Guide

How to get a Distinction in Junior Cycle German

By Killian Burke - 17 minute read

In this guide, Killian gives his advice on how to do well in Junior Cycle German.

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Introduction

German is a fascinating language and as one of the most widely spoken languages in the European Union, truly rewarding to learn. Like any foreign language, it can be difficult at the start (I remember feeling totally out of my comfort zone in 1st year) with seemingly endless rules to learn and words to remember. Don’t let that throw you off.

I like to think that learning a language is the same as climbing a mountain: it’s a journey that requires time, effort and perseverance and you can’t jump halfway up that mountain in a couple of weeks, you need to work away at it little by little. Before you know it though, you’ll notice yourself improving and reaching those high grades at the top. Plus, you have three full years to get there, so don’t worry. Despite the work you will have to put in to get these grades, learning German can still be a really enjoyable experience.

Exam breakdown

Junior Cycle German is graded out of 400 marks: 

  • The written exam is worth 360 marks (90%).

  • The Assessment Task is worth 40 marks (10%).

You will be marked using the following grade descriptors which will appear on both the certificate you receive on results day and your Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement (JCPA):

There are also two CBAs (Classroom-Based Assessments) on the course and they are marked using these different grade descriptors:

  • Exceptional

  • Above expectations

  • In line with expectations

  • Yet to meet expectations

The grades you receive on your CBAs will only appear on your JCPA and do not influence your overall grade on the course.

CBA 1: oral communication

The first CBA will likely take place in 2nd year. It is an oral presentation, replacing the old oral exam. Bear the following in mind when approaching this CBA:

  • Decide who to do this CBA with

    You must decide whether you want to do it individually, with another classmate or in a group. There are pros and cons to each of these options but my personal advice would be to work individually as it is easier to manage and you will have more time to prepare.

  • Format

    You have to choose the format your presentation will take. Options include doing a role-play, interview or a regular speech-like presentation. This is something I would get your teacher’s advice on.

  • Picking a topic

    I suggest picking a topic that you are really interested in as this will motivate you to learn more about it. This in turn will enable you to produce a high-quality, well-researched presentation.

  • Sources

    Make sure to use a variety of reliable sources when looking for information on your chosen topic. This will help you get a range of ideas to include in your presentation.

  • Visual aids

    The information you gather can be written on flashcards to aid you in your presentation but I would advise you to use a poster or an object that is linked to your topic. This will ensure that you are not looking down at flashcards but towards your audience.

Remember

Succeeding in your oral presentation is all down to making choices that best suit you.

What to expect

Before

You will have three weeks to prepare your presentation and only three minutes to showcase it. I recommend trying to speak as much German as you can during the three weeks of preparation as it will help you become aware of your weaknesses so that you can work on improving them (be sure to ask your teacher as many questions as you can in this precious time). You also need to practice your presentation as often as you can in the days leading up to the recording to ensure you are saying everything you have prepared to say within the 3-4 minute time frame.

During

Your audience is extremely important in a presentation so try to look at them when speaking as it makes your presentation more engaging. Speak with a loud and clear voice and stand tall when presenting.

At the end of the presentation, you will be asked a number of questions by your teacher. These questions are based on the topic you have researched and must be answered in German. It is therefore important to be familiar with all the information gathered before presenting. Listen to the questions carefully and make sure to ask your teacher again if you did not understand.

After

At the end of the CBA, you will be asked to reflect (on a worksheet provided by your teacher) on your experience doing CBA 1. Be honest in your answers and put down all your thoughts and feelings (more details, more marks).

Remember

CBA 1 is a great chance to put your German-speaking skills into practice. You have a wide range of vocabulary so don’t be afraid to use it. Have confidence in yourself and try not to worry too much about it.

CBA 2: student language portfolio

The second CBA in German will be completed in 3rd year. It is a student language portfolio that requires you to pick your three best pieces of work produced during 2nd and 3rd years. Bear in mind the following when preparing for your CBA 2:

  • What to include

    For your portfolio, one of the pieces you choose must be an oral piece (excluding CBA 1) and one must show knowledge of a German-speaking country. Make sure all of the pieces you choose are well-written and that you have added as much information, details and phrases as possible. For the oral portion in particular, you should try to include lots of idiomatic German expressions to sound more like a native speaker.

  • Practice makes perfect

    I would recommend you do several drafts before submitting your final piece. The more you draft and redraft, the better your piece will be. Over the course of the three weeks you're completing CBA 2, you should ask your teacher for feedback on your pieces. Listen carefully as this will help you improve.

  • Show off

    As with CBA 1, when doing your oral piece, make sure to speak as loud and clear as you can. I would also recommend that you speak for more than the three-minute minimum to really showcase your best Deutsch.

  • Self-reflection

    You will be asked to complete a reflection sheet similar to CBA 1 on each of the three pieces of work. Write down all the thoughts and feelings you had and be honest when answering the questions.

Assessment Task

The Assessment Task is a written reflection on the work you have done for CBA 2. It will take place sometime in third year and you will have 80 minutes to complete it. It is worth 10% of your final grade for Junior Cycle German (this could be the difference between a distinction and a higher merit so try your very best). Completing the Assessment Task is a process of three steps:

Step 1

Discuss

In this phase, you will have to read/watch/listen to and then discuss one piece of stimulus material. You will never be required to write a response to the stimulus directly as the idea behind them is to provoke self-reflection. Make sure you focus and engage in the discussions as this will help you in the next stage of the Assessment Task.

Step 2

Reflect

At this point, you will be told/shown the questions from Section A and the writing prompts from Section B (which will appear in the Assessment Task booklet) so that you can think about how you might respond to them. I would recommend thinking back to the other reflection sheets that you completed for your CBA 2 pieces to decide which aspects you will write about.

Step 3

Write

The final stage in the Assessment Task is the completion of a booklet where you will be asked questions on your language portfolio.

Section A: the questions are quite basic and will ask you to reflect on your chosen pieces, for example:

  • What did you learn while doing CBA 2?
  • Why did you choose certain material to be included in your portfolio?
  • What might you do differently next time?

Section B: asks you to respond to prompts that are geared toward your language learning experience in general so you can reference other texts and language learning experiences in your answers. My advice would be to write as much as you can (including information from CBA 2) and try to fill all the space given as quickly as you can as you have only 35-40 minutes to complete the questions.

I enjoyed doing both the CBAs and the Assessment Task for German as they allowed me to address my weaknesses and hone my strengths. I also learned lots of useful vocab, phrases and grammar points that I ended up using in the written exam. I would suggest putting as much effort as you can into all of them as it will benefit you going forward. Additionally, it would be nice to have two ‘exceptionals’ on your JCPA.

The final exam

The Junior Cycle German final exam is worth 90% of your overall grade. The exam is two hours long, with a 30-minute listening comprehension at the start.

The structure of the paper is very easy to follow as there are always three reading comprehensions and a long written exercise like a blog, letter, email, message or note. You will also be asked to answer questions based on signs and compound words. Let's have a closer look at the different sections:

The listening section

This section is worth 140 marks and is an important part of the exam as it is worth 35% of your final grade. The questions in the listening comprehension can ask you to:

  • Identify the correct picture.

  • Tick the correct box.

  • Write down numbers and details.

It is very important to read the question before answering as some questions may ask you to respond in German rather than in English (make sure you write down the German spellings of cities and countries when asked).

There is no need to write full sentences but make sure the important points are covered in your answers. The questions get harder as the test goes on so if you are unsure of a question, make an educated guess. Never leave anything blank.

Top tip

In order to prepare well for this part of the exam, try to listen to as much German as you can. You can practice using listening comprehensions from past exam years or the CDs that come with your textbook. In my experience, listening to podcasts or even to the news in German helped massively.

The reading section

In this section, you will be

  • Quizzed on vocabulary (including compound words).

  • Asked to identify information on signs and advertisements

  • Asked questions based on a couple of reading comprehensions

This section of the paper is also worth 140 marks and I recommend spending about 45-50 minutes in total on it. In order to maximise your marks in the first part of this section (where you are asked the meaning of basic German words) I would advise you to learn as much vocabulary as you can.

For the reading comprehensions, I suggest reading the text a few times and then reading the questions. Pay attention to the question words (who, what, where, when, why and how) as well as the words you know already. These will help you gain an understanding of the text. Write down as much detail as you can in your answers (at least three pieces of information per question) and again, never leave a space blank.

Top tip

The more vocabulary you know, the easier it will be to tackle the reading comprehsions (and the listening comprehensions too).

The written section

This section is worth 80 marks and contains:

  • German grammar and phrases exercises.

  • A question asking you to write an email/blog/letter/message, etc. 

You are asked to write a minimum of 200 words but I would advise you to write as much as you possibly can (without compromising on quality). It's all about the detail when it comes to your written piece and the more vocabulary and phrases you include, the more marks you will achieve. Personally, I would try to include a minimum of five details per question to maximise my marks and add in more details if I had more time.

The grammar and phrases exercises are quite similar to some of the questions asked in the reading section so a good knowledge of basic German vocabulary and grammar is necessary to do well here. You need to make sure you are answering the question you are being asked. Read through the questions with a critical eye to make sure you understand them fully before delving into the response.

The best advice I can give for this portion of the exam is to be a little creative. Put your language skills to use and you will be guaranteed to ace this question.

Blog

The blog is one format you are probably not very familiar with but it is very important that you know how to write one in German as it is very likely to appear on the exam. For the blog, you must answer 20 questions linked to what you have studied throughout your Junior Cycle. These questions will either have a specific answer or leave it up to you to develop an answer.

Top tip

The written piece (email/blog/letter/message, etc.) is worth a huge percentage of the total marks so I would advise you to do this question immediately after the listening comprehension.

Tips for the written exam

  • Be prepared

    Organise yourself the night before and make sure you have a few black or blue pens in your pencil case.

  • Time management

    Timing is crucial in the German exam. The listening comprehension takes 30 minutes so you will have only 90 minutes to complete the rest of the exam. I recommend taking 5 minutes to read over the paper before you start (I found it helped me save time in the long run). This will leave you with approximately 45-50 minutes to spend on the reading section and 30-35 minutes on the written section.

  • Read before answering

    It is crucial to answer the question you are being asked. This requires an understanding of the question so make sure to read the question very carefully before you write anything. If you do not understand a question, move on to the next one and come back to it if you have time at the end.

  • Don’t leave anything blank

    If you do end up coming back to a hard question at the end of the exam and still don’t feel like you can answer it, put something down regardless. I always say to answer every question in the exam because you might be lucky and pick up a mark or two.

  • Know your question words

    Many of the questions in the exam are written in German so in order to answer the questions correctly, you need to know exactly what you are being asked. Knowing questions words (who, what, where? etc.) is essential.

  • Know your verbs and sentence structure

    The verb should always come second in a sentence and if there is a modal verb in the sentence, the other verb goes to the end. Follow the TMP or 'time, manner, place' rule to write great sentences.

  • Quality over quantity

    Scoring highly in the German exam comes down to showing off your knowledge by using as much rich vocabulary and expressions as you can. However, it is important to note that the examiners are looking for high-quality German blogs rather than pages and pages of lacklustre work so instead of playing it safe and using loads of short, basic sentences to fill up all the space provided for the written piece, try to impress the person correcting your exam by throwing something a bit more complex into the mix. You will be rewarded.

Final tips

Final Tips

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Learn vocabulary regularly

Set yourself a daily goal and learn as many words as you can every day. Even if it is only a small amount, it will pay off massively in June.

If you come across a word you don’t know, use your dictionary to find the meaning. Write the new words down in a vocabulary copybook and learn them. Learning vocabulary in phrases can help you become aware of where vocabulary fits into a sentence. Phrases can also be used in your writing in the exam.

Make sure to write down new vocabulary in a different copybook than your class copybook. This will help organise your classwork from revision at home. Speaking of classwork, look over the vocabulary you learned in class as regularly as you can.

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Listen to German

In today’s world, there are lots of online podcasts for language learners. I recommend listening to these podcasts in your free time as it will improve your understanding of pronunciation and how native Germans speak. Even though you may not understand everything you hear, you may be able to use the vocabulary you already have and contextual information to understand (this will greatly benefit you for the listening comprehensions).

If you are not a fan of podcasts, music is another great way to improve your listening skills. You can find subtitled videos on Youtube if needed so find a song that you like and get dancing!

2

Read German books

Reading German books will help you build on your vocabulary and spelling accuracy. Being able to read German is a key skill needed to do well in the exam. I would advise you to read books on something you are interested in as this will make the process feel less daunting.

3

Watch/listen to German news

German news may not be on Irish television but you can watch a German version of Euronews online. It is a great way to listen to and read German (and learn about current events in Germany). Make sure you pay attention to the subtitles if you need them.

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Watch German films

Films are a great way to learn German and it doesn’t have to be a German movie, it can just be your favourite film with German subtitles.

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Set your phone to German

This might seem like a challenge but you will be surprised how much you are able to understand. Teenagers tend to use their phones on a regular basis so you will be constantly immersed in German.

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Download German language learning apps

There are some great apps out there for language learners such as Babbel, Duolingo and FluentU. Apps like these allow you to do daily challenges to improve your language skills so you can develop your grammar skills, listening skills and learn vocabulary through short and fun lessons.

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Practice speaking German

School and home are great places to practice your speaking skills. Pose questions in German to your teacher or chat with your classmates in German for one lunchtime every week. Speak German at home and if your parents can’t speak German, why not teach them?

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Practice German culture

Celebrate German festivals, eat German food and familiarise yourself with German customs.

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Try to book a German holiday

This won’t be an option for everyone but next time you are looking for a breakaway, look to Germany. It is a great way to put your German to practice. You can try to speak to everyone from the taxi driver to the locals.

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Past papers

Exam papers are very important. The more you practice them, the more you will become familiar with questions and time management. Try practicing them under exam conditions by following the time suggestions and the order in which you will answer the questions.

Try other study methods

Why not learn and study in a fun way? Write down the names of some household items in German on sticky notes. Go around your house and stick sticky notes on the relevant food, furniture and other objects. This is a fun and easy way to recall learned vocabulary and it may also help your family to learn too.

Mind maps can also be used effectively for German learners. You write the topic you want to revise in the middle and then write words around the topic. This is a great way to revise and you can also highlight some words to make them stand out.

Some final tips

for Junior Cycle German.

Learn vocabulary regularly

Set yourself a daily goal and learn as many words as you can every day. Even if it is only a small amount, it will pay off massively in June.

If you come across a word you don’t know, use your dictionary to find the meaning. Write the new words down in a vocabulary copybook and learn them. Learning vocabulary in phrases can help you become aware of where vocabulary fits into a sentence. Phrases can also be used in your writing in the exam.

Make sure to write down new vocabulary in a different copybook than your class copybook. This will help organise your classwork from revision at home. Speaking of classwork, look over the vocabulary you learned in class as regularly as you can.

Listen to German

In today’s world, there are lots of online podcasts for language learners. I recommend listening to these podcasts in your free time as it will improve your understanding of pronunciation and how native Germans speak. Even though you may not understand everything you hear, you may be able to use the vocabulary you already have and contextual information to understand (this will greatly benefit you for the listening comprehensions).

If you are not a fan of podcasts, music is another great way to improve your listening skills. You can find subtitled videos on Youtube if needed so find a song that you like and get dancing!

Read German books

Reading German books will help you build on your vocabulary and spelling accuracy. Being able to read German is a key skill needed to do well in the exam. I would advise you to read books on something you are interested in as this will make the process feel less daunting.

Watch/listen to German news

German news may not be on Irish television but you can watch a German version of Euronews online. It is a great way to listen to and read German (and learn about current events in Germany). Make sure you pay attention to the subtitles if you need them.

Watch German films

Films are a great way to learn German and it doesn’t have to be a German movie, it can just be your favourite film with German subtitles.

Set your phone to German

This might seem like a challenge but you will be surprised how much you are able to understand. Teenagers tend to use their phones on a regular basis so you will be constantly immersed in German.

Download German language learning apps

There are some great apps out there for language learners such as Babbel, Duolingo and FluentU. Apps like these allow you to do daily challenges to improve your language skills so you can develop your grammar skills, listening skills and learn vocabulary through short and fun lessons.

Practice speaking German

School and home are great places to practice your speaking skills. Pose questions in German to your teacher or chat with your classmates in German for one lunchtime every week. Speak German at home and if your parents can’t speak German, why not teach them?

Practice German culture

Celebrate German festivals, eat German food and familiarise yourself with German customs.

Try to book a German holiday

This won’t be an option for everyone but next time you are looking for a breakaway, look to Germany. It is a great way to put your German to practice. You can try to speak to everyone from the taxi driver to the locals.

Past papers

Exam papers are very important. The more you practice them, the more you will become familiar with questions and time management. Try practicing them under exam conditions by following the time suggestions and the order in which you will answer the questions.

Try other study methods

Why not learn and study in a fun way? Write down the names of some household items in German on sticky notes. Go around your house and stick sticky notes on the relevant food, furniture and other objects. This is a fun and easy way to recall learned vocabulary and it may also help your family to learn too.

Mind maps can also be used effectively for German learners. You write the topic you want to revise in the middle and then write words around the topic. This is a great way to revise and you can also highlight some words to make them stand out.

Hope these help - happy studying!

Viel Glück! Wir glauben an dich.

By Killian Burke

Killian got a Distinction in Junior Cycle German. 

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