Describing a picture in a German exam: where and how
Redaktion · 8 October 2026 · 3 min read
In short
You mainly describe a picture in the DTZ (part 2: what you see on the photo, what situation it shows, then your experiences, about 3 minutes) and in the ÖSD Zertifikat B2 (task 2: choose one of three pictures, justify the choice, describe it, interpret it, about 5 minutes). In ÖSD C1 you compare two pictures on a theme. The order that works: overview, details, guesses, theme, opinion.
Which exams show a picture
| Exam and part | What you do | Length |
|---|---|---|
| DTZ, speaking part 2 | a photo from a magazine: what you see, what situation it shows; then questions about your experiences. Each person gets a different picture. | about 3 minutes per person |
| ÖSD Zertifikat B2, speaking task 2 | choose one of three pictures, justify the choice, describe it, then discuss its theme, give your opinion and make guesses | about 5 minutes per person, 15 minutes preparation |
| ÖSD Zertifikat C1, speaking task 2 | two pictures on one theme: discuss together which shows it better and agree | about 5 minutes |
The Goethe certificates and telc B1 and B2 have no picture description in their model tests. There, presentation, discussion and planning together count.
The order that works
- One-sentence overview: "Auf dem Foto sieht man eine Familie beim Frühstück."
- Details by position: im Vordergrund, im Hintergrund, links, rechts, in der Mitte.
- Guesses: who are the people, what happened before, how do they feel?
- Theme: what is it really about? "Das Bild zeigt, wie wenig Zeit Familien morgens haben."
- Opinion or experience: in the DTZ your own experience, in ÖSD B2 your opinion on the theme.
Phrases
| Purpose | Phrases |
|---|---|
| Justify your choice (ÖSD B2) | Ich habe dieses Bild gewählt, weil mich das Thema … interessiert. / Das Bild erinnert mich an … |
| Overview | Auf dem Bild sieht man … / Das Foto zeigt … |
| Position | Im Vordergrund … / Im Hintergrund … / Links daneben … / In der Mitte steht … |
| Guessing | Ich vermute, dass … / Es könnte sein, dass … / Die Frau scheint müde zu sein. / Wahrscheinlich … |
| Theme | Das Bild zeigt, wie … / Es geht um das Thema … / Das Foto steht für … |
| Opinion | Ich finde, das Bild zeigt gut, dass … / Bei uns ist das anders: … |
What comes next in the DTZ
In the DTZ the description is only the start. The examiner then asks questions, simpler at A2 ("Lesen Sie morgens Zeitung?"), about reasons and comparisons at B1. So keep the description to about a minute, then talk about yourself. More on the DTZ: DTZ points for A2 and B1. Opinions for ÖSD: giving your opinion from B1 to C1.
Frequently asked questions
Which German exam has a picture description?
The DTZ (speaking part 2), the ÖSD Zertifikat B2 (speaking task 2) and, with two pictures, ÖSD C1. Goethe and telc B1 and B2 have none in their model tests.
How long is the picture task in ÖSD B2?
About 5 minutes per person after 15 minutes of preparation. You choose one of three pictures.
How do I start describing a picture in German?
With an overview sentence: "Auf dem Foto sieht man …". Then details by position, then guesses and the theme.
How do I make a guess in German?
"Ich vermute, dass …", "Es könnte sein, dass …", "Die Person scheint … zu sein" or "Wahrscheinlich …".
Sources
- telc German test for immigrants (DTZ), model test (PDF), checked 8 October 2026
- ÖSD Zertifikat B2, oral model test (PDF), checked 8 October 2026
- ÖSD Zertifikat C1, exam regulations 10/2023 (PDF), checked 3 August 2026
