Halløjsa to all of you taking the PD3 exam in May/June 2025!
You’ve made it past the læseforståelse and skriftlig parts of the PD3 exam — tillykke! Now you have one last big part: the mundtlig or oral exam. And it counts twice towards your final overall exam marks, so doing well will really help you! Here are some tips to help you feel your most confident walking in there.
To set the scene: you’ll be speaking 1:1 with a test proctor (sometimes it’s your teacher and sometimes not, depending on the school) and a censor will be in the room taking notes. The two of them will discuss and give you your grade after the exam.
The oral exam is about 15 minutes long. It goes by very quickly!
There are two parts:
Part 1 is a presentation and conversation on a known topic.
Part 2 is a conversation on an unknown topic.
Part 1: Your presentation (5 mins)
You will be evaluated on 1) the structure of your presentation, and 2) your clarity and understandability (both in answering questions and your pronunciation).
Your presentation should be 2 minutes in length, no more, or they will likely stop you. Your test proctor will ask you questions for about 3 minutes after, for a total of 5 minutes.You may bring notes with keywords, but should not read entire sentences directly.
Start off strong with a 10 second introduction for your topic, so your proctor will know what is coming.
- Mit emne er…
- Første vil jeg (fx. fortælle lidt om)…
- Derefter vil jeg (fx. tale lidt om)…
- Til sidst vil jeg…
Find an angle for your presentation — a problem, a conflict, a critique. Something where you can show multiple sides of it, assess it and tell what you think, of course using your nuanced Danish language skills! This will also create an ideal scenario for a conversation afterwards with your proctor and give them clear things to ask you about. They will only ask you about things you have raised in relation to your topic, so keep that in mind! Consider ending on something that can open it up for discussion and follow-up questions.
A clear, short structure could include the following:
- Introduction — discussed above
- Presentation — find a problem/angle to discuss, create an argument for what you believe
- Conclusion — consider using expressions like Alt i alt.., Til sidst… and then end with either your own opinion, what you think is the most important thing to consider, or what you think might happen in the future.
Writing tips:
Find scientific writing on your topic, where there has been research done on both sides. Videnskab.dk is a great jumping off point. This helps with crafting a more complex and nuanced argument, where you also show two sides.
Part 2: Unknown topic (5 mins)
You will select one paper from several sitting face down on the table. Each paper has two different picture scenarios that pertain to one overarching topic. For example: social media and private life, youth and finance, retirees, stress and the workplace, changing jobs, etc.
Your proctor should describe the images to you, give you 10 seconds to look at them, and then they will ask you some questions. These are not yes/no questions, but rather questions that allow you to craft an argument and show your language skills.
One question is generally a ‘why’ question. It will likely start ‘Nogle mennesker...’ Nogle mennesker vælger at.…’ ‘For nogle mennesker er det vigtigt at….hvorfor tror du, det er sådan….?’ Why do you believe people do this? Notice the ‘tror‘.
There might be a question about describing two sides of something. What are the pros and cons of something: ‘Hvilke fordele og ulemper mener du, der kan være ved…?’ These are often not personal questions, but more society-level questions.
They will also potentially ask you why you think this topic is important, so you can give your own opinion. ‘Hvorfor synes du, det er vigtigt….?’ Notice the ‘synes‘.
After the 10-15 minutes are up, you’ll be asked to leave the room. Your test proctor and censor will discuss your exam, call you back in, and give you your grade.
Tips:
Accept that extreme nervousness is part of this set-up for most people! Many of us just aren’t used to oral exams like this. Focus on your own knowledge and not so much the interactions going on with your proctor or censor. They may have a very focused look, and they will likely be taking notes about what you’re saying, so they can ask you questions after. Try not to let this distract you too much!
Steer the conversation as best you can in your answers towards knowledge you have, vocabulary you possess on your topic, and find the angle you can shine in.
Tips for if you get stuck during the exam:
- If you don’t understand the question, ask one time:
Undskyld, kan du gentage det/spørgsmålet?
- If you think you have an idea what is being asked, but aren’t one hundred percent sure, consider instead posing a question (showing off some Danish) to get clarification. ‘Mener du…(fill in the blank of what you think they were asking)?’
- If you need a little time, have some filler statements ready to give you some space to formulate your thoughts:
Det er et godt spørgsmål…
Det skal jeg lige tænke lidt over…
- If you forget a word, don’t panic!
See if you can find a way to describe the word in other words that you know in Danish.
You’re almost there! Reach out to me on Instagram @nearlydanishdame if I can help you. Remember, it’s just 15 minutes max of your life, and you have got this. I wish you the best and — pøj pøj!
