Higher Dictation â Winning the Extra 2 Marks
đ§ Higher Dictation â Winning the Extra 2 Marks
The AQA Higher dictation (Paper 1, Listening, Section B) is longer and grammatically richer than Foundation â around 40â45 words across 3 sentences, built from AQA 8662 Higher-tier vocabulary plus a small number of off-list words. You still hear it three times.
Earn the mark scheme marks
đĄ Exam Tips & Common Errors
- On the 1st play, mark every weil / obwohl / dass / wenn you hear â you already know the verb for that clause is coming at the end, so listen out for it specifically on plays 2 and 3.
- Don't write the verb where English word order would put it. Hold the whole subordinate clause in your head, then write it with the verb last.
- For wĂŒrde and hĂ€tte sentences, write the whole clause before moving on â the infinitive or past participle you need often arrives several words later.
- Break long abstract nouns into sound-chunks (Per-sön-lich-keit) rather than trying to write them in one go â this catches the umlaut and the ending.
â Common error: Ich wĂŒrde nie einen Freund wegen seines Aussehens beurteilen, weil das wĂ€re oberflĂ€chlich.
â Correct: ... weil das oberflĂ€chlich wĂ€re.
Why it costs marks: after weil, the conjugated verb (wĂ€re) must go to the very end of the clause, after oberflĂ€chlich. Writing it straight after das follows English word order, not German â this is a Grid B error even though every word is spelled correctly.
â Common error: Wenn ich genug Geld hĂ€tte, wĂŒrde ich besuchen jede Woche eine Vorstellung.
â Correct: ... wĂŒrde ich jede Woche eine Vorstellung besuchen.
Why it costs marks: wĂŒrde sends the infinitive (besuchen) to the end of its clause. Writing besuchen straight after wĂŒrde follows English "would visit" word order instead of the German verb bracket â a Grid B error even with the correct verb chosen.