Agreeing and Adding an Idea
Das klingt vernünftig. — That sounds reasonable.
Damit bin ich einverstanden. — I agree with that.
Das gefällt mir. Außerdem könnten wir … — I like that. We could also…
Genau, und wir sollten auch … — Exactly, and we should also…
Deine Idee hat den Vorteil, dass … — The advantage of your idea is that…
Expressing Doubt or Suggesting an Alternative
Ich bin noch nicht ganz überzeugt, weil … — I am not completely convinced yet because…
Das könnte schwierig werden, denn … — That could be difficult because…
Einerseits ist das praktisch, andererseits … — On the one hand, that is practical; on the other hand…
Vielleicht sollten wir noch eine Alternative überlegen. — Perhaps we should consider another option.
Wäre es nicht besser, wenn wir …? — Would it not be better if we…?
Entering the Conversation or Adding a Point
Darf ich kurz etwas ergänzen? — May I add something briefly?
Dazu habe ich noch eine Idee. — I have another idea about that.
Mir ist noch etwas Wichtiges eingefallen. — I have just remembered another important point.
Ich möchte noch einen Punkt ansprechen. — I would like to mention one more point.
Moving to the Next Point
Dann ist dieser Punkt geklärt. — That settles this point.
Kommen wir jetzt zum nächsten Thema. — Let us move on to the next topic.
Als Nächstes sollten wir über … sprechen. — Next, we should talk about…
Was müssen wir noch organisieren? — What else do we need to organise?
Concluding the Conversation
Ich fasse unsere Entscheidungen kurz zusammen. — I will briefly summarise our decisions.
Wir haben also beschlossen, dass … — So, we have decided that…
Damit steht unser Plan. — That completes our plan.
Ich denke, das ist eine gute Lösung für alle. — I think this is a good solution for everyone.
Sample Dialogue: Organising a Charity Event
Situation: The participants in a language course would like to organise a small charity flea market.
A: Wir sollen einen Flohmarkt für einen guten Zweck organisieren. Womit wollen wir anfangen?
B: Lass uns zuerst einen Termin finden. Ich würde Samstag vorschlagen, weil dann mehr Besucher kommen könnten. Was meinst du?
A: Samstag passt gut. Vielleicht beginnen wir um elf Uhr, damit wir morgens genug Zeit für den Aufbau haben.
B: Einverstanden. Wo könnten wir den Flohmarkt veranstalten?
A: Wie wäre es mit dem Schulhof? Dort gibt es viel Platz, und wir müssten keine Halle mieten.
B: Die Idee gefällt mir. Allerdings brauchen wir bei Regen eine Alternative. Vielleicht dürfen wir auch die Aula benutzen.
A: Stimmt. Ich kann bei der Schule nachfragen. Wir sollten außerdem überlegen, was wir verkaufen möchten.
B: Die Teilnehmenden könnten Kleidung, Bücher und Haushaltsgegenstände mitbringen. Zusätzlich könnten wir Kuchen und Kaffee anbieten.
A: Gute Idee. Dann kümmere ich mich um den Kontakt mit der Schule. Könntest du eine Nachricht an den Kurs schreiben und Spenden sammeln?
B: Ja, das mache ich. Ich fasse zusammen: Der Flohmarkt findet am Samstag ab elf Uhr auf dem Schulhof statt. Bei schlechtem Wetter nutzen wir die Aula. Du klärst den Ort, und ich informiere den Kurs.
A: Genau. Damit haben wir die wichtigsten Punkte besprochen.
In this dialogue, both candidates contribute ideas, react to each other, consider a possible problem and divide the responsibilities. This is exactly the type of interaction required in Part 3.
Which Grammar Is Particularly Useful?
You do not need excessively long sentences to perform well. It is more important to use several key B2 structures confidently and correctly.
Subordinate Clauses
After weil, dass, wenn, obwohl and damit, the conjugated verb goes to the end of the subordinate clause:
Wir nehmen den Zug, weil er schneller als der Bus ist.
We will take the train because it is faster than the bus.
Ich denke, dass Samstag am besten passt.
I think Saturday is the most suitable day.
Wir sollten früh buchen, damit die Tickets nicht zu teuer werden.
We should book early so that the tickets do not become too expensive.
Subordinate clauses help you express reasons, aims, conditions and contrasts clearly.
Konjunktiv II for Polite Suggestions
Forms such as könnte, sollte, wäre and würde make your suggestions sound polite and natural:
Wir könnten gemeinsam fahren.
We could travel together.
Es wäre besser, einen Tisch zu reservieren.
It would be better to reserve a table.
Ich würde den Termin vorher bestätigen.
I would confirm the date in advance.
Connectors for a Logical Response
Words such as außerdem, deshalb, trotzdem and danach help connect your ideas. After these connectors, the conjugated verb is in the second position:
Die Fahrt ist lang. Deshalb sollten wir früh losfahren.
The journey is long. Therefore, we should leave early.
Das Wetter könnte schlecht sein. Trotzdem brauchen wir einen Plan für draußen.
The weather could be bad. Nevertheless, we need a plan for the outdoor activity.
Do not force a complicated structure into every sentence. Clarity, accuracy and an appropriate response to your partner are more important than artificially complex language.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
The Conversation Becomes a Monologue
After presenting an important idea, return the floor to your partner. Useful questions include “Was meinst du?”, “Passt das für dich?” and “Hast du einen anderen Vorschlag?”
Repeating “Ja, gute Idee” throughout the conversation shows limited flexibility. Add a reason, a question, a condition or another idea.
Suggestions Are Not Explained
Do not simply name an option. Explain why it is cheaper, more convenient, faster or better suited to the group.
The Partner’s Ideas Are Ignored
Refer to a key part of your partner’s suggestion and develop it further:
Dein Vorschlag mit dem Bus ist praktisch. Dann könnten auch ältere Teilnehmende bequem mitfahren.
Your suggestion about the bus is practical. That way, older participants could travel comfortably too.
Important Points Are Forgotten
Keep a short checklist in front of you: time, location, transport, costs, programme and responsibilities. Once you have made a decision, mentally tick off that point.
The Task Requirements Are Ignored
Check whether your idea fits the budget, the participants’ age, the duration and the purpose of the activity.
The Conversation Ends Without a Decision
Do not finish with a list of possible options. Select one solution, state the main details and divide the responsibilities.
Overly Complicated Sentences Create Mistakes
Several clear and grammatically correct sentences are better than one long construction in which you lose control of the word order.
Why Memorised Phrases Are Not Enough
Prepared phrases provide useful support, but the exam topic may be very different from the situations you have practised. One task may involve a trip, while another focuses on a sports day, an exhibition, a neighbourhood meeting or helping a new course participant.
Effective preparation therefore includes not only vocabulary, but also regular practice in how to:
identify the goal and restrictions quickly;
build an argument using the pattern “idea — reason — result”;
respond to an unexpected suggestion;
adapt the original plan;
disagree politely;
finish the discussion with a concrete agreement.
The more varied situations you practise, the more confident you will feel when faced with an unfamiliar task.
Preparing for telc Exams with HHDEUTSCH
At HHDEUTSCH, exam preparation is based on the actual test format and practical application. Instead of memorising isolated model answers, you learn clear strategies that can be applied to different tasks.
The telc Deutsch B2 preparation programme includes:
a detailed overview of the exam structure and requirements;
practice for all parts of the oral and written exam;
dialogue models for Gemeinsam etwas planen;
discussion and argumentation practice;
useful B2 vocabulary and grammar structures;
tasks for Lesen, Hören and Sprachbausteine;
preparation for the writing tasks;
analysis of common mistakes;
exercises in an exam-style format.
All materials are available on the learning platform, so you can study at your own pace, return to difficult topics and repeat exercises whenever necessary.
HHDEUTSCH prepares learners for both Allgemein and Beruf examinations. The aim is to help you understand the logic of each task and use German confidently in the real exam situation.
Start preparing for telc Deutsch B2 with HHDEUTSCH
[Insert the course button or link here]
A Short Checklist Before the Exam
Before completing your preparation, make sure you can:
start a conversation without a long introduction;
make a suggestion and give a reason;
ask your partner an open question;
agree and add to a suggestion;
disagree politely and offer an alternative;
move naturally to the next point;
divide tasks clearly;
summarise the result in a few sentences.
The key principle of Part 3 is simple: do not try to deliver a memorised monologue. Show that you can discuss options with another person, take the conditions into account and reach a practical solution in German.
