German Beginners 2021 HSC exam pack

In 2021, due to COVID-19, the HSC examinations for some courses were cancelled or the requirements adjusted, and no HSC feedback is available.

Please refer to marking feedback previously published for this component.

Students should:

• read each question carefully
• make notes in the Candidate’s Notes column on the right-hand side of the page
• transcribe their response on to the lines, using the space provided for each question
• use the lines provided as a guide to the length of the response required
• ensure their responses are clear and address all parts of the question
• use their own words and respond in English
• avoid translating text as part of their response.

In better responses, students were able to:

• provide all the necessary textual evidence to support their response
• choose only one response to multiple choice questions
• demonstrate understanding of sophisticated and specific vocabulary, for example, fing an, Kuli, ging, leiten, Geschichte, setzt euch, last, abholen, Firma, vor, heutzutage, Wettkämpfe gegen, lächerlich, jeder/jeden/jede, Gefühl, dahinterstehen and unterstützen
• link the information in the texts to indicate global understanding
• provide an opinion or conclusion based on the information in the text
• summarise key information using only the dot points provided
• demonstrate understanding of complex grammar, for example, the imperfect fing an, ging, repariert, wusste, the imperative, conjugation with ihr, and complex clauses.
• avoid relying purely on translating the text, but rather using interpretation and analytical skills.

Areas for students to improve include:

• providing all the information required to answer the question fully
• providing an interpretation if the questions asks for one
• writing clear and concise responses
• ensuring their English response makes sense
• avoiding repetition of the same information within the response.

Students should:

• read the whole text(s)
• address all parts of each question
• use the lines, table and chart allocated for the response
• provide all necessary details to respond to the question fully
• support their responses with evidence from the text where required
• use their own words rather than giving a literal translation
• use their dictionary appropriately to find the correct meaning of the word(s) in context
• not write German in their responses.

In better responses, students were able to:

• understand and interpret vocabulary correctly to assist in providing detailed responses, including: Schlimmes, Griechenland, Schulleiter, schrieb, tue, manche, damit klar kommen, Mischung, völlig, leider, dringend, Bezahlung, Unkraut jäten, Geheimnis, tut so als ob
• interpret tenses correctly including the imperfect
• understand the sentence structures when clauses are used
• make connections within the text to provide opinion and justify them with details from the text
• answer questions correctly based on the key words, for example, justify, describe the personality, what evidence.

Areas for students to improve include:

• looking beyond the first meaning of a word in the dictionary
• writing clear sentences and checking that their English makes sense
• attempting all questions and sections of each question
• identifying key points or gist first, then looking up the vocabulary that is hindering their complete understanding
• avoiding looking up every word
• ensuring they have answered the how or what evidence component of the question.

Students should:

• write to the word length required
• address audience, purpose and context required by the question
• apply the conventions of the type of text indicated in the question
• use correct register throughout the response
• use a range of tenses, sentence structures and a variety of vocabulary
• avoid repeating the same expressions throughout the response
• use the dictionary carefully to access vocabulary and expressions that are meaningful in the context of their response
• avoid listing
• edit their work.

In better responses, students were able to:

• correctly use conjunctions and subordinate clauses to make longer sentences
• make their text engaging by using a good variety of vocabulary and including some authentic German words or phrases, for example, je……desto, trotz des Wetters, trotzdem, obligatorisch, durcheinander, verwirrend, stolz auf mich, eine neue Erfahrung machen
• manipulate the language to suit the requirements of the task, for example, describing their feeling towards their subjects
• use correct tenses, perfect, imperfect and future tenses and vary the tenses appropriately
• use modal verbs correctly
• use the verb werden correctly
• use the word Spaβ correctly
• use Umlauts appropriately
• write creatively and avoid common adjectives and scenarios
• varying their sentence structure to showcase their knowledge.

Areas for students to improve include:

• using the dictionary correctly, for example, Mangel was used incorrectly
• choosing the correct preposition with the verb, for example, begeistert von not vor when using authentic expressions
• avoiding repetition of words or phrases
• using the expression meiner Meinung nach correctly
• employing a greater variety of tenses, vocabulary and structures
• writing to the required word length
• using their dictionary more effectively
• planning and sequencing the information in their responses
• avoiding the use of English syntax and English words
• using third person and plural prepositions with the correct verb conjugation
• avoiding short phrases and aiming to use conjunctions or subordinate clauses.