The written IHK exam is over – and the result isn't enough. Now the oral supplementary exam is coming up: your chance to still save the result. For many, this is the most stressful moment of the entire apprenticeship, 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 specifically for it. If you haven't passed your IHK exam overall, you will find a comprehensive guide to all options there.
The Most Important Points in Brief
- An oral supplementary exam is offered if you score between 30 and 49 points in a written examination area
- The exam lasts approx. 15 minutes and is conducted as an individual discussion with the examination board
- 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 assist in oral exam 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 repeating the entire exam, you can improve your result through an oral examination discussion.
Important: Not everyone is automatically entitled to it. The oral retake exam is only offered if you have scored between 30 and 49 points in an examination area – i.e., just below the passing threshold. 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 examination area and have achieved at least 50 points in the other areas. For specialist certification exams, 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 the written exam. 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 the written exam, you need at least 90 points orally – that's ambitious. With 45 points in the written exam, 60 points orally are already sufficient.
You must achieve at least 50 points in the weighted result to pass the examination 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 refer 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 board asks open-ended questions that you must explain and justify. Unlike in the written exam, there are no multiple-choice answers – you must formulate freely.
For commercial exams (industrial clerk, office management assistant), case studies are often involved: A scenario is described, and you must explain how you would proceed. Examiners pay attention to technical correctness, but also to your argumentation skills.
For technical exams (industrial master craftsman, certified specialist), calculations and technical relationships are often addressed. Examiners want to see that you not only know formulas but can also explain why you apply them.
Preparation for the oral supplementary exam – this is how you proceed
You usually have only a few days between the announcement of results and the oral exam. So, preparation must be efficient.
Address weaknesses specifically
Look closely at your written exam: Which tasks did you answer incorrectly? These are exactly the topics that are highly 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 speak knowledge – that's different from quietly reading it. Take the core topics and explain them aloud, as if you were teaching someone. You can find more tips on this 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 the written exam until you master them. The examiners will specifically follow up on those.
Discreet aids for oral exams
Oral exams have a crucial difference from written ones: You can't hide a cheat sheet. But there are technical solutions specifically developed for this situation.
Invisible headphones 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 with 30-49 points in the written exam
- 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 exam situations
An oral supplementary exam sounds threatening – but in reality, it's a real opportunity. 15 minutes in which you can show what you've got. Those who prepare specifically and know what to expect have good chances. And those who want to be extra secure now have options that didn't exist a few years ago.
"It's not whether you fall down that matters – it's whether you get back up."
