DTZ Bildbeschreibung (Sprechen Teil 2): describe the photo, then talk about yourself
Teil 2 of the DTZ Sprechen is where you are shown a photo and asked to describe it. It comes in two halves: in 2A you describe the photo — what you see and what situation it shows — speaking on your own for about one to two minutes; in 2B the examiner asks you one or two follow-up questions about your own experience with the topic. For a pair, 2A and 2B together take about six minutes, so about three per person, with no preparation time. You and your partner get different photos.
The photos on this page are our own, on everyday DTZ topics — shopping, work, home, free time — never the official exam photo. Each one comes with a model Bildbeschreibung at B1 and the follow-up questions you are likely to meet, so you can see what a full description sounds like and then drill the phrases underneath.
How Teil 2 works, with example photos
You do not have to describe every tiny thing in the photo. What reaches B1 is a connected description that moves from what is plainly there to what you think is going on, plus a real, personal answer to the follow-up — not a list of nouns.
2A, 2B, and the A2-vs-B1 question tier
In 2A the printed task asks two things: „Was sehen Sie auf dem Foto?“ (what you see) and „Was für eine Situation zeigt dieses Bild?“ (what situation it shows). Answer both: name what is there, then say what you think the situation is. Describing is the floor; a short inference — „ich vermute …“, „vielleicht …“ — is what lifts it to B1.
In 2B the examiner opens with „Welche Erfahrungen haben Sie damit?“ and then asks one or two follow-up questions on the same topic. There is no separate A2 or B1 exam: the examiner picks the follow-ups from an easier or harder bank live, matching the level you have shown so far. So the way to aim high is simple — answer a little more fully than the question strictly needs, with a reason or a short example, and you pull the examiner toward the B1-tier questions.
Example photos with a model description and likely follow-ups
Model description (B1)
Auf dem Foto sehe ich eine junge Frau, die zu Hause auf dem Sofa sitzt.
In the photo I can see a young woman sitting at home on the sofa. — open with what is plainly there: who, and where (2A's first printed question, „Was sehen Sie?“).
Sie hat einen Laptop auf den Knien und hält eine Kreditkarte in der Hand.
She has a laptop on her knees and is holding a credit card. — two concrete details carry you past the bare „a woman“; present tense throughout.
Ich vermute, dass sie gerade etwas im Internet bestellt, zum Beispiel Kleidung.
I suppose she's ordering something online right now, for example clothes. — the A2-vs-B1 lift: say what you think is happening, not just what is visible. Ich vermute, dass sends the verb to the end.
Das Bild zeigt also eine ganz alltägliche Situation: Einkaufen von zu Hause aus.
So the picture shows an everyday situation: shopping from home. — answers 2A's second printed question („Was für eine Situation …?“) in one clause and closes the description.
Likely follow-up questions (2B)
Kaufen Sie lieber im Internet oder in einem Geschäft ein? Warum?
Do you prefer shopping online or in a shop? Why? — a B1-tier follow-up wants a reason, not just a choice; have one concrete „weil …“ ready.
Welche Erfahrungen haben Sie schon mit dem Online-Einkaufen gemacht?
What experiences have you had with shopping online? — this is the 2B core („Welche Erfahrungen haben Sie damit?“): tell one short real story, good or bad.
Model description (B1)
Auf dem Foto sehe ich zwei Personen in einer Werkstatt bei der Arbeit.
In the photo I can see two people at work in a workshop. — name the number of people and the place first.
Beide tragen Arbeitskleidung und scheinen über etwas zu sprechen.
Both are wearing work clothes and seem to be talking about something. — scheinen … zu marks that you're reading the scene, not claiming certainty.
Vielleicht erklärt die ältere Kollegin der jüngeren gerade einen Arbeitsschritt.
Perhaps the older colleague is explaining a work step to the younger one. — vielleicht + a guess about the relationship is exactly the inference 2A rewards at B1.
Insgesamt zeigt das Bild eine typische Situation am Arbeitsplatz.
Overall the picture shows a typical workplace situation. — the one-line summary that answers „Was für eine Situation …?“.
Likely follow-up questions (2B)
Was machen Sie beruflich, oder was möchten Sie gerne arbeiten?
What do you do for a living, or what would you like to work as? — an opener that connects back to your Teil 1 self-introduction; keep both answers ready.
Was ist Ihnen bei der Arbeit am wichtigsten? Warum?
What matters most to you at work? Why? — a B1-tier opinion question; name one thing (Kollegen, Bezahlung, Zeit) and justify it.
Model description (B1)
Auf dem Foto sehe ich eine Familie, die zusammen in der Küche steht.
In the photo I can see a family standing together in the kitchen. — who and where, in one sentence.
Im Vordergrund schneiden ein Mann und ein Kind Gemüse, im Hintergrund kocht eine Frau.
In the foreground a man and a child are cutting vegetables, in the background a woman is cooking. — im Vordergrund / im Hintergrund structure the description instead of a flat list.
Ich glaube, dass sie gemeinsam das Abendessen vorbereiten.
I think they're preparing dinner together. — Ich glaube, dass + verb at the end; a guess about the activity, not just the objects.
Das Bild zeigt eine Situation aus dem Familienalltag zu Hause.
The picture shows a situation from everyday family life at home. — the closing summary.
Likely follow-up questions (2B)
Wie wohnen Sie: in einer Wohnung oder in einem Haus?
How do you live: in a flat or a house? — a factual opener; answer in a full sentence, then add one detail (size, who you live with).
Kochen Sie gern? Wer kocht bei Ihnen zu Hause?
Do you like cooking? Who cooks at your home? — a 2B experience question; a short real answer beats a perfect invented one.
Model description (B1)
Auf dem Foto sehe ich mehrere Menschen, die im Park Fahrrad fahren.
In the photo I can see several people cycling in a park. — subject and setting first.
Die Sonne scheint, und alle tragen leichte Sommerkleidung.
The sun is shining and everyone is wearing light summer clothes. — one detail about weather/season places the scene and gives you more to say.
Es sieht so aus, als ob die Personen einen Ausflug am Wochenende machen.
It looks as though the people are on a weekend outing. — Es sieht so aus, als ob + subjunctive is a strong B1 inference move; „als ob“ sends the verb to the end.
Das Bild zeigt, wie man seine Freizeit aktiv verbringen kann.
The picture shows how you can spend your free time actively. — closes on the topic the photo stands for.
Likely follow-up questions (2B)
Was machen Sie am liebsten in Ihrer Freizeit?
What do you most like doing in your free time? — the easy opener; name one activity and say how often.
Unternehmen Sie solche Ausflüge auch? Mit wem und wohin?
Do you go on outings like this too? With whom and where? — a B1-tier follow-up; chain two or three sentences rather than answering in one word.
Which photo topics can come up in Teil 2
There is no official topic list, and each exam version picks its own tasks. These are examples to practise with, not a prediction.
In the current official practice sets
- Shopping, online or in a shop
- Neighbours and helping each other
- 2B: your experience, a comparison with your home country, pros and cons, your opinion
In older official or youth sets
- Waste and recycling
- Learning languages (youth set)
Possible under the official course framework
- Children, school and childcare
- Health in general
- Getting around and public transport
- Media, the internet and phones
- Work and training
- Housing
- Customs: punctuality, forms of address, invitations
- Food, weather and what you like in Germany
How to drill this: cover the German column with your hand, read each cue, and say the phrase out loud before you check. The three groups follow the shape of a good Teil 2 answer — describe what you see, guess what is going on, then talk about your own experience — so you can build a whole answer from them.
Describing the photo (beschreiben)
The 2A openers: name what is there and where it is. Say the situation in one clause so you answer both printed questions.
Auf dem Foto sehe ich …
In the photo I can see … — the first move; name the people and the place.
Im Vordergrund … , im Hintergrund …
In the foreground … , in the background … — structures the description so it isn't a flat list of objects.
Das Bild zeigt eine Situation, in der …
The picture shows a situation in which … — answers the second printed question („Was für eine Situation …?“).
Guessing what is going on (vermuten)
The lift from A2 to B1: don't only name what is visible — say what you think is happening. These all mark a guess, so a wrong guess still counts as good language.
Ich vermute, dass …
I suppose that … — the workhorse guess; verb to the end after dass.
Vielleicht … / Wahrscheinlich …
Perhaps … / Probably … — the lightest way to turn a bare observation into an inference.
Es sieht so aus, als ob …
It looks as though … — a strong B1 move; als ob takes the subjunctive and sends the verb to the end.
Your own experience (eigene Erfahrung)
The 2B phrases: bridge from the photo to yourself, then answer the follow-up a little more fully than a bare yes or no — that willingness to elaborate is what pulls the examiner to the B1 questions.
Damit habe ich schon Erfahrungen gemacht, zum Beispiel …
I've had experience with that, for example … — bridges from the photo (2A) to your own experience (2B).
In meinem Heimatland ist das (anders): …
In my home country that's (different): … — answers the common „Wie ist das in Ihrem Heimatland?“ follow-up with a comparison.
Ich finde das gut/praktisch, weil …
I find that good/handy, because … — gives the reason a B1-tier follow-up asks for; verb to the end after weil.
Download the B1 Sprechen Redemittel sheet (PDF)The core B1 speaking phrases on one printable page — cover the German column and say each one aloud.
Sources: g.a.s.t. — der DTZ auf einen Blick · g.a.s.t. — DTZ Übungssatz 1 (Sprechen) · g.a.s.t./Goethe — DTZ Prüfungshandbuch · BAMF — Abschlussprüfung und Zertifikat
Last updated: 2026-11-05