Paper 4 (Edexcel GCSE German): Revision Notes
Paper 4: Writing (2)
Longer writing tasks
In the writing section, you'll face a choice between two questions - either Question 1(a) or Question 1(b). Each question will present different scenarios, but the structure remains similar across both options.
Question structure and requirements
When you see a longer writing task, it will typically ask you to write about a specific topic, such as writing an email to an exchange partner about your town. You must cover all the bullet points provided in the question to achieve full marks.
The bullet points might require you to write in different tenses:
- Present tense for descriptions and opinions
- Past tense for what you did previously
- Future tense for what you plan to do
Word count and timing
Your answer should be between 80 and 90 words in German. This guideline helps you achieve enough variety to score highly without making too many errors or running out of time.
Key exam tips:
- Read the bullet points carefully and make sure you cover all of them in your answer
- Use vocabulary, grammar and phrases that you know well, but try to vary your language
- Show off the German you can use correctly to develop your ideas
- What you write must be true to the context given
Writing technique guidance
Always read back your answer to ensure it makes sense and flows logically. Remember that these questions can appear as Question 1 on Higher tier papers or Question 3 on Foundation tier papers, so always read the specific requirements carefully.
Translation into German
This section tests your ability to accurately translate English sentences into German, focusing on both meaning and grammatical accuracy.
Tier differences
- Foundation tier: Five individual sentences to translate
- Higher tier: A short passage to translate
Marking scheme
The translation section is worth 10 marks total:
- 6 marks for how closely you translate the meaning from English to German
- 4 marks for grammatical accuracy
Essential translation techniques
Word order rules are crucial for accurate translations. Remember these key patterns:
- Time - Manner - Place: Ich fahre morgen mit dem Bus zur Schule
- Inversion: When you start with a time expression, the verb comes second: Gestern habe ich...
- Subordinate clauses: The verb goes to the end: weil das gut für die Umwelt ist
Key vocabulary for translations
| German | English |
|---|---|
| die Natur | nature |
| auf dem Land | in the countryside |
| der Tourist | tourist |
| die Stadt | town/city |
| recyceln | to recycle |
| das Papier | paper |
| das Glas | glass |
| die Schule | school |
| der Bus | bus |
| die Umwelt | environment |
Worked Example: Translation Techniques
Here are some example sentences showing different tenses and structures:
Present tense:
- Ich liebe die Natur (I love nature)
- Ich wohne auf dem Land (I live in the countryside)
Past tense with inversion:
- Gestern habe ich in der Schule Glas und Papier recycelt (Yesterday I recycled paper and glass at school)
Future tense with subordinate clause:
- Ich fahre morgen mit dem Bus zur Schule, weil das gut für die Umwelt ist (Tomorrow I am going to school by bus because it is good for the environment)
Translation practice
Translate into German:
- There are too many tourists in the town
- I recycled glass yesterday
Answers:
- Es gibt zu viele Touristen in der Stadt
- Ich habe gestern Glas recycelt / Gestern habe ich Glas recycelt
Important translation tips:
- Look out for different tenses and make sure you translate them accurately
- Think about word order rules like inversion and Time-Manner-Place
- When you move the verb to the end of a subordinate clause, remember: Ich kann ihn nicht sehen
- There is often more than one possible correct translation
- If you don't know a specific word, try using a similar word you do know
- Don't leave any blanks - attempt every translation
- A minor error might still receive some marks if the meaning is clear, but major errors (like Es gibt zu viel Touristen instead of zu viele) will lose marks
- Read through your work at the end to ensure it makes sense
Key Points to Remember:
- Always cover all bullet points in longer writing tasks to achieve maximum marks
- Aim for 80-90 words in your writing responses
- Use correct word order in translations - remember Time-Manner-Place and inversion rules
- Check your tenses match what's required in both writing and translation tasks
- Read back through your work to spot any errors or missing content before finishing