Madrid PAU German (Alemán II) (Spain Madrid PAU)
Madrid PAU German (Alemán II)
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ExploreAbout this exam
The Madrid PAU Alemán II examination is the German paper of the university entrance assessment taken by students in the Community of Madrid who choose German as their second foreign language, typically alongside English. It is aimed at candidates with roughly B1 to B2 competence on the CEFR scale, built up over the Bachillerato years, who need a university entrance score rather than a language certificate for the workplace. The paper is written entirely in German and is organised around authentic-style reading texts followed by comprehension tasks, a lexicon and grammar block, and a guided composition on a set topic; some regions also run an optional short oral component. Cultural and sociolinguistic content about German-speaking countries runs through the texts and topics rather than appearing as a separate section. Preparation works best as steady, cumulative practice: read short German press and opinion pieces regularly, keep a vocabulary notebook organised by theme, and drill the grammar points that recur in the tasks (tenses, passive, subordinate clauses, connectors, reported speech). Write timed compositions and have them corrected for accuracy and range. Question counts, timing, scoring and pass marks are set by the official body each year, so check its published information for the current session.
What you'll study
About Madrid PAU German (Alemán II) preparation
What does the Alemán II paper actually look like on the day?
A written paper in German built around reading texts with comprehension questions, a lexicon and grammar block, and a guided composition on a set theme. Some autonomous communities also offer an optional short oral component. The exact task types and layout are fixed by the official body, so consult its current model papers rather than relying on older versions.
How hard is it compared with a B1 or B2 certificate exam?
The reading and grammar tasks sit around B1 to B2, but the composition rewards range and accuracy under time pressure, which is where many candidates lose marks. It is not a certificate exam: there is no listening section in the standard written paper, so you can prepare with a narrower skill focus.
How many questions are there and how long do I get?
The official body publishes the current structure, question counts and time allocation for each session, and these can change between years. Check its website and the model papers for the year you are sitting instead of planning around numbers from an earlier cohort.
Can I retake the exam if my score is too low?
Retake and resit rules are set by the official body and by the regulations in force for your session, and they differ from ordinary certificate exams. Confirm the current conditions on its website before you plan a second attempt, and keep your corrected compositions from the first attempt as diagnostic material.
In what order should I study the four areas?
Start with reading and vocabulary, since both feed the composition. Add grammar in short daily blocks targeted at recurring structures: tenses, passive, subordinate clauses, connectors and reported speech. Only then move to timed compositions. Cultural knowledge about German-speaking countries is best absorbed through the reading texts rather than studied separately.
Why do candidates lose marks in the composition?
The usual causes are answering the prompt only partly, ignoring the required register or text type, and writing long sentences with broken verb placement. Memorised set phrases with no connection to the topic also stand out. Practise planning for two minutes, writing to a clear structure, and reserving time to check agreement, case endings and verb position.
How large an active vocabulary do I need?
Aim for confident, accurate use of core B1 vocabulary plus topic-specific words for themes that recur, such as environment, media, education, work and family. Passive recognition should be wider than active use. Learn nouns with article and plural, and verbs with case and preposition, because grammar marks often depend on those details.
Does the paper test knowledge of German-speaking countries?
Yes, but usually through the reading texts and composition topics rather than as a separate section. Expect themes touching Germany, Austria and Switzerland, including everyday life, education and social issues. Familiarity with current affairs in those countries makes comprehension faster and gives you concrete material for the composition.
Where do I find the official rules and dates?
The official body responsible for university entrance assessment in the Community of Madrid publishes the current timetable, structure, scoring and administrative rules on its website. Treat that site and its model papers as the only authoritative source; this page is independent study guidance and has no official affiliation.