KPG German cheat sheet

In KPG listening tasks, the first play often gives global meaning; the second play targets details, numbers, and speaker attitude.

Signal words for contrast (aber, jedoch, allerdings, trotzdem) usually mark the point where a stated plan or opinion is corrected.

Distinguish Aussage (what is said) from Intention (why it is said): irony, softening, and indirect requests are common distractors.

Numbers, times, and prices are frequently corrected mid-sentence; the last mentioned value is normally the valid one.

In dialogue tasks, identify which speaker holds decision authority (Chef, Kunde, Bewerber) before choosing an answer.

If two answer options are both mentioned, the correct one matches the speaker's final position, not an earlier suggestion.

Recognize register: formal Sie-address signals workplace distance; du-address signals collegial or informal context.

Note discourse markers (also, nun, jedenfalls, übrigens) that introduce a new subtopic or a summary.

Match task type to reading strategy: scanning for specific data (dates, names, figures) versus skimming for gist and structure.

Headings-matching tasks: the correct heading paraphrases the paragraph's main claim, not a single supporting detail.

True/False/Not given: 'Not given' applies when the text neither confirms nor contradicts the statement.

Inference questions require textual evidence; an answer that is plausible but unsupported is a distractor.

Watch negation and scope words (nicht, kaum, ausschließlich, mindestens) that reverse or limit a statement.

For job-ad and email tasks, distinguish requirement (Voraussetzung) from desirable extra (von Vorteil, wünschenswert).

Cohesive devices (dies, dabei, dadurch, hingegen) link sentences; resolving them prevents misreading the reference.

Formal letter/email frame: Anrede (Sehr geehrte Frau X / Sehr geehrter Herr Y), Einleitung, Hauptteil, Schluss, Grußformel (Mit freundlichen Grüßen), Name.

Informal register uses Liebe/Lieber, du-forms, and contractions; formal register uses Sie-forms and full verb forms.

A complete task response addresses every bullet point (Leitpunkt) in the prompt; missing one costs content points.

Sentence variety: combine main clauses with weil, obwohl, dass, damit, sodass; vary verb-second and verb-final placement.

Cohesion markers for writing: zunächst, darüber hinaus, im Gegensatz dazu, aus diesem Grund, abschließend.

Bewerbung conventions: state the position, reference the source, summarize qualifications with evidence, request an interview.

Beschwerde conventions: describe the problem factually, state the expected remedy, set a deadline, remain polite.

Check verb position in subordinate clauses and comma before dass/weil/obwohl; these are frequent point-loss areas.

Presentation structure: Einleitung (topic, relevance), Hauptteil (2–3 aspects with examples), Schluss (summary, opinion).

Buy time with functional fillers (Das ist eine interessante Frage, lassen Sie mich kurz überlegen) instead of silence.

In dialogue tasks, respond to the partner's point before adding your own (Ja, da stimme ich zu, allerdings …).

Polite disagreement formulas: Ich sehe das etwas anders, weil …; Da bin ich anderer Meinung, denn ….

For graph/statistics description: state source, trend (steigen, sinken, stagnieren), key figures, then interpretation.

Redemittel for proposals: Ich würde vorschlagen, dass …; Wie wäre es, wenn wir …; Könnten wir uns darauf einigen, dass …?

Pronunciation focus: final devoicing (Tag → Tak), ich-/ach-Laut distinction, and clear word stress in compounds.

Self-correction is acceptable; restart a sentence with Also, ich meine … rather than leaving an incomplete structure.

Verb-second rule in main clauses: finite verb occupies position 2; if a time/place phrase starts the sentence, subject follows the verb (Inversion).

Subordinate clauses (weil, dass, obwohl, wenn) send the finite verb to the final position.

Two-part connectors: entweder … oder, sowohl … als auch, nicht nur … sondern auch, je … desto (desto + comparative + verb).

Cases: nominative for subject, accusative for direct object, dative for indirect object and after aus, bei, mit, nach, seit, von, zu.

Genitive prepositions: wegen, trotz, während, statt; these take the genitive in standard written German.

Adjective endings depend on article type: definite (das gute Buch), indefinite (ein gutes Buch), zero article (gutes Buch).

Konjunktiv II for politeness and hypotheticals: Ich hätte gern …, Wenn ich Zeit hätte, würde ich ….

Passive voice: werden + Partizip II; agent with von, means with durch; Zustandspassiv uses sein + Partizip II.

Trennbare Verben: prefix separates in main clauses (Ich rufe morgen an) but stays attached in subordinate clauses (…, weil ich morgen anrufe).

Business email register: formal Anrede, concise subject line (Betreff), clear request, professional closing; avoid slang and emojis.

Telephone formulas: Hier spricht …; Kann ich bitte mit … sprechen?; Könnten Sie ihm/ihr etwas ausrichten?

Meeting language: Tagesordnung, Protokoll, Beschlussfähigkeit; phrases like Ich fasse zusammen, Wir halten fest, dass ….

Bewerbungsunterlagen terminology: Anschreiben, Lebenslauf, Zeugnisse, Referenzen; distinguish Anforderungsprofil from Stellenbeschreibung.

Customer-facing language: use Konjunktiv II for polite requests (Könnten Sie …?) and avoid direct imperatives.

Workplace abbreviations: z. B., bzw., ca., ggf., u. a.; expand them mentally to avoid misreading deadlines and conditions.

Negotiation register: soften disagreement with Ich hätte Bedenken wegen …; propose compromise with Ein möglicher Kompromiss wäre ….

Cross-cultural formality: German workplace communication tends to be direct and factual; Sie-forms persist until explicitly offered du.