Sachsen-Anhalt Realschulabschluss English flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Global listening

First listening phase in which the candidate identifies topic, speaker relationship and general message without stopping on unknown words; details are ignored at this stage.

Listening distractor

An option or statement that reuses words from the recording but answers a different question; it is rejected by comparing the full meaning of the utterance.

Self-correction in recordings

Speakers often revise numbers, times or plans mid-sentence with phrases like 'actually' or 'I mean'; the final corrected value is the one to record.

Note-taking during listening

Writing only key words, abbreviations and numbers in the margin while the recording plays, so attention stays on the next utterance rather than on full sentences.

True/False/Not given

Reading task type with three options; 'not given' applies only when the text contains no information on the statement, even implicitly.

Skimming

Fast reading of a whole text for gist, headings and topic sentences, typically used before detailed questions to build a mental map of the structure.

Scanning

Targeted search for specific information such as names, figures or dates, moving the eyes quickly without reading every word of the passage.

Topic sentence

Sentence, usually first in a paragraph, that states the paragraph's main idea; it is the primary evidence for matching-heading tasks.

Paraphrase trap

Wrong answer option that copies words from the text, while the correct option expresses the same idea in different vocabulary.

Reference resolution

Identifying the noun that pronouns or phrases such as 'this', 'they' or 'the former' point back to, which is required before judging a statement.

Sprachmittlung

Mediation task: conveying the meaning of a German source text in English for a defined reader, prioritising content points over literal translation.

Present perfect

Tense formed with have/has plus past participle; it links a past action to a present result and pairs with 'since' or 'for'.

Second conditional

Structure 'if + past simple, would + infinitive' used for unreal or hypothetical present situations, as in 'If I had time, I would join'.

Reported speech shift

Backshift of tense by one step plus changes to pronouns and time expressions when speech is reported, e.g. 'I will come' becomes 'she would come'.

False friends

Word pairs that look similar in German and English but differ in meaning, such as 'actual' (tatsächlich) versus 'aktuell' (current).

Word formation suffix

Ending such as -ment, -ion, -ful, -less or -ly that changes a word's class; the gap's grammar decides which class is needed.

Since versus for

'Since' introduces a starting point in time (since Monday), while 'for' introduces a length of time (for two weeks).

Register

Level of formality in a text; informal emails allow contractions and phrasal verbs, formal letters require full forms and polite formulas.

Content points

The bullet points of a writing prompt; each must be addressed with at least one developed sentence, since omission costs more than grammar slips.

Cohesive devices

Linking words and phrases such as 'however', 'in addition' or 'as a result' that connect ideas and paragraphs and are scored under communicative design.

Formal letter closing

'Yours faithfully' follows 'Dear Sir or Madam' when the name is unknown; 'Yours sincerely' follows 'Dear Mr Smith' when it is known.

Email opening line

A short sentence stating the purpose of the message, for example 'I am writing to ask about the sports course', placed directly after the salutation.

Proofreading checklist

Final review of third-person -s, subject–verb agreement, capitalisation of 'I', and spelling of frequent words such as 'because' and 'environment'.

Monologue scaffold

Fixed three-part frame for the speaking test: introduce the topic, present two or three points with reasons, close with a personal conclusion.

Role-play initiation

Candidate behaviour in a dialogue task: asking questions, making suggestions and reacting to the partner rather than only answering prompts.

Paraphrasing strategy

Describing a missing word with simpler language, as in 'the thing you use to open a bottle', instead of switching to German.

Picture description order

Convention of describing foreground, background, people and actions before offering interpretation, using present progressive for depicted actions.

Functional phrases

Ready-made expressions for suggesting, agreeing, disagreeing politely and asking for opinion, which raise the communicative score in dialogues.

-ed pronunciation

Past-tense ending pronounced /t/ after voiceless sounds (worked), /d/ after voiced sounds (played), and /ɪd/ after t or d (wanted).

Listening for gist

Understanding the main idea and tone of a recording without decoding every word, the goal of the first playing in most exam formats.

Inference item

Reading or listening question whose answer is not stated literally but follows from the text, for example a speaker's attitude or intention.

Gap-fill grammar check

Verifying that the inserted word matches the required word class, number and tense of the surrounding sentence before writing it on the answer line.