2025 Pearson Edexcel GCSE German Paper 4F and Mark Scheme Combined (1GN0/4F: Writing in German Foundation Tier)
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2025 Pearson Edexcel GCSE German Paper 4F and Mark Scheme Combined (1GN0/4F: Writing in German Foundation Tier)
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✍️ Paper 4F: Writing in German — Overview & What It Tests

  • Paper code: 1GN0/4F. 

  • Title: Writing in German — Foundation Tier. 

  • Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes.

  • Total marks: 60 marks (raw).

  • Weight: This paper contributes 25% of the total GCSE German qualification. 

  • Purpose: To assess a student’s ability to write in German for a variety of purposes — describing pictures, writing formal/informal texts, translation from English → German — tests practical writing skills, vocabulary, grammar, register. 

  • Rules: No dictionary allowed. Answers must be in German. Write in full sentences. 


🧮 Structure: What’s in the Paper (Foundation Tier)

For 1GN0/4F (Writing Foundation Tier), students must answer all four questions. 

Question Task Type / Description Marks
Q1 Picture‑based task — write sentences / short description in German about a picture.  8 marks 
Q2 Formal-context open‑response writing — student chooses one of two tasks (formal letter, note, etc.) to answer. 14 marks 
Q3 Informal-context open‑response writing — choose one of two tasks (informal message/email, personal writing) in German.  18 marks 
Q4 Translation: English → German (short passage) — write the provided English text in German.  10 marks

Total: 8 + 14 + 18 + 10 = 50 marks (some sources report 60 raw marks overall — the specification notes 50 marks for writing, but the paper itself is 60; external factors such as scaling may apply) 

The paper uses a “mixed‑task” approach, covering picture description, formal writing, informal writing, and translation — reflecting real‑world language use and testing breadth of writing skills. 


✅ What Examiners Assess — Mark Scheme / Criteria

When marking Paper 4F, examiners are looking at:

  • Task fulfilment / content relevance: whether you have answered what the question asks — addressed bullet‑points/prompts, responded to formal vs informal context correctly, included required content. (Picture‑description covers items seen, writing tasks cover the required points.)

  • Language accuracy and range: correct grammar, spelling, punctuation; appropriate German vocabulary; variety of sentence structures. Mistakes may lose marks depending on severity/frequency.

  • Register and appropriateness: using suitable tone for formal or informal tasks (e.g. correct salutations, formality, register).

  • Translation accuracy: for Q4, how well the meaning of the original English passage is conveyed in German — correct grammar, syntax, vocabulary, clarity.

Because the writing paper is foundation tier, the emphasis is on basic but correct communication — clarity and correctness rather than advanced/complex language.


🎯 What It Means for Students — How to Prepare

  • Practice writing short and medium-length texts: picture descriptions, informal messages, formal letters/notes.

  • Build your German grammar and vocabulary: common verbs, tenses, common thematic vocabulary (daily life, hobbies, school, travel, etc.).

  • Practice translation. You should be comfortable converting simple English sentences into correct German — check grammar and word‑order carefully.

  • Familiarise yourself with conventions of formal vs informal writing in German (e.g. how to greet/close letters or messages, register differences).

  • Manage time: total 1h15 — don’t spend too long on one question, leave time to check work, especially translation.