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.

Specifications

Author	Proficient Academic Tutor
Published	09 Dec 2025
Included files	PDF
cel GCSE German Paper 4F and Mark Scheme Pearson Edexcel GCSE German 1GN0/4F Writing in German Foundation Tier 2025 exam Paper 4