What is tested in Listening Part 3 of the DTZ?

In Listening Part 3, 4 everyday conversations are heard. For each conversation, there are 2 tasks: a True/False statement and a Multiple Choice question with 3 options. A total of 8 tasks (10–17), max. 8 points.

How often are the conversations played in Listening Part 3?

In Listening Part 3, each conversation is played once — unlike in Part 1 and Part 2, where each recording is played twice. This makes Part 3 more challenging.

DTZ B1 Listening Part 3: Conversations, True/False and Multiple Choice — Strategy and Mistakes

Deutsch-meister-appAugust 3, 2026

DTZ Hören Teil 3alltägliche Gespräche DTZRichtig Falsch DTZ B1DTZ Vorbereitung GesprächeHörverständnis Gespräche B1

Listening Part 3 is the most extensive listening section in the DTZ — and for many candidates, the most difficult. Not because of the language, but because of the combination: four longer conversations, two different task types per conversation, and — here comes the crucial difference — each conversation is played only once. No second listening, no second round.

Those who do not know this are unprepared. Those who do know prepare differently — and listen differently. This article explains exactly how Part 3 is structured, what strategy is needed, and what mistakes most candidates make.

At a glance: Listening Part 3 = 4 everyday conversations · 2 tasks per conversation: 1× True/False + 1× Multiple Choice (3 options) · 8 tasks in total (No. 10–17) · Max. 8 points · Each conversation is played only ONCE — that is the crucial difference from Parts 1 and 2.

Structure and Features — What Makes Part 3 Different from the Other Parts

In Parts 1 and 2, there is a second round for each recording. Not in Part 3. Each of the four conversations is played once — and then it continues. This significantly increases the demands on active listening. At the same time, Part 3 is the only listening section with two different task types per recording.

✓ / ✗ True/False Task

A statement about the conversation — either true or false. No third option.

Checks: Did person X say that or not?
Trap: Similar topic, different statement
Approach: Pay close attention to the subject (who says what?)
4 tasks (one for each conversation)

a / b / c Multiple Choice Task

A question with three answer options — exactly one is correct.

Checks: What does person X specifically say? What do they suggest?
Trap: All three options are thematically plausible
Approach: Read the question first, then listen specifically
4 tasks (one for each conversation)

Element	Details
Number of Conversations	4 everyday conversations
Tasks per Conversation	2 — one True/False statement + one Multiple Choice question (a/b/c)
Total Tasks	8 tasks (Tasks 10–17 in the listening test)
Playbacks	Each conversation is played only ONCE — no second listening!
Length of Conversations	Longer than Parts 1/2 — typically 60–90 seconds per conversation
Points	1 point per correct answer = max. 8 points
Conversation Topics	Everyday life: work, health, shopping, family, leisure, housing

What Conversations Are Included in Part 3?

The four conversations in Part 3 always come from typical German everyday situations — situations that one experiences or will experience daily as a migrant in Germany. This makes Part 3 one of the most practical parts of the exam.

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Doctor/Pharmacy

Patient asks about medication, dosage, side effects, or appointments

💼

Work / Colleagues

Conversation about a new job, working conditions, colleagues, boss

🎉

Leisure / Events

Invitation to a celebration, cancellations, planning joint activities

🛍️

Shopping / Clothing

Conversation about clothing item, price, quality, purchase decision

Those who know the real tasks from the official g.a.s.t. practice set will recognize these patterns immediately: Tasks 10–11 are about a woman explaining to someone how to take tablets. Tasks 12–13 revolve around Maria and her new boss at work. Tasks 14–15 are about Günter and a summer festival. Tasks 16–17 are about a purchase decision in a clothing store.

The Right Strategy for Part 3 — Especially Important Due to Single Playback

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Since each conversation is played only once, preparation before listening is even more crucial than in Parts 1 and 2. You need to know what to pay attention to — before the conversation starts.

Read all 8 tasks completely first — BEFORE listening

At the beginning of Part 3, there is a reading pause. Use this time fully to read all 8 tasks: all four True/False statements and all four Multiple Choice questions with all options. This takes about 90 seconds — and is the most important investment in Part 3.

Keep the True/False statement and MC question in mind simultaneously

Each conversation has two tasks. Keep both in view — statement for True/False and question for Multiple Choice. If you only focus on one, you will miss the other.

Pay attention to subjects — who says what?

In everyday conversations, there are always two people speaking. The True/False statement refers to a specific person. If it says “The woman is a doctor” — you need to know what the woman says about herself, not what the man says. Confusions are one of the most common sources of mistakes.

When listening: first decide True/False, then MC option

The True/False statement usually refers to an early point in the conversation. The MC question often refers to a later specific statement. Keep this temporal sequence in mind.

Immediately write down both answers after each conversation

Do not wait. Since there is no second listening, the impressions right after the conversation are the freshest. Immediately transfer to the answer sheet — both tasks — before the next conversation begins.

Key strategy for True/False: The statement in the task booklet is almost always a paraphrase of what is said in the conversation — never a direct quote. Those looking for verbatim agreement will not find it. Instead: compare meanings. Does the person say the same thing that the statement claims? Yes → true. Different or the opposite → false.

Practice Listening Part 3 in the exam format

With DeutschMeister, you train all four DTZ listening sections — including Part 3 with real everyday conversations, True/False, and Multiple Choice in the original format.

Practice Part 3 now

Real Tasks from the Official Practice Set — Analyzed

Here are two real task pairs from the g.a.s.t. practice set 1 — as they appear in the exam, with the correct answer and an explanation of why it is correct.

💊 Conversation 1 — Tasks 10 and 11: Pharmacy Conversation

🎧 A woman and a man are talking. The woman explains something about tablets.

Task 10: The woman is a doctor. — true or false?

true ✗ not correct

false ✓ correct answer

Why false? The woman talks about tablets and gives advice — but she does not introduce herself as a doctor. She explains the dosage, as one would do in a pharmacy. The True/False statement is a trap: Medical topic → conclusion “doctor” seems close, but is not substantiated.

Task 11: The woman tells the man that …

a ✓ the tablets have a long-lasting effect.

b he should take at least three tablets.

c he should go to the doctor immediately.

Why a? The woman explains that the effect of the tablets lasts long. Option b is a numerical trap (tablets are mentioned, but not “three”). Option c is the opposite of the statement — one does not need a doctor.

💼 Conversation 2 — Tasks 12 and 13: New Job

🎧 Maria talks about her new job. She tells about her boss.

Task 12: Maria is unhappy in her new job. — true or false?

true ✗ not correct

false ✓ correct answer

Why false? Maria complains about her boss — but that does not mean she is unhappy with the entire job. This very nuance is being tested: partial criticism ≠ overall dissatisfaction.

Task 13: Maria says that her new boss …

a ✓ is young.

b is often arrogant.

c was never a nurse herself.

Why a? Maria explicitly mentions the age of the boss. Option b (arrogant) and c (not a nurse) are thematically plausible but are not stated as such — typical distraction options that seem constructed from the context.

The 5 Most Common Mistakes in Listening Part 3

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Mistake 1: Not knowing that each conversation is played only once

Many candidates unconsciously rely on a second listening — and miss the most important information because they are not focused enough during the first round.

✓ Solution: Consciously internalize before the exam: in Part 3, there is no second time. Each conversation is played once — and then the next one comes. This fundamentally changes the attitude when listening.

❌

Mistake 2: Confusing speakers

Both conversation partners speak — and the tasks sometimes refer to person A, sometimes to person B. If you are not careful, you will assign the statement to the wrong person.

✓ Solution: Check in advance when reading the tasks: To whom does the True/False statement refer? To whom does the MC question refer? During listening, pay attention specifically to that person.

❌

Mistake 3: Interpreting partial statements as total statements

Maria criticizes her boss → The statement “Maria is unhappy in her job” seems true. But it is not — one hears a partial criticism and infers more than was said.

✓ Solution: Always check True/False statements literally. What is being claimed exactly? Is that said in the recording — or just something similar?

❌

Mistake 4: Not keeping both tasks per conversation in view simultaneously

If you only focus on the True/False question, you will miss the information for the Multiple Choice question — and vice versa. Since there is no second listening, this is an uncorrectable loss.

✓ Solution: Read both tasks before the conversation and keep both in mind simultaneously. Prepare the True/False statement and the MC question together — not one after the other.

❌

Mistake 5: Choosing a plausible option instead of a substantiated option

In Part 3, all three MC options are often thematically plausible — this is intentional. Those who choose an option because it “sounds reasonable” are often wrong. The correct option is always explicitly substantiated in the recording.

✓ Solution: The correct answer is the one that directly follows from the recording — not the one that seems logical. If you are unsure whether something was said in an option: It was not said.

Targeted Preparation for Part 3 — What Really Helps

Listen to real everyday conversations in German: Easy German on YouTube — street interviews with real German dialogues. Fast pace, natural language, typical everyday topics. Ideal for ear training for Part 3.
Consciously listen to two people simultaneously: Listen to podcasts or audiobooks with two speakers and consciously distinguish who says what. This skill is directly tested in Part 3.
Practice paraphrasing: Simplify sentences in German — “The tablets have a long-lasting effect” → “the tablets work for a long time.” This is exactly what True/False tasks require.
Complete the official g.a.s.t. practice set: Pages 12–13 of the free practice set contain the real Part 3 tasks with audio files — free at gast.de/dtz.
DeutschMeister Listening Part 3: All conversation types in the real exam format, with combined True/False and MC tasks, single playback, and immediate explanation.

Most Important Insight: Part 3 is the most valuable listening section with 8 points. Mastering it secures almost half of all possible listening points (16). The investment in preparation for Part 3 is more worthwhile than for any other listening section.

Points Overview — Why Part 3 is the Most Important Listening Section

Exam Part	Max. Points	Share of Listening + Reading
Listening Part 1	4	~9 %
Listening Part 2	5	~11 %
Listening Part 3	8	~18 % — largest listening part
Listening Part 4	3	~7 %
Reading Parts 1–5	25	~55 %
Total Listening + Reading	45	B1 from 33 points.

With 8 points, Part 3 is the most valuable listening section — almost twice as much as Part 1 and more than Part 4. Those who score all 8 points in Part 3, together with Parts 1 and 2, already have 17 out of 45 points — almost 40 % of the total points block just with the listening sections.

DeutschMeister · DTZ Listening · Part 3 in Exam Format

Understanding Everyday Conversations — Training True/False + Multiple Choice

💬 Real Everyday Conversations ✓/✗ True/False Tasks 📋 Multiple Choice a/b/c ⚡ Single Playback Start for Free

With DeutschMeister, you train Listening Part 3 in the exact DTZ format: four everyday conversations, each with a True/False statement and a Multiple Choice question, single playback as in the real exam. After each task, you receive immediate feedback with an explanation — why the statement is correct or incorrect and which option is correct and why.

Practice Listening Part 3 now

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Frequently Asked Questions about Listening Part 3

Is it true that the conversations in Part 3 are only played once?

Yes — that is the most important difference from Parts 1 and 2. In Parts 1 and 2, each recording is played twice. In Part 3, each conversation is heard only once. This is stipulated in the official g.a.s.t. practice set and applies to all DTZ exams.

What exactly is the difference between True/False and Multiple Choice in Part 3?

In the True/False task, there is a statement about the conversation — you decide whether it is true or not. No options. In the Multiple Choice question, there are three answer options (a, b, c), of which exactly one is correct. For each conversation, you always have one of each type.

How many points does Listening Part 3 bring?

Part 3 brings a maximum of 8 points — 4 for the True/False tasks and 4 for the Multiple Choice tasks. With 8 points, Part 3 is the most valuable listening section in the DTZ — more than Part 1 (4 pts.) and Part 4 (3 pts.) combined.

What to do if you hardly understood a conversation?

No panic — and still answer both tasks. Since there is no point deduction for incorrect answers, guessing is always better than leaving it blank. For True/False, you have a 50 % chance. For Multiple Choice, 33 %. Intuition helps: What did you roughly hear? Which option sounds the most plausible?

Is there a fixed order of tasks within each conversation?

Yes — the True/False task (e.g., Task 10) always comes before the Multiple Choice task (e.g., Task 11) of the same conversation. And the information in the conversation appears in the same order as the tasks. The True/False information comes earlier in the conversation than the information for the MC question.

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