GCSE German
GCSE German makes few direct digital demands. The oracy NEA is audio recorded by the teacher, and the exams use texts in digital formats such as podcasts, e-mails and web pages, but dictionaries and reference materials are banned in every unit. The biggest thing KS3 can build is confident, regular recording and self-review of spoken German.
- Awarding body
- WJEC
- Level
- Level 1 and Level 2
- First taught
- September 2025
- Amount of digital work
- Low
- Specification
- Open the specification
How this qualification is assessed
- Unit 1: Oracy: Non-examination assessment, speaking test 7 to 10 minutes plus 10 minutes preparation, 30%
- Unit 2: Reading and Writing: Non-examination assessment 1 hour, 15%
- Unit 3: Listening: Examination 45 minutes, 20%
- Unit 4: Reading and Writing: Examination 1 hour 30 minutes, 35%
Skills that use Collaboration
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Communicating and collaborating online with speakers of the language
Among the learning experiences the qualification should generate are direct or indirect contact with speakers of the language and making use of digital technology. These are not directly assessed, but safe online exchanges and shared projects give real audiences for German.
DCF: Collaboration, Online behaviour and online bullying, Storing and sharing
Getting pupils ready
- Year 7
- Pupils each add one slide introducing themselves in German to a shared class PowerPoint in Teams, with editing permissions set by the teacher.
- Year 8
- Pupils exchange teacher-moderated e-mails with a partner school in Germany, Austria or Switzerland, following class rules for safe online contact.
- Year 9
- Pupils work in groups on a shared PowerPoint or Sway about Welsh culture for a partner school in Germany, Austria or Switzerland, then improve it using the partner pupils' comments.
Show the specification wording and the DCF statements
Where it is in the specification: Section 2, Opportunities for integration of learning experiences, page 20
“make use of digital technology”
Progression step 3
I can work with others to create an online collaborative project for a specific purpose, sharing and appropriately setting permissions for other group members, e.g. editing, commenting, viewing.
I can demonstrate appropriate online behaviour and apply a range of strategies to protect myself and others from possible online dangers, bullying and inappropriate behaviour, e.g. turn off comments on digital media, reporting, block users.
Progression step 4
I can independently select and use a range of online collaboration tools to create a project with others in one or more languages, e.g. making use of online technology to share and present ideas to others.
I can act appropriately online, keeping myself safe and behaving in a responsible manner.
Progression step 5
I can reflect on choices of collaboration solutions, use them appropriately and comment on how this could be improved to meet aims of tasks.
I can use online services to share appropriate content with a global audience, e.g. uploading content to public websites to share with specific audiences.
Good to know
- Dictionaries are banned in every unit: "Learners are not permitted to use a dictionary in any part of the assessment." (Summary of assessment, page 5).
- Unit 1 oracy NEA allows only the learner's own notes: "or any other reference materials excluding the learner’s own notes." (Section 3.2, Unit 1, page 21).
- Unit 2 reading and writing NEA allows no reference materials, digital or otherwise. The spec does not say whether the response is handwritten or typed: "Learners are not permitted to use dictionaries in any part of the assessment, or any other reference materials." (Section 3.2, Unit 2, page 22).
- The oracy recording is made by the teacher, so learners do not handle recording technology in the assessment: "audio recorded and marked by external examiners" (Section 3.2, Unit 1, page 22).
- Use of digital technology is a learning experience only and is optional in delivery: "experiences will not be directly assessed" (Section 2, Opportunities for integration of learning experiences, page 20).
- The spec does not mention AI or translation tools, but the general malpractice rule applies: "Candidates must not take part in any unfair practice in the preparation of work for GCSE German." (Section 4 Malpractice, page 23).
Links with other qualifications
WJEC's Appendix C (page 93) ticks Digital Competence Citizenship and Producing for Unit 2, Producing for Unit 4, Interacting and Collaborating for all four units, and nothing for Data and Computational Thinking. Unlike French and Spanish, German also ticks Interacting and Collaborating for Unit 2. Translation into Cymraeg or English overlaps with Welsh and English departments.
Source: WJEC GCSE German specification, Teaching from 2025, For award from 2027, Version 2, February 2025.