Oral EPD Assessment Criteria (Beurteilungskriterien)
The VWU publishes no criteria grid for the oral exam. The official exam model names no four categories and no points table. What it does publish is a description of what you should show. Its most important sentence is: "Nicht Ihr Wissen, sondern Ihre Deutschkenntnisse werden geprüft" (you are examined on your German, not on your knowledge).
What the model actually says
Not enough: short, faulty sentences from a small vocabulary; reciting memorised text mechanically.
Show that you can: use what you have learned as the task or the conversation demands; understand the examiners and react to them; make clear when you have not understood something, when you disagree, or when you know nothing specific about a topic; repair your own errors with the examiners' help; be understood without effort and without misunderstanding.
Not necessary: speaking perfectly or without errors.
Three people sit on the commission
Your examiner, a second VWU teacher and a university representative. For the preparation time the VWU supplies a monolingual German dictionary; in the written exam, by contrast, no dictionary at all is allowed.
VWUPass's four practice categories
The four categories below are ours, not the VWU's. We need them to give you any feedback at all on a practice recording, and they are aligned to the description above. Do not expect to see them on an exam report.
1. Task Fulfilment
The most important criterion. The examiner asks: Did the candidate actually understand and address the task?
What this means in practice:
- In Part 1 (Monologue): Did you address all the guiding questions? Did you take a clear position and support it?
- In Part 2 (Dialogue): Do you respond to the examiner's questions, or do you talk past them?
Common mistake: Reciting memorised general knowledge without engaging with the specific prompt.
Tip: Read the guiding questions carefully. Number them in your notes and check them off as you go.
2. Fluency and Pronunciation
The examiner watches how naturally and clearly you speak. Perfect pronunciation is not the goal; comprehensibility is.
What this means in practice:
- Do you speak in complete sentences, or do you trail off?
- Are there long pauses while you search for words?
- Can you connect your thoughts smoothly?
What is NOT penalised: Accent. A strong foreign accent is not a mistake as long as you are understood.
Tip: Practise speaking aloud: at home, alone, not just in your head. Fluency comes from practice, not from studying.
3. Vocabulary
Examiners look for variety and thematic appropriateness, not obscure words.
What this means in practice:
- Do you use topic-specific vocabulary? (e.g. for environment: Treibhauseffekt, erneuerbare Energien, CO₂-Emissionen)
- Do you use appropriate discourse markers for opinions, comparisons, conclusions?
- Do you repeat the same word constantly, or do you vary your expression?
Common mistake: Sticking only to simple, everyday words because you feel safe. That is not enough for a good grade.
Tip: Prepare 10 key words and 5 discourse phrases for each topic.
4. Grammatical Accuracy
Grammar errors are assessed, but quantity is not everything; severity matters.
| Error | Impact |
|---|---|
| Occasional article or case errors | No deduction |
| Wrong verb conjugation in subordinate clause | Minor deduction |
| Errors that impair understanding | Clear deduction |
| Errors that distort meaning | Heavy deduction |
What impresses examiners: Complex structures (subordinate clauses, Konjunktiv II, passive voice), even if occasionally incorrect. Someone who tries and makes small errors is rated higher than someone producing only simple main clauses.
Tip: Learn and use Konjunktiv II: „Man könnte ... einführen.“ / „Es wäre sinnvoll, wenn ...“
What Is Not Assessed
- Factual accuracy: you may state incorrect numbers if the reasoning is sound
- Accent: not penalised, as long as you are understood
- Originality of ideas: familiar, well-structured arguments are perfectly fine
Exam Format: What You Need to Know
| Phase | Duration | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation | at least 15 minutes | Choose 1 of 2 prompts and prepare |
| Part 1: Monologue | 5 minutes | Free presentation with guiding questions |
| Part 2: Dialogue | 5 minutes | Spontaneous conversation on a new prompt |
| Total (speaking) | 10 minutes | Uninterrupted exam |
Important for Part 2: The dialogue prompt is new (not the same as the monologue). You have no preparation time. Respond spontaneously and naturally.
Checklist
Content:
- ☐ Addressed all guiding questions?
- ☐ Taken a clear position?
- ☐ Provided reasons and examples?
- ☐ Proposed measures / solutions?
Language:
- ☐ Prepared topic-specific vocabulary?
- ☐ Practised discourse markers for opinion, comparison, conclusions?
- ☐ Used at least 2 complex grammar structures?
- ☐ Prepared a closing formula?
Delivery:
- ☐ Practised aloud (not just read silently)?
- ☐ Maintained eye contact (not stared at notes)?
- ☐ Clear transitions between points?
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