MATSEC AM German study plan

Reconstruct the full German case system (nominative, accusative, dative, genitive) by declining articles, pronouns and adjective endings for 20 nouns across all three genders and plural, and self-correct against a reference table

Drill verb conjugation in present, simple past (Präteritum) and perfect (Perfekt) for 40 high-frequency verbs, including separable prefixes and reflexive forms

Read two 250-word factual German texts (e.g. news briefs) and mark every subordinate clause, noting the position of the finite verb

Build a personal error log with at least 15 entries tagged by grammar category for later review

Produce 30 sentences using subordinate conjunctions (weil, obwohl, dass, wenn, damit) with correct verb-final order and check each against a grammar reference

Practise passive voice and Konjunktiv II forms in 15 transformation exercises, converting active to passive and indicative to hypothetical

Read one 400-word German article and summarise its main argument in five bullet points written in German

Identify and record 25 new vocabulary items in thematic sets with example sentences rather than isolated translations

Shadow two 3-minute authentic German audio clips (podcast or news) daily, repeating aloud to match rhythm, stress and intonation

Record yourself answering five typical oral exam questions (self-introduction, daily routine, plans, opinion, past experience) for 90 seconds each without reading a script

Transcribe one 2-minute audio clip by ear and compare against the original transcript to locate listening gaps

Practise the pronunciation of umlauts, ich-Laut and ach-Laut in minimal pairs until you can distinguish them reliably

Deliver a 3-minute structured monologue on a prepared topic using an introduction, two arguments and a conclusion, with signposting phrases

Conduct a 5-minute simulated dialogue in which you ask and answer follow-up questions, using repair strategies when you do not understand

Write a 180-word informal email and a 180-word formal letter, applying correct register, salutation and closing conventions

Link sentences using a varied range of connectors (zunächst, außerdem, dennoch, folglich) rather than repeating und and aber

Write a 250-word opinion text (Erörterung) with a clear thesis, two supporting arguments with examples and a counter-argument

Read two contrasting German opinion pieces on the same issue and extract the author's stance and supporting evidence in note form

Draft and redraft one text, cutting filler and replacing weak verbs with precise alternatives

Practise describing a data table or simple chart in German using comparison structures (im Vergleich zu, doppelt so viele, während)

Complete three timed reading sets (25 minutes each) on unfamiliar topics, skimming for gist first and then scanning for detail

Answer inference and vocabulary-in-context questions and justify each answer by quoting the exact line from the text

Review the error log and eliminate at least ten recurring grammar errors through targeted drills

Expand vocabulary with 30 abstract and academic terms (e.g. Zusammenhang, Voraussetzung, Auswirkung) used in your own sentences

Run two full mock oral sessions under timing: a 3-minute monologue, a 4-minute dialogue and a short picture or topic description

Write one 300-word text under 45-minute exam conditions without dictionaries or notes

Review both mock performances and list the three highest-impact fixes for fluency, accuracy and structure

Re-record the weakest oral task after targeted practice and compare the two recordings

Complete one full timed mock covering all four domains in a single sitting to build stamina

Review all mock errors and rehearse the ten grammar and vocabulary points that caused the most lost marks

Rehearse a bank of 15 flexible oral phrases for buying time, giving opinions and asking for clarification

Consolidate the error log into a one-page pre-exam summary of personal weak points