This deep dive covers Foundation dictation: the key facts within Foundation dictation practice passages for GCSE German. Revise Foundation dictation practice passages in Dictation Technique for GCSE German with 3 exam-style questions and 10 flashcards. This topic shows up very often in GCSE exams, so students should be able to explain it clearly, not just recognise the term. It is section 2 of 4 in this topic. Use this deep dive to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
📋 Foundation dictation: the key facts
The AQA Foundation dictation (Paper 1, Listening, Section B) is a short passage — roughly 4–5 sentences and around 30–35 words — using common vocabulary from the AQA 8662 word list, mostly present and perfect tense. You hear it three times.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Total marks | 8 |
| Grid A (content) | 5 marks — correct meaning-bearing words |
| Grid B (accuracy) | 3 marks — correct spelling, umlauts, ß, capitals, verb endings |
| Plays | three times |
| Passage length | approximately 30–35 words |
| Tenses | mostly present tense and perfect tense |
| Vocabulary | common words from the AQA 8662 word list |
⭐ Grid A vs Grid B — how each works
- Grid A (5 marks) — content: did you write the right words? The markers look for key meaning-bearing words. You can earn a Grid A mark even if your spelling on Grid B is imperfect — the two grids are INDEPENDENT.
- Grid B (3 marks) — accuracy: are the specific spelling features correct? Grid B checks for umlauts (ä, ö, ü), ß vs ss, capital letters on nouns, and correct verb endings matching the subject.
📋 The three-play strategy for Foundation
- 1st play — listen to the whole passage for meaning. Do not write yet. Get the gist: who is being talked about, what topic, what tense?
- 2nd play — write as you hear, sentence by sentence. Hold a chunk of words in your head, then write it down. Leave a gap for any word you missed — move on.
- 3rd play — fill any remaining gaps first. Then run a quick Grid B check: every noun capitalised? umlauts on schön, möchte, für? ß vs ss correct? verb endings matching the subject?
⭐ Grid B: what Foundation markers specifically check
- Umlauts: schön (beautiful), möchte (would like), für (for), Ärztin (female doctor), Köln (Cologne), nützlich (useful)
- ß: heißt (is called), Fußball (football), Straße (street), weiß (white/knows), groß (big)
- Capital letters on nouns: Schwester (sister), Familie (family), Wochenende (weekend), Handy (mobile phone), Wetter (weather), Tag (day), Stadt (city), Café, Musik, Nachrichten (news/messages), Freunde (friends)
- Verb endings: present tense — ich spiele (-e), sie spielt (-t), wir spielen (-en); perfect tense — bin gefahren, haben gegessen, habe gehört
Passage 1: Meine Schwester heißt Anna. Sie ist sechzehn Jahre alt und sie wohnt mit der Familie in Köln. Sie spielt gern Fußball und am Wochenende geht sie ins Kino. Sie möchte später Ärztin werden.
My sister is called Anna. She is sixteen years old and she lives with the family in Cologne. She likes playing football and at the weekend she goes to the cinema. She would like to become a female doctor later.
- Grid A content words: Schwester, Anna, sechzehn, Familie, Köln, Fußball, Wochenende, Kino, Ärztin, werden
- Grid B checks: heißt (ß + 3rd-person -t ending), ö in Köln + möchte, ß in Fußball, capital nouns — Schwester, Familie, Wochenende, Ärztin (capital Ä + feminine ending -in)
Passage 2 Am Samstag bin ich mit Freunden in die Stadt gefahren. Wir haben in einem Café gegessen und später Musik gehört. Das Wetter war schön und sehr warm. Es war ein toller Tag.
On Saturday I travelled into town with friends. We ate in a café and listened to music later. The weather was beautiful and very warm. It was a great day.
- Grid A content words: Samstag, Freunden, Stadt, gefahren, Café, gegessen, Musik, gehört, Wetter, schön, Tag
- Grid B checks: bin gefahren (perfect with sein), haben gegessen / gehört (perfect with haben), ö in schön + gehört, capital nouns — Samstag, Stadt, Café, Musik, Wetter, Tag
Passage 3 Viele Jugendliche benutzen ihr Handy jeden Tag auf der Straße. Meine Mutter sagt, das ist schlecht für die Augen. Ich finde mein Handy aber sehr praktisch und nützlich. Ich schreibe oft Nachrichten an meine Freunde.
Many young people use their mobile phone every day on the street. My mother says that is bad for the eyes. But I find my mobile phone very practical and useful. I often write messages to my friends.
- Grid A content words: Jugendliche, Handy, Tag, Straße, Mutter, schlecht, Augen, praktisch, nützlich, Nachrichten, Freunde
- Grid B checks: ß in Straße, ü in nützlich, capital nouns — Jugendliche, Handy, Tag, Straße, Mutter, Augen, Nachrichten, Freunde; schreibe (1st-person -e ending)
Practice questions for Foundation dictation practice passages
Listen to the passage three times, then write exactly what you hear in German.
Listen to the passage three times, then write exactly what you hear in German.