Discuss with your partner:

What do we mean by exam techniques?

In groups of 4 brainstorm as many different exam techniques as you can. Consider:

- General exam techniques: e.g. how to use time, clues given by questions and answers

-Contexte.g. pictures, what you know about the culture of Germany

- Languagee.g. cognates, grammar

Let’s see how many of these you got…

General exam techniques:

1) Read the questions carefully and highlight any key points to ensure you answer it correctly

2) Look at the number of points for each answer and ensure you have an answer for each point

3) For the listening exam:

Listen carefully to the examples to ensure you understand how to answer each question

4) For the reading exam:

Read the text through first to get the gist and to help you know where to look for the answers (remember these are always in order)

5) Ignore words which you don’t need to answer the question

6) If you get stuck move on don’t spend too long on one question you can always come back to it!

7) In the listening exam use the time between the questions to continue to check your answers and read ahead

8) Narrow down your options as far as you can and then make a calculated guess if necessary. DO NOT LEAVE ANY BLANKS!!

9) Ensure that the answer matches the format requested e.g. if it asks for a letter don’t write a number!

Context:

10) For the listening exam use your reading time wisely:

- identify the pictures- translate any German words - translate any English words - write down any language you think you might hear

11) For the reading exam use the visual and verbal clues:

- layout- length- type face- pictures- title

12) Make use of the social/cultural context:

- think about what you know about German speaking countries and society in

general to predict answers.

13) Use your common sense!

What answer do you expect to the question:

What floor is the flat on?

Language:

14) Use cognates and near cognates:

e.g. Hand, Name, Knie, Adresse, Ingenieur

15) Split the word down into its component parts:

e.g. Bus/halte/stelle = bus stop (bus stopping place)

16) Look for adjectives embedded in words:

e.g. verbessern/beruhigen

N.B. even if you can only recognise part of the word have a guess!

17) Use prefixes:

un = negative e.g. unmöglich/ unglücklichab = away e.g. abfahren/abholenauf = up e.g. aufstehen/aufgebenaus = out e.g. ausgehen, Ausfahrtein = in e.g. einsteigen/Eintrittdurch = through e.g. durchfahren/Durchschnittmit = with e.g. mitgehen/mitnehmenan = at/on/near e.g. ankommen/anziehenum = around/about/change of state e.g. umsteigen, umziehenzu = to/at/for e.g. zuhören/Zuschauer

18) Use suffixes:

in = feminine form e.g. freundin, Engländerinheit = -ness e.g. Krankheit/Faulheitschaft = -ship e.g. Freundschaft/Weltmeisterschaft

19) Infinitives used as nouns:

das Schwimmen/das Wandern (-ing)

21) Watch out for false friends:

e.g. Gymnasium, Gift.

22) Make use of your grammar knowledge:

- plurals

Q) Does Lisel have any brothers and sisters?

Lisel hat zwei Brüder

What other clue do we have here?

- Number: zwei

23) Make use of your grammar knowledge:

- negatives

Q) Does Lisel have any brothers and sisters?

Lisel hat keine Geschwister

24) Make use of your grammar knowledge:

- adjectives

Q) Which room is small?

Die Küche ist groß aber das Wohnzimmer ist klein.

25) Make use of your grammar knowledge:

- pronouns

Q) What is Georg’s sister called?

Ich habe eine Schwester und sie heißt Nicola aber er hat eine Schwester und seine Schwester heißt Karin.

26) Make use of your grammar knowledge:

- prepositions

Q) On which floor is the flat?

Die Wohnung hat fünf Zimmer und es ist auf dem siebten Stock.

27) Make use of your grammar knowledge:

- verb tense

Q) What sport does Katja normally play at the weekend?

Dieses Wochenende hat Katja Tennis gespielt normalerweise spielt sie Handball.

What other clue do we have here?

- Time phrase: normalerweise

Tense clues:

- e/st/t/en/t/en = - Form of haben/sein + ge + t/en = - Verb has an extra t = - Form of werden + infinitive = - Form of würden + infinitive =

past tensepresent tense

N.B. Verbs may move places with word order so underline/listen out for the parts you recognise:

e.g. Am Wochenende habe ich einen Film gesehen, anstatt Fussball zu spielen, weil es geregnet hat.

imperfect tensefuture tenseconditional tense

Time phrases:

- normalerweise/ morgens/ =- Gestern/ damals= - in der Zükunft/Morgen =

N.B. Present tense can be used for the immediate future indicated by a time phrase.

Can you brainstorm some more??

present tense

Past/imperfect tenseFuture/conditional tense

Remember:

• The answers are in the order of the text.

• Check which Language you need to answer in – otherwise the whole answer could be incorrect (if you answer in the incorrect Language).

• Look out for the questions with BOLD words. Extra help for you!!!

How many did you get?

What else can you add?

What 5 exam techniques have you taken away from today’s lesson?