Picture 3 - Die Abi-Tour

Oral Exam Format and Timing Strategy

The oral examination is worth 25% of your Higher Level grade and lasts about 15 minutes. It consists of a general conversation, followed by either a project or a picture sequence, and finishes with a role-play. You and your teacher choose between the project and picture sequence options ahead of time. If you opt for picture sequences, you must prepare all cards in the official set released by the State Examinations Commission (SEC), as one will be drawn at random on the day.

The Three Phases of the Task

Within the roughly four to five minutes allotted to the picture sequence, your assessment covers three distinct phases. Think of them as carrying roughly equal weight:

• Phase 1: Narration: You tell the story across all six pictures clearly and without interruption. Aim for roughly two sentences per picture (about twelve sentences in total), using simple, accurate German in the present tense (Präsens).
• Phase 2: Story Continuation and Clarification: The examiner asks how the story proceeds (Wie geht die Geschichte weiter?) and asks you to clarify details left open on the card (such as why a vote was needed or who counted the votes).
• Phase 3: Wider Discussion: The examiner broadens the topic into a conversation about school-leaving trips, travel preferences, budgeting, independence, and comparisons between Irish and German youth culture.

Managing Your Time: The Four-Minute Guideline

Spend roughly ninety seconds to two minutes delivering your narration. Do not sprint through it in forty seconds, but do not talk so long that the examiner must cut you off. In Phases 2 and 3, answer the examiner's prompts in two or three well-developed sentences rather than trying to launch another memorised monologue.

Register and Address

Listen carefully to how the examiner addresses you. Some examiners use the formal Sie (Wie sehen Sie das?), while others use du with school candidates (Wie siehst du das?). Mirror the register the examiner uses with you, and ensure you know both sets of phrasing. Never mix registers within the same conversation.

Frame-by-Frame Narrative Breakdown

The visual sequence follows a group of final-year secondary school pupils planning their celebratory school-leaving trip (die Abi-Tour). Quoting the German captions printed on the sheet gives you vocabulary you know is spelled and phrased correctly, but you should always integrate those words into full sentences of your own.

Bild 1 – Planning at Home

Five final-year pupils (die Abschlussklasse) meet in a living room. Three girls are sitting on the sofa and two boys are sitting in armchairs (die Sessel, singular der Sessel). On the coffee table are two open laptops, pizza slices, and soft drinks. The pupils are researching travel deals online.

Bild 2 – The Boys' Preference

A close-up of one laptop shows the website Abitours.de with the headline „Mallorca: Party und Strand am Ballermann“. The image shows sunbathers, a beach, and a palm tree. The boys prefer a lively beach break with sunshine and nightlife.

Bild 3 – The Girls' Preference

A close-up of the second laptop displays IrlandTipps.com featuring „Surfers Paradies Bundoran“. Surfers in wetsuits carry boards near the Atlantic waves. The girls are sporty and want an outdoor activity holiday (der Aktivurlaub).

Bild 4 – The Library Noticeboard

In the school library (die Schulbibliothek), a noticeboard announces: „Die Abi-Tour – Wohin? Information um 11.15“. Promotional posters for Mallorca and Ireland hang side by side on the wall, while pupils work at desktop computers.

Bild 5 – Heated Discussion at 11:15

At quarter past eleven, a large crowd of classmates gathers in the library. A loud, passionate argument breaks out under the two posters because the class cannot agree on a destination (sie können sich nicht einigen).

Bild 6 – The Democratic Ballot

To resolve the argument fairly, the class organises a democratic vote (die Abstimmung). Two ballot boxes (die Wahlurne, plural die Wahlurnen; often shortened to die Urne, plural die Urnen) stand ready, one labelled IRLAND and one MALLORCA. Pupils line up in a queue (Schlange stehen) to drop their voting slips (der Stimmzettel) into the boxes. Crucially, the outcome remains open.

Safety Net: If you forget the German word for a minor background object during your exam, do not freeze. Describe what you are certain of and move forward smoothly: Auf diesem Bild sieht man auch noch andere Details, aber das Wichtigste ist, dass die Schüler abstimmen.

Spatial and Picture-Description Phrases

Examiners frequently ask where particular characters or items are located (Wer sitzt links? Was steht auf dem Tisch?). Vary your sentence openings using accurate positional phrases rather than repeating Auf dem Bild:

• im Vordergrund – in the foreground
• im Hintergrund – in the background
• in der Mitte – in the middle
• links / rechts – on the left / on the right
• oben / unten – at the top / at the bottom
• auf dem Tisch / an der Wand / vor der Tür – on the table / on the wall / in front of the door
• daneben – next to it / beside it; dahinter – behind it

Notice that the verb remains in position 2 after these fronted phrases:

• Im Vordergrund stehen zwei Wahlurnen auf einem Tisch. (In the foreground two ballot boxes stand on a table.)
• Links sitzen drei Mädchen auf dem Sofa, rechts sitzen zwei Jungen in den Sesseln. (On the left three girls sit on the sofa, on the right two boys sit in the armchairs.)
• An der Wand hängen zwei Werbeplakate, und daneben steht ein Schild. (On the wall hang two promotional posters, and beside them stands a sign.)

Grammar: Word Order and Two-Way Prepositions

Accurate sentence construction is what distinguishes top-grade oral performances. Keeping your narration in the present tense keeps your delivery fluent and avoids irregular past participles.

Group 1: Coordinating Conjunctions (Position 0 – ADUSO)

Coordinating conjunctions connect two main clauses without moving the verb. Use the acronym ADUSO (Aber, Denn, Und, Sondern, Oder):

• Die Jungen wollen nach Spanien fliegen, denn sie möchten am Strand feiern. (The boys want to fly to Spain, for they want to celebrate on the beach.)

Group 2: Fronted Adverbs and Prepositional Phrases (Verb-Second Inversion)

When you open a sentence with a time phrase, location, or connector, the finite verb must stay in position 2, placing the subject directly after it:

• Auf dem ersten Bild sitzen die Schüler im Wohnzimmer. (In the first picture the pupils sit in the living room.)
• Danach suchen die Mädchen eine andere Webseite. (After that the girls look for a different website.)
• Um 11.15 Uhr versammelt sich die Klasse in der Bibliothek. (At 11:15 the class gathers in the library.)

Group 3: Subordinating Conjunctions (Verb-Final)

Subordinating conjunctions like weil (because), dass (that), obwohl (although), and wenn (if/when) send the conjugated verb to the end of the clause:

• Sie streiten, weil sie sich über das Reiseziel nicht einig sind. (They argue because they are not agreed on the travel destination.)

Compare this before-and-after pair to hear how these rules fix common word-order errors:

• Incorrect: Danach die Mädchen suchen eine andere Webseite, weil sie wollen surfen.
• Correct: Danach suchen die Mädchen eine andere Webseite, weil sie surfen wollen.

(Fix 1: finite verb 'suchen' takes second position after 'Danach'. Fix 2: conjugated modal 'wollen' moves to the end of the 'weil' clause).

Two-Way Prepositions: Position vs Movement

With prepositions of location (in, an, auf, unter, vor, hinter, neben, zwischen), the case depends entirely on whether you are describing static location or movement toward a destination:

• Position (Wo? / Where?) → Dative: Die Schüler sitzen im Wohnzimmer. (in dem = im) / Alle versammeln sich in der Bibliothek. / Das Plakat hängt an der Wand.
• Movement toward a destination (Wohin? / Where to?) → Accusative: Sie gehen in die Bibliothek. / Sie werfen den Stimmzettel in die Urne. / Er hängt das Plakat an die Wand.

Handling the Past: The Perfekt Tense

While you should deliver your main narration in the present tense, examiners routinely ask follow-up questions using the past tense (Was haben die Schüler zuerst gemacht? Warum haben sie gestritten?). You must be able to respond in the Perfekt.

The conversational past in German is formed with haben or sein in position 2 and the past participle (Partizip II) placed at the end of the clause. Most verbs take haben; verbs expressing movement from one place to another or a change of state take sein.

High-Frequency Verbs for This Picture Sequence

Safe Past-Tense Model Answers

• Zuerst haben die Schüler im Wohnzimmer Pizza gegessen und im Internet nach Angeboten gesucht. (First the pupils ate pizza in the living room and searched the internet for deals.)
• Sie haben gestritten, weil sich die Jungen und die Mädchen nicht einigen konnten. (They argued because the boys and the girls could not agree.)

Notice that in a subordinate clause with weil, the auxiliary or modal verb sits at the end: nicht einigen konnten.

Continuation and Clarification: werden and Passive

Because picture 6 stops at the ballot box without revealing who won, the examiner is almost certain to ask what happens next: Wie geht die Geschichte weiter? Keep that outcome in reserve—never announce a winner in Phase 1.

The Three Jobs of werden

Candidates frequently confuse the auxiliary verb werden across its different grammatical functions:

Projecting the Narrative: werden + Infinitive

When predicting the next steps, place conjugated werden in position 2 and the action infinitive at the end:

• Ich glaube, Mallorca wird die Wahl knapp gewinnen. (I believe Mallorca will narrowly win the vote.)
• Note: die Mehrheit (the majority) is a grammatically singular noun in German and takes a singular verb: Die Mehrheit wird für Mallorca stimmen (not werden).

Extend your answer with practical follow-up arrangements:

1. Asking parents: Danach werden die Schüler ihre Eltern um Erlaubnis bitten.
2. Group bookings: Die Klassensprecher werden die Flüge und die Unterkunft buchen.
3. Budgeting: Viele Jugendliche werden einen Nebenjob suchen, um Geld zu sparen.

Explaining the Vote and Voting Procedures

Use the present passive to describe the mechanics of the ballot: Nach der Abstimmung werden die Stimmen von zwei Schülern gezählt. (After the vote, the ballots are counted by two students).

If asked why the vote was held: Es gibt eine Abstimmung, weil die Schüler sich nicht einigen können. Eine geheime Wahl ist die fairste Lösung, denn so entscheidet die Mehrheit.

Discussion, Opinions, and Examiner Pushback

In Phase 3, the conversation shifts to wider topics: post-exam trips, holiday styles, budgeting, and cultural traditions in Ireland and Germany.

Cultural Comparison: Abitur vs Leaving Certificate

In Germany, completing secondary school culminates in the Abitur (or Abi). Passing is marked not only by an Abi-Tour, but also by an Abi-Ball (a formal graduation evening attended by students, teachers, and parents) and the Abi-Streich (prank day). In Ireland, students traditionally travel abroad in late June or July, immediately after the Leaving Certificate, to decompress from the pressure of the CAO points system (das Punktesystem).

The Four-Step Answer Framework

Deliver well-rounded answers using this structured approach:

1. State your view: Meiner Meinung nach ist so eine Reise eine tolle Belohnung...
2. Give a reason: ... weil man nach dem großen Prüfungsstress endlich abschalten kann.
3. Add an Irish comparison: In Irland fliegen viele Schüler im Juni nach Spanien, um das Ende der Schulzeit zu feiern.
4. Provide balance: Einerseits lernt man Selbstständigkeit, andererseits geben manche Jugendliche zu viel Geld aus oder trinken zu viel Alkohol.

Responding to Examiner Counter-Arguments

Examiners often test your spoken resilience by offering counter-arguments (e.g. Aber sind solche Reisen ohne Eltern nicht viel zu gefährlich?). Do not give up your position; use concession and polite disagreement:

• Partly conceding: Das ist wohl möglich, aber... / Da haben Sie recht, trotzdem finde ich... (That may well be so, but... / You're right there, nevertheless I think...)
• Disagreeing politely: Das sehe ich etwas anders, denn... / Da bin ich nicht ganz Ihrer Meinung. (I see that a bit differently, because... / I don't entirely agree with your view.)
• Reinforcing your point: Ich bin davon überzeugt, dass... (I am convinced that... [verb to the end]).
• Offering a compromise: Am besten wäre ein Kompromiss: eine Woche Sport und Aktivitäten, und eine Woche Strand. (The best solution would be a compromise: one week of sport and activities, and one week of beach.)

Connecting to Your Own Plans

Have three sentences prepared for when the examiner turns the question on you (Und Sie? Was machen Sie nach den Prüfungen?):

• Nach den Prüfungen werde ich zwei Wochen mit meinen Freunden nach Portugal fliegen, um mich endlich zu erholen. (After the exams I will fly to Portugal for two weeks with my friends in order to finally recover.)
• Im Juli und August arbeite ich in einem Café, weil ich Geld für die Universität sparen muss. (In July and August I am working in a café because I have to save money for university.)
• Im September möchte ich in Galway studieren, wenn ich genug Punkte bekomme. (In September I would like to study in Galway if I get enough points.)

Spoken Delivery, Repair Strategies, and Pronunciation

Oral assessment rewards clarity, authentic sounds, and the ability to maintain communication when difficulties arise.

Repair Strategies: Stay in German

If you do not catch a question or lose a word, keep speaking German. Using authentic repair phrases protects your marks:

• Wie bitte? Könnten Sie die Frage bitte wiederholen? (Pardon? Could you repeat the question, please? – formal)
• Kannst du das bitte noch einmal sagen? (Can you say that once more, please? – informal)
• Könnten Sie das bitte etwas langsamer erklären? (Could you explain that a bit more slowly, please?)
• Das Wort weiß ich leider nicht auf Deutsch – ich meine das Papier, worauf man seine Stimme schreibt. (I'm afraid I don't know the word in German – I mean the paper on which you write your vote.)
• Wie sagt man „ballot box“ auf Deutsch? (How do you say 'ballot box' in German?)
• Use conversational fillers to buy thinking time: also..., na ja..., moment mal...

Pronunciation Essentials for Picture 3

• Initial st-: In words starting with st-, pronounce the letters as 'sht'. Practice der Strand (shtrant), die Abstimmung (ap-shtim-moong), and der Stimmzettel (shtim-tset-tel).
• Final b, d, g harden: At the end of a word or syllable, b, d, and g are pronounced crisp like p, t, and k. Der Strand ends in a sharp 't' sound, and der Urlaub ends in a crisp 'p'.
• Distinct Umlauts (ü vs ö):
• For ü (die Schüler, für): set your mouth to say 'ee', keep your tongue forward, and round your lips into a tight circle.
• For ö (können, hören): say the 'e' of 'bed' and round your lips forward.
• Neither sound is the English 'oo'.
• The Soft ch in das Mädchen: The ending -chen is a diminutive suffix and is always pronounced with the soft ich-sound (a light hiss produced with the tongue arched against the hard palate near the front of the mouth). The throaty ach-sound only follows a, o, u, au (das Buch, machen).

Key terms

das Abitur (das Abi)

The German secondary school leaving certificate examination, equivalent to the Irish Leaving Certificate.

die Abi-Tour (die Abifahrt)

The end-of-school celebratory trip organised by graduating German secondary school classes.

die Abschlussklasse

The final-year graduating class in a secondary school.

sich einigen auf (+ akk.)

To agree on or reach a consensus regarding a shared plan (e.g. Sie können sich nicht einigen).

die Abstimmung

The formal vote or ballot held to decide an issue democratically.

die Wahlurne (die Urne)

The ballot box into which voters cast their voting slips.

der Stimmzettel

The ballot paper or voting slip marked by an individual voter.

die Mehrheit

The majority. A collective noun that is grammatically singular and takes a singular verb (e.g. Die Mehrheit stimmt für Irland).

Schlange stehen

To stand in a queue or line up (e.g. Die Schüler stehen vor den Urnen Schlange).

der Ballermann

A famous beach resort strip in Mallorca known for German tourism, parties, and nightlife.

das Reiseziel

The travel destination.

das Angebot

The offer, deal, or package available for booking.

die Unterkunft

The accommodation (e.g. a hotel, apartment, or youth hostel).

die Jugendherberge

The youth hostel.

buchen / reservieren

To book / to reserve flights, transport, or rooms.

sich etwas leisten können

To be able to afford something (e.g. Das kann ich mir nicht leisten).

sparen

To save money (e.g. Geld für die Reise sparen).

begeistert sein von (+ dat.)

To be thrilled or enthusiastic about something (e.g. Die Jungen sind von der Idee begeistert).

sich freuen auf (+ akk.)

To look forward to a future event (e.g. Sie freuen sich auf die Reise).

der Aktivurlaub

An activity holiday focused on sport, hiking, or surfing, contrasted with a passive beach holiday.

die Erlaubnis

Permission (e.g. die Eltern um Erlaubnis bitten – to ask parents for permission).

das Punktesystem

The competitive CAO points system used for Irish third-level admissions.