Paper 1 (Edexcel GCSE German): Revision Notes
Paper 1: Speaking preparation
Task 2: Role play overview
The role play section is worth 10 marks and consists of responding to 5 different prompts. You'll receive a card showing a specific scenario with instructions in English, and you must respond appropriately in German.
Understanding the format
Your teacher will play the role of another person (such as a shop assistant, hotel receptionist, or train station employee) and will speak to you in German. You need to respond naturally to each prompt, treating it like a real conversation.
Foundation level students need to ask one question during the role play, whilst Higher level students must ask two questions. All scenarios involve transactional situations - places where you might need to buy something, book services, or get information.
Key language requirements
Most responses can use present tense or möchte (would like), but Higher level students will need to include at least one future time frame in their answers. Each response should be clear and relevant - you'll get 2 marks for a clear, relevant answer, 1 mark if there's some confusion, and 0 marks if your message isn't understood.
| German phrase | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Ich möchte | I would like |
| Können Sie mir helfen? | Can you help me? |
| Wie viel kostet das? | How much does that cost? |
| Wann fährt der Zug? | When does the train leave? |
| Haben Sie...? | Do you have...? |
| Ich brauche | I need |
| Entschuldigung | Excuse me |
| Danke schön | Thank you very much |
| Auf Wiedersehen | Goodbye |
| Bitte | Please |
Example sentences using these terms:
- Entschuldigung, ich möchte eine Fahrkarte kaufen. (Excuse me, I would like to buy a ticket.)
- Können Sie mir helfen? Wann fährt der nächste Zug nach Berlin? (Can you help me? When does the next train to Berlin leave?)
Sample scenario: Train station
Worked Example: Train Station Role Play
In this common scenario, you're at a Bahnhof (train station) in Austria. The teacher plays a railway employee who will ask you questions in German. You might need to:
- Say where you want to go - Ich möchte nach Wien fahren (I want to go to Vienna)
- Explain why you're travelling - Ich besuche meine Familie (I'm visiting my family)
- Say who you're travelling with - Ich reise mit meinem Freund (I'm travelling with my friend)
- Give your opinion about the town - Die Stadt ist sehr schön (The city is very beautiful)
- Ask about the next train - Wann fährt der nächste Zug? (When does the next train leave?)
Role play success tips
You can address your teacher as either Sie (formal) or du (informal), but stick to one throughout - don't switch between them. If you can't think of a specific word, try to express the idea differently using vocabulary you know confidently.
Remember that you cannot write on the role play card, but you can make notes on the paper provided during your preparation time.
Task 3: Picture task breakdown
The picture task has three parts with different mark allocations: 8 marks for describing the picture, 4 marks for follow-up questions, and 16 marks for the broader conversation.
Picture description requirements
Two weeks before your exam, you'll choose between two thematic contexts. In the exam itself, you'll see a card with two photographs related to your chosen theme, and you must select one to describe.
Your description must cover three essential elements: the people in the image, the location where it's set, and the activity taking place. A basic description won't be sufficient - you need to provide detail and show your language skills.
| German vocabulary | English meaning |
|---|---|
| die Menschen | the people |
| der Ort | the place/location |
| die Aktivität | the activity |
| im Vordergrund | in the foreground |
| im Hintergrund | in the background |
| links/rechts | left/right |
| sie tragen | they are wearing |
| es gibt | there is/there are |
| man kann sehen | one can see |
| meiner Meinung nach | in my opinion |
Example description using these terms:
- Im Vordergrund kann man zwei Menschen sehen, die zusammen arbeiten. (In the foreground one can see two people who are working together.)
- Meiner Meinung nach ist der Ort sehr modern und interessant. (In my opinion, the place is very modern and interesting.)
Follow-up questions and conversation
After describing your chosen picture, your teacher will ask two specific questions about it. These require short, clear answers - single words won't earn full marks, but you don't need lengthy responses.
The broader conversation then moves to the theme of 'Studying and my future'. This section offers the most marks, so your responses should be detailed and comprehensive. You'll discuss topics related to education, career plans, and future aspirations.
Advanced language techniques
To achieve higher marks, demonstrate your ability to use different time frames. Include past experiences, present situations, and future plans in your responses. Show knowledge of complex sentence structures using connectives like weil (because) and obwohl (although).
| Time expressions | English meaning |
|---|---|
| früher | earlier/formerly |
| jetzt | now |
| in Zukunft | in the future |
| nächstes Jahr | next year |
| letzten Monat | last month |
| morgen | tomorrow |
| gestern | yesterday |
| bald | soon |
Worked Example: Translation Practice
Translation practice:
- I studied German last year → Ich habe letztes Jahr Deutsch gelernt
- Tomorrow I will visit my friend → Morgen werde ich meinen Freund besuchen
- She wants to study medicine → Sie möchte Medizin studieren
- We are planning our future → Wir planen unsere Zukunft
Answers:
- Ich habe letztes Jahr Deutsch gelernt
- Morgen werde ich meinen Freund besuchen
- Sie möchte Medizin studieren
- Wir planen unsere Zukunft
Remember!
Key Points to Remember:
- Role play: Stick to either Sie or du throughout, keep answers short and clear, and include the required number of questions for your level
- Picture task: Always describe people, location, and activity with sufficient detail to demonstrate your German skills
- Time frames: Use past, present, and future tenses to show linguistic range, especially in the broader conversation
- Complex language: Include connectives like weil and obwohl to achieve higher marks in Task 3
- Stay confident: If you forget a word, find another way to express your idea using vocabulary you know well