What is the DU3 module 3 oral exam format?

DU3 Module 3 Oral Exam Format: Complete Guide with Examples

📌 DU3 Module 3 Oral Exam Overview

The DU3 Module 3 oral exam tests your ability to communicate effectively in Danish at B1 level. It's designed to assess your speaking skills in realistic situations.

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Duration

20-30 minutes total

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Participants

You + 1-2 examiners

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Target Level

B1 (CEFR)

Exam Structure:

Part 1: Presentation (5-7 minutes) – Prepared or given topic

Part 2: Conversation (8-10 minutes) – Discussion about the presentation topic

Part 3: Text/Audio Discussion (7-8 minutes) – Responding to a text or audio clip

🎤 Part 1: Presentation (5-7 minutes)

Two Possible Formats:

Option A: Prepared Presentation

You prepare a short presentation (3-5 minutes) on a topic given 1-2 weeks before the exam. You may bring notes (usually one A4 page).

Example topic: "Min bolig" (My home), "Mit arbejde" (My work), "En hobby" (A hobby)

Option B: On-the-Spot Presentation

You receive a topic at the exam and have 2-3 minutes to prepare. Topics are general and within your expected knowledge.

Example topic: "Beskriv din yndlingsårstid" (Describe your favorite season)

Presentation Structure:

Introduction (30-60 seconds):

"I dag vil jeg tale om..."

Main Points (2-3 minutes):

"For det første... Derudover... Endelig..."

Conclusion (30 seconds):

"Afslutningsvis vil jeg sige..."

📝 Example Presentation: "Mit arbejde"

Hej. I dag vil jeg fortælle om mit arbejde. Jeg arbejder som sygeplejerske på et hospital i København.

For det første handler mit arbejde om at hjælpe patienter. Jeg møder mange forskellige mennesker hver dag. Nogle er glade, andre er bange. Det er vigtigt at være empatisk.

Derudover arbejder jeg sammen med dygtige kolleger. Vi hjælper hinanden og lærer af hinanden. Samarbejde er meget vigtigt på mit arbejde.

Endelig kan jeg godt lide mit arbejde, fordi det er meningsfuldt. Jeg føler, at jeg gør en forskel. Selvom det til tider er hårdt, er det det værd.

Afslutningsvis vil jeg sige, at jeg er glad for mit job, og jeg håber at arbejde som sygeplejerske i mange år fremover.

💬 Part 2: Conversation (8-10 minutes)

After your presentation, the examiner will ask questions to explore the topic deeper and test your ability to:

Question Types:

Elaboration questions (tell me more about...)
Opinion questions (what do you think about...)
Hypothetical questions (what would you do if...)
Comparison questions (how is this different from...)
Experience questions (have you ever...)

What They Test:

Ability to respond spontaneously
Vocabulary range
Grammatical accuracy
Pronunciation and intonation
Interaction skills (turn-taking, responding)

🎯 Example Conversation (after "Mit arbejde" presentation):

Examiner: "Du nævnte, at du arbejder med patienter. Kan du fortælle mere om, hvad en typisk dag indeholder?"

You: "Ja, selvfølgelig. En typisk dag starter klokken 7 med morgenrapport. Derefter besøger jeg mine patienter, hjælper med personlig pleje og giver medicin."

Examiner: "Hvad er den største udfordring i dit job?"

You: "Den største udfordring er nok tidspres. Der er mange opgaver, og man skal prioritere. Nogle gange har man ikke nok tid til hver patient."

Examiner: "Hvordan håndterer du stressede situationer?"

You: "Jeg prøver at trække vejret dybt og fokusere på én ting ad gangen. Det hjælper også at tale med kolleger."

📄 Part 3: Text/Audio Discussion (7-8 minutes)

You'll be given a short text (article, advertisement, letter) or listen to a short audio clip (1-2 minutes). Then you'll discuss it with the examiner.

What to Expect:

Text Discussion:

Read a short text (100-200 words)
Summarize the main points
Give your opinion on the topic
Discuss related issues with examiner

Audio Discussion:

Listen to a short audio clip (may be played twice)
Explain what you understood
Answer questions about content
Discuss the topic

📝 Example Text:

"Flere og flere danskere vælger at cykle på arbejde. Det er godt for miljøet og for sundheden. Københavns Kommune har bygget mange nye cykelstier for at gøre det lettere og sikrere at cykle. Alligevel er der nogle, der foretrækker bilen, især når det regner."

Questions:

Hvad handler teksten om?
Hvorfor cykler flere danskere?
Cykler du selv? Hvorfor/hvorfor ikke?
Hvad synes du om Københavns cykelstier?

📊 Assessment Criteria

Examiners assess your performance across four key areas:

Criteria	What They Look For	Weight
Fluency	Natural flow, minimal hesitation, ability to maintain conversation	25%
Vocabulary	Range of words, precision, ability to express opinions	25%
Pronunciation	Clear pronunciation, correct intonation, soft D, stød	25%
Grammar	Correct sentence structure, word order, en/et, verb tenses	25%

✅ Pass Criteria:

You need to demonstrate B1 level in all areas. This means you can:

Speak with reasonable fluency on familiar topics
Use adequate vocabulary to express opinions
Be generally understandable despite accent
Use grammar correctly most of the time

📌 Common Oral Exam Topics

Personal Topics

Familie og venner
Bolig og nabolag
Arbejde/studie
Hobbyer og fritid
Rejser og ferie

Society Topics

Mad og spisevaner
Vejret og årstider
Indkøb og forbrug
Transport i byen
Kultur og traditioner

Opinion Topics

Fordele ved at bo i Danmark
Ulemper ved digitalisering
Bør man lære dansk?
Sociale medier – godt eller skidt?

Comparison Topics

Danmark vs. mit hjemland
By vs. land
Nu vs. før i tiden
Unge vs. ældre

🎯 How to Prepare

1. Practice Presentations

Prepare 2-3 minute presentations on common topics
Time yourself – aim for 3-5 minutes
Record yourself and listen back
Practice with a timer and without reading

2. Conversation Practice

Find a language partner (use itandem or Facebook groups)
Attend sprogcaféer in your city
Practice answering questions spontaneously
Record conversations and analyze your responses

3. Pronunciation Work

Focus on soft D (blødt d) – practice words: mad, bad, gade
Practice stød (glottal stop) – hund, mand, ånd
Shadow Danish podcasts – repeat after native speakers
Use pronunciation exercises

4. Vocabulary Building

Learn topic-specific vocabulary (work, family, hobbies)
Practice using opinion phrases: "Jeg synes...", "Efter min mening...", "Det er jeg enig i..."
Learn connecting words: derfor, desuden, alligevel
Use Vocabulary Directory for themed lists

🗓️ 2-Week Preparation Plan:

Week 1: Prepare and practice 5 presentations. Record and improve each.

Week 2: Daily conversation practice. Mock exams with partner. Focus on weak areas.

Day before: Light review, relax, prepare materials, sleep well.

📅 Day of Exam Checklist

Bring:

Photo ID (passport or driver's license)
Exam confirmation letter
Notes/outline (if allowed – check with your school)
Water bottle

Do:

Arrive 30 minutes early
Speak clearly and at moderate pace
Ask if you don't understand a question
Take a deep breath before starting
Smile and make eye contact

Avoid:

Memorizing scripts – examiners can tell
Speaking too fast (nerves make you rush)
Giving one-word answers
Panicking if you make a mistake – keep going

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Memorizing a script

Examiners are trained to detect memorized speeches. If they ask a question, you won't be able to adapt.

Fix: Prepare key points, not full sentences. Practice speaking naturally.

Mistake 2: Giving short answers

"Ja." "Nej." "Måske." These don't show your language ability.

Fix: Always elaborate. "Ja, det synes jeg, fordi..."

Mistake 3: Ignoring pronunciation

Good grammar with poor pronunciation is hard to understand.

Fix: Practice soft D and vowels daily. Shadow native speakers.

Mistake 4: Not asking for clarification

If you don't understand, guessing leads to irrelevant answers.

Fix: Say "Undskyld, kan du gentage?" or "Hvad betyder det?"

✅ DU3 Module 3 Oral Exam Checklist

✓I understand the 3-part format

✓I've prepared 5+ presentations

✓I've practiced with a language partner

✓I've recorded and reviewed myself

✓I know common opinion phrases

✓I've practiced soft D and stød

✓I have my ID and confirmation ready

✓I know what to do if I don't understand

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