Paper 2: Speaking What's assessed Communicating and interacting effectively in speech for a variety of purposes How it's assessed Non-exam assessment 7–9 minutes (Foundation Tier) + preparation time 10–12 minutes (Higher Tier) + preparation time 60 marks (for each of Foundation Tier and Higher Tier) 25% of GCSE Questions Foundation Tier and Higher Tier The format is the same at Foundation Tier and Higher Tier, but with different stimulus questions for the Photo card and different stimulus materials for the Role-play. The timings are different too: Role-play – 15 marks (2 minutes at Foundation Tier; 2 minutes at Higher Tier) Photo card – 15 marks (2 minutes at Foundation Tier; 3 minutes at Higher Tier) General conversation – 30 (3–5 minutes at Foundation Tier; 5–7 minutes at Higher Tier) 1: Listening What's assessed Understanding and responding to different types of spoken language How it's assessed Written exam: 35 minutes (Foundation Tier), 45 minutes (Higher Tier) 40 marks (Foundation Tier), 50 marks (Higher Tier) 25% of GCSE (Each exam includes 5 minutes’ reading time of the question paper before the listening stimulus is played.) Questions Foundation Tier and Higher Tier Section A – questions in English, to be answered in English or non-verbally Section B – questions in German, to be answered in German or non-verbally ++
Paper 4: Writing What's assessed Communicating effectively in writing for a variety of purposes How it's assessed Written exam: 1 hour (Foundation Tier), 1 hour 15 minutes (Higher Tier) 50 at Foundation Tier and 60 marks at Higher Tier 25% of GCSE Questions Foundation Tier Question 1 – message (student produces four sentences in response to a photo) – 8 marks Question 2 – short passage (student writes a piece of continuous text in response to four brief bullet points, approximately 40 words in total) – 16 marks Question 3 – translation from English into German (minimum 35 – 10 marks Question 4 – structured writing task (student responds to four compulsory detailed bullet points, producing approximately 90 words in total) – there is a choice from two questions – 16 marks Higher Tier Question 1 – structured writing task (student responds to four compulsory detailed bullet points, producing approximately 90 words in total) – there is a choice from two questions – 16 marks Question 2 – open-ended writing task (student responds to two compulsory detailed bullet points, producing approximately 150 words in total) – there is a choice from two questions – 32 marks Question 3 – translation from English into German (minimum 50 words) – 12 marks Paper 3: Reading What's assessed Understanding and responding to different types of written language How it's assessed Written exam: 45 minutes (Foundation Tier), 1 hour (Higher Tier) 60 marks (for each of Foundation Tier and Higher Tier) 25% of GCSE Questions Foundation Tier and Higher Tier Section A – questions in English, to be answered in English or non-verbally Section B – questions in German, to be answered in German or non-verbally Section C – translation from German into English (a minimum of 35 words at Foundation Tier and 50 words at Higher Tier) + 3 Subject content 3.1 Themes The specification covers three distinct themes. These themes apply to all four question papers. Students are expected to understand and provide information and opinions about these themes relating to their own experiences and those of other people, including people in countries/communities where German is spoken. 3.1.1 Theme 1: Identity and culture Theme 1: Identity and culture covers the following four topics with related sub-topics shown as bullet points: Topic 1: Me, my family and friends Relationships with family and friends Marriage/partnership
erlauben to allow ernst serious Erwachsene der/die adult, grown-up Familienmitglied das member of the family frech cheeky Freundschaft die friendship fühlen (sich) to feel füttern to feed geboren (am) born (on) Geburt die birth Geburtsdatum das date of birth Geburtsort der place of birth geduldig patient Gefühl das feeling gemein mean gern haben to like geschieden divorced Geschlecht das sex, gender getrennt separated glatt straight, smooth glücklich der reason gut/schlecht gelaunt good/bad tempered gute/schlechte Laune haben to be in a good/bad mood hässlich ugly heiraten to marry hilfsbereit helpful Hochzeit die wedding höflich polite hübsch pretty