The written IHK exam is done – and the result isn't enough. Now the oral supplementary exam is coming up: your chance to still salvage the result. For many, this is the most stressful moment of the entire training, because everything depends on these 15 minutes.
In this article, you will learn when you are entitled to an oral supplementary exam, how it works, what questions are asked, and how to prepare for it specifically. If you have not passed your IHK exam overall, you will find a comprehensive guide to all options there.
Key Takeaways
- An oral supplementary exam is offered if you score between 30 and 49 points in a written exam area
- The exam lasts approximately 15 minutes and is conducted as a one-on-one discussion with the examination committee
- The oral result is weighted 2:1 (written to oral)
- You must achieve at least 50 points in the weighted result to pass
- There are discreet aids that can specifically help in oral examination situations
What is an oral supplementary exam at the IHK?
The oral supplementary exam IHK is a rescue option if you have not achieved enough points in a written exam subject. Instead of retaking the entire exam, you can improve your result through an oral exam discussion.
Important: Not everyone is automatically entitled to it. The oral resit exam is only offered if you have scored between 30 and 49 points in an exam area – i.e., just below the passing grade. Below 30 points, a supplementary exam is not possible.
You are entitled to an oral supplementary exam if you have between 30 and 49 points in a maximum of one written exam area and have achieved at least 50 points in the other areas. For specialist examinations, different regulations may apply – please check your specific examination regulations.
Oral Supplementary Exam IHK – Points and Weighting
The calculation of points in the oral supplementary exam is crucial: The result is weighted 2:1. Your written result counts double, the oral result counts once.
Example calculation: You achieved 40 points in writing. In the oral supplementary exam, you get 70 points. The calculation: (40 × 2 + 70 × 1) ÷ 3 = 50 points. Passed – just barely.
This means: The worse your written result, the more you have to deliver orally. With 30 points in writing, you need at least 90 points orally – that's challenging. With 45 points in writing, 60 points orally are enough.
You must achieve at least 50 points in the weighted result to pass the exam area. Calculate beforehand what minimum score you need orally – this gives you a clear goal for preparation.
What questions are asked in the oral supplementary exam?
The questions in the oral supplementary exam relate to the same examination area in which you failed the written exam. No new topics are asked – you stay within the same subject area.
Typically, the examination committee asks open-ended questions that you must explain and justify. Unlike in the written exam, there are no multiple-choice answers – you have to formulate freely.
In commercial examinations (Industrial Clerk, Office Management Assistant), case studies are often involved: A scenario is described, and you have to explain how you would proceed. Examiners pay attention to technical correctness, but also to your argumentation skills.
In technical examinations (Industrial Master, Technical Specialist), calculations and technical correlations are frequently covered. Examiners want to see that you not only know formulas but can also explain why you apply them.
Preparation for the oral supplementary exam – here's how
You usually only have a few days between the announcement of results and the oral exam. Preparation must therefore be efficient.
Address weaknesses specifically
Look closely at your written exam: Which tasks did you answer incorrectly? Exactly these topics are very likely to be asked orally. Concentrate on the gaps, not on what you already know.
Explain aloud instead of reading
In an oral exam, you have to express knowledge – which is different from reading it silently. Take the core topics and explain them aloud, as if you were teaching them to someone. More tips can be found in our guide to oral exams.
Practice calculations
If your examination area includes accounting, business administration, or technical calculations: Practice the types of tasks you botched in writing until they're perfect. Examiners will follow up exactly there.
Discreet aids for oral exams
Oral exams have one crucial difference from written ones: you can't hide a cheat sheet. However, there are technical solutions specifically developed for this situation.
Invisible earphones are so small that they are undetectable in the ear. A trusted person – who has gone through the material with you beforehand – listens to the exam questions via a mini-camera or an open call and can help you in real time. Especially in a supplementary exam, where everything depends on 15 minutes, this can make all the difference.
15 minutes that decide everything
For emergencies, there is discreet support specially developed for oral exams
Learn moreConclusion: The supplementary exam is your chance
- Oral supplementary exam is offered for 30-49 points in written exams
- Weighting 2:1 (written:oral) – calculate beforehand what you need
- Questions relate to the same examination area as the written exam
- Preparation: Specifically revise weaknesses from the written exam
- Practice explaining aloud – formulating orally is different from writing
- There are discreet technical aids specifically for oral examination situations
An oral supplementary exam sounds threatening – but in reality, it's a real opportunity. 15 minutes in which you can show what you're capable of. Those who prepare specifically and know what to expect have good chances. And those who want additional security now have options that did not exist a few years ago.
"It's not about whether you fell – it's about whether you get back up."
