Paper 4 (AQA GCSE German): Revision Notes
Paper 4: Writing revision guide
Overview of the writing paper
Paper 4 is your German writing exam, and it's designed to test your ability to communicate effectively in written German across different contexts and complexity levels.
The writing paper is carefully structured to assess your German language skills progressively, from basic description tasks to more complex extended writing that demonstrates your ability to express detailed ideas and opinions.
Exam structure and timing
The writing paper is structured differently depending on which tier you're taking:
Foundation tier: You'll have 1 hour and 10 minutes to complete your exam Higher tier: You'll have 1 hour and 15 minutes to complete your exam
Both tiers are worth 50 marks in total, which includes 10 marks specifically allocated for translation into German. The paper consists of several writing tasks that increase in complexity, plus a short grammar section and a translation task.
Types of questions you'll encounter
Understanding the question structure for your tier is essential for effective time management and preparation strategy.
Foundation tier students will complete:
- 3 writing tasks of varying lengths
- 1 short grammar task
- 1 translation task
Higher tier students will complete:
- 2 writing tasks of varying lengths
- 1 short grammar task
- 1 translation task
Foundation tier question 1 - Photo description
This opening question is worth 10 marks and appears only on the Foundation paper. You'll be presented with a photograph and asked to write exactly five short sentences in German describing what you can see.
Key strategies for photo description
The most important thing to remember is keeping your sentences short but complete. Each sentence should include a verb, and you should stick to vocabulary you're confident with rather than attempting complex constructions that might contain errors.
Confidence over complexity: It's better to write five simple, accurate sentences than to attempt sophisticated grammar that might contain errors and lose you marks.
You can use the sentence starter "Es gibt" (there is/there are) to begin multiple sentences if needed - this is perfectly acceptable and can help you feel more confident in your responses. For example, if you wanted to start each sentence this way, you could write "Es gibt zwei Personen" (There are two people), then "Es gibt einen Mann" (There is a man), and so on.
When describing people in the photograph, focus on observable characteristics such as gender, approximate age, hair colour and style, eye colour if visible, height relative to others, and clothing. You might write sentences like "Der Mann trägt ein blaues Hemd" (The man is wearing a blue shirt) or "Die Frau hat dunkle Haare" (The woman has dark hair).
Example Photo Description Strategy:
Looking at a photo of two people in a café:
- "Es gibt zwei Personen." (There are two people.)
- "Der Mann trägt ein weißes Hemd." (The man is wearing a white shirt.)
- "Die Frau hat blonde Haare." (The woman has blonde hair.)
- "Sie sitzen im Café." (They are sitting in the café.)
- "Sie trinken Kaffee zusammen." (They are drinking coffee together.)
Don't forget that you can describe the setting and activities too. Consider where the people are and what they appear to be doing. If there's more than one person, you can describe just one of them if you prefer - this allows you to use singular rather than plural verb forms, which some students find easier.
Even though the photograph on your exam paper will be in black and white, you can enhance your response by using appropriate colour adjectives in your descriptions, as this demonstrates a wider range of vocabulary.
Grammar question
The grammar section is worth 5 marks and tests your understanding of fundamental German grammar concepts. You'll need to select the correct word to complete sentences, focusing on areas like verb forms, personal pronouns, and gender agreements with nouns and adjectives.
Common grammar areas tested
Key Grammar Focus Areas: These are the most frequently tested concepts that you should prioritise in your revision.
Verb conjugations are frequently tested, particularly with common verbs like "gehen" (to go), "haben" (to have), and "sein" (to be). You'll need to match the correct verb form with the subject of the sentence.
Personal pronouns including "ich" (I), "du" (you informal), "er/sie/es" (he/she/it), "wir" (we), and "Sie" (you formal) often appear in these questions. Make sure you understand which pronoun fits the context of each sentence.
Gender and case endings for articles and adjectives may also be tested, so review your understanding of der/die/das (the) and ein/eine (a/an) in different cases.
Longer writing tasks
These tasks progressively increase in complexity and word count, allowing you to demonstrate more sophisticated German language skills.
Foundation question 2
This question is worth 10 marks and requires approximately 50 words. You'll be given five English bullet points covering one topic, and you need to address all five points in your German response.
Success Strategy: The key to success here is addressing each bullet point clearly while maintaining accuracy in your German. Focus on communicating the required information effectively rather than trying to show off complex grammar that you might get wrong.
Foundation and higher tier overlap question
Worth 15 marks, this question appears on both tier papers and requires about 90 words. You'll receive three bullet points with a choice between two topic options, giving you some control over the content you write about.
This longer response allows you to demonstrate more sophisticated language skills. You should aim to develop your ideas more fully, use a wider range of vocabulary, and show your ability to connect ideas using appropriate linking words and phrases.
Higher tier question 3
The most challenging writing task is worth 25 marks and requires approximately 150 words. You'll choose between two topic options, each with two bullet points to guide your response.
Higher Tier Excellence: This open-ended task gives you the opportunity to showcase your best German. You should demonstrate detailed and well-developed ideas, fluent connections between concepts, extended sentences, and confident use of different time frames and tenses.
Useful vocabulary
Essential Vocabulary Reference: Keep these key phrases and words readily available during your revision - they're particularly useful for photo descriptions and basic writing tasks.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Es gibt | There is/There are |
| zwei Personen | two people |
| der Mann | the man |
| die Frau | the woman |
| trägt | wears/is wearing |
| ein blaues Hemd | a blue shirt |
| dunkle Haare | dark hair |
| sie trinken Kaffee | they are drinking coffee |
| sie sind auf Urlaub | they are on holiday |
| das Wetter | the weather |
| draußen | outside |
| in die Stadt | into town |
| einen Hund | a dog |
Example sentences with translations
Present Tense Examples:
- Es gibt zwei Personen in dem Foto. (There are two people in the photo.)
- Der Mann trägt ein blaues Hemd. (The man is wearing a blue shirt.)
- Die Frau hat dunkle Haare. (The woman has dark hair.)
- Sie trinken Kaffee zusammen. (They are drinking coffee together.)
Past Tense Examples:
- Gestern bin ich in die Stadt gegangen. (Yesterday I went into town.)
- Wir haben einen schönen Tag gehabt. (We had a lovely day.)
Future Tense Examples:
- Morgen werde ich meine Freunde besuchen. (Tomorrow I will visit my friends.)
- Nächste Woche werden wir nach Deutschland fahren. (Next week we will travel to Germany.)
Grammar and pronunciation tips
Verb conjugation reminders
Essential Verb Pattern: Remember that German verbs change their endings depending on who is doing the action. This is fundamental to accurate German writing.
- ich gehe (I go)
- du gehst (you go - informal)
- er/sie/es geht (he/she/it goes)
- wir gehen (we go)
- ihr geht (you go - plural informal)
- sie/Sie gehen (they go/you go - formal)
Gender and articles
German nouns have three genders, and this affects the articles used:
- der (masculine): der Mann, der Kaffee
- die (feminine): die Frau, die Stadt
- das (neuter): das Foto, das Wetter
Pronunciation guidance
Key Pronunciation Points:
The German 'r': Rolled or uvular, quite different from English. Practice words like "trinken" and "Urlaub" to get comfortable with this sound.
The 'ch' sound: Appears in words like "ich" - it's a soft sound made at the back of the throat, not like the English 'ch' in "church".
German 'w': Pronounced like English 'v', so "Wetter" sounds like "vetter".
Translation exercise
Practice Translation Exercise:
German to English:
- Die Frau trägt einen roten Mantel.
- Wir gehen morgen ins Kino.
English to German: 3. The man has brown hair. 4. They are drinking tea in the garden.
Answers:
- The woman is wearing a red coat.
- We are going to the cinema tomorrow.
- Der Mann hat braune Haare.
- Sie trinken Tee im Garten.
Key exam strategies
Essential Points to Remember:
- Keep sentences simple and accurate in the photo description task - five clear sentences are better than five complicated ones with errors
- Use "Es gibt" as a reliable sentence starter when you need it
- Address all bullet points in the longer writing tasks to ensure you can achieve full marks
- Practice verb conjugations regularly, especially common verbs like haben, sein, and gehen
- Even though exam photos are black and white, you can still use colour vocabulary to enhance your descriptions
- Time management is crucial - allocate appropriate time to each section based on the marks available
- Focus on accuracy over complexity, especially in Foundation tier questions