Hörverständnis
| Marks Going | 80 marks |
| Percentage of Final Grade | 20% |
| Timing | 40 minutes |
There are four parts in the Listening Exam which is completed after the Written Paper has been completed and handed up.
Always give as many details as you can. This will ensure maximum marks are obtained. Each part is played three times, the second time with pauses in Parts 1 and 4. Always answer the question in the language and tense the question was asked (i.e. German questions should be answered in German, English questions in English). Stay listening as it can be easy to miss something. Write down as much as you can on the first listen and leave any blanks where you must. Fill these blanks in during the second and third listening.
The best advice to maximise your marks in the Aural is to regularly practice past papers, listen to German radio, watch German TV and constantly build on your German vocabulary.
Teil 1
This part must be answered in English. It takes the form of an interview and often is themed around careers, projects, organisations and social problems.
Teil 2
This part involves a telephone call and is divided into two parts. The first question must be answered in German and requires students to note the caller’s name, short bullet points relating to the topic of the call, what further action will occur (tick the box exercise) and the caller’s number. The second question requires students to note down expressions and phrases that convey some emotion or feeling. Spelling mistakes here won’t matter (they will if give an incorrect spelling of the name in the first question) and you cannot reference the tone of voice. You can translate these expressions into English, but the German would be more preferable and arguably easier to note. It is important that you are familiar with the numbers, alphabet, vocabulary on time (e.g. innerhalb der nächsten Stunde, heute Abend etc.) and vocabulary associated with feelings.
Teil 3
This part takes the form of a dialogue between two people and must be answered in English. In the first and second questions, you will be asked who the conservation is between and what word best describes one of the people’s emotions (multiple choice) and you must indicate reasons why you think this by paraphrasing what is said into English. Note the form of address that is used (du or Sie) as well as what the two people call one another. Again, you cannot reference the tone of voice for the reaction part and vocabulary associated with feelings will be important here. The final two questions in this part will cover other areas of the conversation.
Teil 4
This part must also be answered in English and consists of news headlines. The first three questions can be quite random, possibly current, and really test students’ knowledge of German. The fourth and final question will deal with the weather and as such you should revise vocabulary associated with this in detail.
Free Resources
Exam Papers and Marking Schemes
Hörverständnis Exam Papers HL
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |
| 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 |
| 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 |
Hörverständnis Marking Schemes HL
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |
| 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 |
| 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 |
Hörverständnis Transcripts
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |
| 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 |
| 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 |
Audio files for each year are available at examinations.ie.