MATSEC IM German study plan

MATSEC IM German · Give each week a clear focus.

8 weeks · About 6 hours per week

Week 1

Listening & Speaking

Transcribe 40 short spoken German sentences (numbers, times, prices, addresses) from dictation and correct them against a written key
Record yourself reading those same sentences aloud and mark every word where your pronunciation differs from a model recording
Build a personal list of 25 high-frequency exam-register phrases used in announcements and instructions, with gender and case noted
Practise shadowing one 90-second audio clip daily, speaking simultaneously with the recording to fix rhythm and sentence stress

A corrected dictation log of 40 sentences plus a 2-minute self-recording with a written self-correction list of at least 15 pronunciation points

Week 2

Answer 30 multiple-choice listening items on everyday topics (travel, shopping, appointments) under timed conditions and log the reason for each wrong answer
Identify the speaker's intention (request, complaint, suggestion, refusal) in 20 short dialogues and justify each choice in one sentence
Rehearse a 3-minute monologue about your daily routine, recording it twice and comparing fluency between takes
Note 20 discourse markers (zuerst, allerdings, trotzdem, übrigens) and insert them into your monologue to sound more natural

A timed listening set scored out of 30 with a written error analysis, plus two recorded monologue takes and a one-paragraph comparison of fluency

Week 3

Work through 4 longer listening texts (interview, radio report, voicemail) and answer gist plus detail questions for each
Read 6 short authentic-style texts (notices, adverts, emails) and extract key facts into a table without a dictionary
Match 20 paraphrased statements to their source sentences to practise recognising rewording in exam options
Compile a glossary of 40 exam-topic nouns and verbs (Umwelt, Bewerbung, Vereinbarung) with example sentences of your own

A completed fact-extraction table for 6 reading texts and a 40-entry glossary with original example sentences

Week 4

Complete one full timed listening paper (all sections) and one full timed reading paper, recording raw scores and time per section
Review every error and classify it as vocabulary, grammar, inference, or misread instruction
Read 3 opinion-style texts and summarise the writer's stance in 30 words each
Practise scanning: locate 15 specific details in a 400-word text within 6 minutes total

Two full timed papers with scores, a classified error table, and three 30-word stance summaries

Week 5

Write 4 short messages (invitation, apology, arrangement, complaint) of 60-80 words each, then self-edit for case, verb position, and formal/informal register
Draft 2 longer texts of 150-180 words (a formal email and an opinion piece) using a fixed planning template: introduction, two points, conclusion
Memorise and actively use 15 connectors and 10 formal set phrases, ticking each off as it appears in your writing
Deliver a 4-minute prepared talk on a familiar topic and answer three self-devised follow-up questions aloud

A writing portfolio of 6 edited texts with a correction log listing every recurring grammar error and its fix

Week 6

Write 2 timed essays of 180 words in 30 minutes each and compare them against the marking criteria for content, range, accuracy, and register
Rewrite your two weakest portfolio texts, cutting repetition and upgrading basic vocabulary to exam-level alternatives
Role-play 3 exam-style speaking scenarios (making a complaint, negotiating a plan, giving an opinion) recorded and reviewed for hesitations
Reduce filler and hesitation markers by re-recording one role-play and counting the difference

Two timed essays with a completed self-assessment grid, plus two recordings of the same role-play showing a measurable drop in hesitation markers

Week 7

Sit a full mock under exam timing across listening, reading, and writing, with no pauses or dictionary
Mark the mock against the official criteria and identify the two weakest sub-skills
Target those two sub-skills with 90 minutes of focused drills each
Re-read all portfolio and mock scripts and build a final one-page error checklist

A full mock result sheet with scores per skill, a ranked list of weaknesses, and a one-page personal error checklist

Week 8

Repeat the full mock including a recorded speaking section, aiming to beat week 7 scores in at least two skills
Run daily 15-minute mixed drills rotating listening, reading, and vocabulary to keep all skills active
Rehearse the speaking format twice end-to-end with a timer, including the unprepared discussion phase
Review the error checklist before each session and confirm each item is resolved or consciously managed

A second full mock with comparative scores, two complete timed speaking rehearsals, and a signed-off error checklist

Week 2: Score at least 60% on the timed 30-item listening set and identify the intention correctly in at least 15 of 20 dialogues

Week 4: Score at least 65% on both the full listening and full reading papers, and finish each section within its time limit

Week 6: Produce two 180-word essays in 30 minutes each that meet the content and register criteria, with fewer than 8 errors per text

Week 8: Improve on week 7 mock scores in at least two of the four skills and complete both speaking rehearsals without breaking the time limit