Sachsen-Anhalt Realschulabschluss English cheat sheet

Typical format: two or three playings of a recording; in Sachsen-Anhalt the first playing usually serves global understanding, later playings serve detail tasks.

Read the task items before the first playing and underline key words (names, numbers, places, time expressions) so target information is recognised instantly.

Distractors are built from words that appear in the text but answer a different question; match the meaning of the whole utterance, not a single word.

Numbers, dates and prices are often corrected mid-text ('actually', 'sorry, I mean', 'let's say'); the last stated value is normally the valid one.

Signal words for the answer location: 'but', 'however', 'although', 'the problem is', 'what matters is', 'in the end'.

True/False items with absolute wording ('always', 'never', 'all', 'only') are usually false unless the text states the absolute explicitly.

Gap-fill answers must fit the grammar of the gap (singular/plural, tense); a correct idea in the wrong form still loses the mark.

Spelling of proper names and numbers counts in many tasks; write clearly and use British spelling conventions common in German schools (colour, centre).

Three task types dominate: multiple choice, true/false/not given, and matching headings or statements to paragraphs.

For 'not given', the criterion is strict: the information must be absent from the text, not merely unmentioned in the paragraph you checked.

Multiple-choice distractors often repeat text wording while the correct option paraphrases it; prefer the paraphrase that matches meaning.

Matching headings: identify the topic sentence (usually first or second sentence) and reject headings that cover only one detail of the paragraph.

Scanning for names, numbers and dates comes before close reading; skimming for gist comes first when the task asks for main ideas.

Reference words (this, they, the former, such) must be resolved to the noun they replace before an item can be judged.

Vocabulary in context: a word's meaning is fixed by its sentence; check whether the surrounding clause is positive, negative or neutral.

Time budget: roughly one minute per item; leave matching tasks for last if they consume more time than line-based questions.

Sprachmittlung means mediating: reproduce the message of a German source in English, not a word-for-word translation; content points earn the marks.

In mediation tasks, keep names, figures and dates exact, convert German formal address ('Sie') into neutral English ('you'), and drop culture-specific items only if irrelevant.

Tenses: present simple for habits and facts, present progressive for actions now or arranged future, present perfect for past events with a present result.

Since/for rule: 'since' + point in time (since 2019), 'for' + duration (for three years).

Conditionals: type 1 if + present, will; type 2 if + past simple, would; type 3 if + past perfect, would have + past participle.

Reported speech shifts tense back one step and changes pronouns and time markers (today → that day, tomorrow → the next day).

Word formation: adjective + -ly, noun + -ful/-less, verb + -ment/-ion; check whether the gap needs a noun, verb, adjective or adverb.

False friends to avoid: 'actual' = tatsächlich (not aktuell), 'eventually' = schließlich (not eventuell), 'gift' = Geschenk (not Gift), 'become' = werden (not bekommen).

Marking in German state exams weights three areas: content/task achievement, communicative design (structure, register, linking), and language accuracy.

Cover every bullet point of the prompt; an unaddressed content point costs more than several small language errors.

Text types differ in register: email to a friend informal (contractions, phrasal verbs), letter to a company or editor formal (no contractions, full forms).

Standard structure: opening salutation matching the register, short introduction stating purpose, one paragraph per content point, closing with sign-off.

Cohesive devices: 'first of all', 'in addition', 'what is more', 'however', 'as a result', 'to sum up' - use them to link paragraphs, not to decorate sentences.

Word-count guidance is a minimum, not a target to exceed by 50 %; going far over the limit increases the chance of errors without extra credit.

Formal email conventions: 'Dear Sir or Madam,' when the name is unknown, 'Yours faithfully,' to close; with a name, 'Dear Mr Smith,' and 'Yours sincerely,'.

Checklist before handing in: verb endings for third-person -s, subject–verb agreement, capitalisation of 'I' and days/months, spelling of 'because', 'beautiful', 'environment'.

Typical structure: a short monologue (presentation or picture description), a dialogue or role play with the examiner or partner, and a brief follow-up interview.

Monologue scaffold: introduction of topic, two or three main points with reasons or examples, personal conclusion - a fixed frame prevents silence.

Picture description order: what you see in the foreground, background, people and actions, then interpretation; use present progressive for depicted actions.

In role plays, the candidate must initiate as well as respond: ask at least one question, make a suggestion, and react to the partner's proposal.

Useful functional phrases: 'I'd suggest…', 'What do you think about…?', 'I see your point, but…', 'Shall we agree on…?'.

When a word is missing, paraphrase ('the thing you use for…') instead of switching to German; switching language loses marks in fluency and strategy.

Pronunciation focus: final -ed (worked /t/, played /d/, wanted /ɪd/), th-sounds, and word stress in words like 'comfortable' and 'environment'.

Fluency markers ('well', 'you know', 'let me think') are acceptable in small amounts but do not replace content; examiners score range and accuracy separately.