External Assessment: The Examination
What the external examination tests
The external assessment samples the same skills as school assessment but under time pressure and without teacher support. Expect a listening section, a reading section, and a writing section, with tasks that move from straightforward comprehension to producing connected text. The exam rewards accuracy, relevance and range. You must understand: how to scan a text for key information before reading closely; how to infer meaning from context when a word is unfamiliar; how to structure a short written response with an introduction, developed points and a conclusion; and how to use connectives (zuerst, außerdem, deshalb, trotzdem) to link ideas.
Traps that appear in exams
- Spending too long on one listening item and missing the next.
- Writing everything you know about a topic instead of answering the specific question.
- Copying long phrases from a reading passage as your answer rather than responding in your own words.
- Ignoring word limits or the required text type (for example, writing a letter when an email was asked for).
- Neglecting verb position and case endings when writing quickly.
- Leaving blanks in listening or reading sections instead of making a reasoned attempt.
Worked example
If a reading question asks Warum geht Anna nicht ins Schwimmbad? and the text says Ich habe mir das Bein gebrochen, do not copy the sentence. Answer: Weil sie sich das Bein gebrochen hat. This shows comprehension, uses the correct verb-final clause, and applies the perfect tense.
Exam technique
Read the questions before the listening text plays so you know what to listen for. In reading, underline the words in the question that tell you what to find. In writing, spend two minutes planning, then check verbs and endings at the end. A rule of thumb: leave time to proofread for verb position, capital letters on nouns, and case endings - these are the errors examiners notice most.