How to Use Three Versions of One German A1 Test in Your Class

A German A1 test usually has one version. You give the test, you correct it, and then the test has no more use. For many teachers, one version is not sufficient.

Many A1 classes have three problems:

• Students who sit next to each other copy answers.
• Some students fail and need a retake. The retake must test the same grammar with different sentences.
• Before the test, the class needs a review lesson with tasks in the same format.

Three versions of one test solve these problems. Each version tests the same grammar and the same words with different sentences. This guide shows how to use the three versions.

What changes between the three versions

The three versions have the same five parts and the same points:

Part	Task	Points
Teil A	Vocabulary	10
Teil B	Gap fill with hints	20
Teil C	Multiple choice grammar	20
Teil D	Sentence writing	20
Teil E	Reading text with questions	30

Each test has 100 points and 40 minutes of work time. The topic and the grammar stay the same in the three versions. The sentences, the gap words, the order of the options and the reading text change. If a student remembers the answers of Version 1, these answers do not help in Version 2.

Plan the three versions for one topic

Use this order for one topic, for example greetings and introductions:

1. Use Version 3 in the review lesson. Do the tasks together with the class.
2. Give Version 1 as the test in the next lesson.
3. Give Version 2 to the students who need a retake.

The review lesson shows the format to the students. On the test day, the students know the five parts. They do not lose time with the instructions.

Give neighbours different versions

If two students sit next to each other, give them different versions. Use this procedure:

1. Print Version 1 and Version 2 in equal numbers.
2. Put the copies in alternating order: 1, 2, 1, 2.
3. Hand out the copies along each row.

Neighbours then have different sentences and a different order of options in Teil C. The correction time stays the same, because the parts and the points are the same.

Correct the test with the answer key

The answer key is on the last page of each PDF. Remove this page before you print the copies for the students.

The key gives the points for each part. In Teil D and Teil E, a full-sentence answer gets 4 points: 2 points for the content and 2 points for a correct sentence. A small spelling error costs no points. The exception is an item that asks for a number, a date or a letter name in words.

The first page of each test shows the test number at the top. If you use two versions in one class, use the key with the same number.

Which classes the tests are for

The tests are for level A1, the first year of German. They are for students from 10 to 14 years old. The instructions are in German, as in a German class test (Klassenarbeit). Each task has a short hint in English. The answer key and the scoring notes are in English.

The tests do not include listening or speaking tasks. Use your own materials for these two skills.

The full set of 15 tests

The full set has five topics with three versions of each test:

1. Greetings and introductions
2. Numbers to 100 and telling the time
3. Colours, school things and articles
4. Hobbies, food and animals
5. Rooms, furniture and prepositions (Wo?)

The price is $9, one payment, with no subscription. The 15 PDF files come to your email address immediately after the payment. Licence: one teacher, one classroom.

To see the first page of each topic, open the German A1 Unit Tests page.