My strategy for every exam section

• Look at the friend's situation: What does this person need now?
• Find the keywords and the need or problem.
• Imagine you are really helping a friend. First think of the solution yourself, then read the answer options.
• Often, one small word decides the answer: an adjective or a preposition can point to the correct option.
Example from the model test (Frage 1 and 2)Person 1 and Person 2 sound almost the same, but one small word makes the difference:

• Elena (Frage 1): „weiß nicht, wie es nach ihrer Ausbildung weitergeht." The word „nach" shows that she is finished and is looking for the next step → article f „So gelingt der Berufseinstieg".
• Joaquin (Frage 2): „überlegt, welche Weiterbildung er als Nächstes machen kann." He wants further training → article c „Beruflich erfolgreicher mit Weiterbildungen".

Both talk about „Ausbildung". Only the small word „nach" with Elena reveals her real need. Pay attention to exactly that. This is not a detail-reading section. You do not need to understand every word. Understand the person's need. That is enough.

• The text is long and difficult. Read the questions first, then the text.
• Read all three options as possible assumptions. Then go back to the text: What confirms or contradicts the statement?
Example from the model test (Frage 6): the „alle" trapThe statement (Frage 6) says: „Zu allen Gemeinschaftsveranstaltungen dürfen Gäste mitgebracht werden." But the text says guests may only come to the Sommerfest („Anders als beim Betriebsausflug können … Gäste teilnehmen"), so not to all events. The word „alle" is the trap → the statement is false. Example from the model test (Frage 7): check all three optionsFrage 7 („Der Arbeitgeber veranstaltet ein Sommerfest…") has three options: (a) because company holidays are a good time to celebrate, (b) organized by selected employees, (c) because most people have many appointments in December. Read all three as possible truths, then find the reason in the text: „hohe Termindichte in der Vorweihnachtszeit" → answer c is confirmed. Trap warning: absolute words like alle, immer, nur, jeder, weder … noch. If an answer says „alle" or „immer", it is often false. Check it carefully in the text.

• A colleague asks something very specific. The question mark (?) shows exactly what the answer must provide. Look for the option that answers exactly that.
• Pay attention to the conditions: Does the person want something specific and verified, for example with a link to a rule? Then a vague answer is wrong.
• Cross out wrong answers (elimination): only an opinion instead of information — remove it. Different topic — remove it. This is the best method here.
• Learn the connectors (Konnektoren), especially weder … noch. Also grundsätzlich (= an exception may follow) and allerdings (= limitation or contrast).
Example from the model test (Frage 10, Martha)Martha asks how many vacation days an apprentice under 18 gets and says: „Antwortet … mit einem Link zum Gesetz." She wants it specific and verified. Only Louis (Tipp f) gives the exact rule („mindestens 25 Werktage") and gives the link (azubi-azubine.de). That matches her requirement exactly → answer f. Example from the model test (Frage 11, Tomas): „allerdings"Tomas asks whether apprentices may work on Saturdays. Hanna (Tipp b) wins: „Grundsätzlich ist der Samstag ein normaler Werktag … Geschützt sind allerdings minderjährige Auszubildende." The word „allerdings" shows the exception. If you know these small signal words, you can recognize the complete answer quickly → answer b.

• The easiest part. The questions come in the same order as the text. The answer is in one section.
• Read the question — find the matching section — read only that section carefully. Do not keep going back.
• There is a lot of passive voice. Recognize it through werden / sein. Also watch for sich lassen („lässt sich verkaufen" = can be sold) and sein + zu („ist zu tragen" = must be worn).
Example from the model test (Frage 15 and 16)Frage 15: The text says production „wird … in Italien begonnen". The correct answer c „wird in Italien gebaut" is real passive voice, same meaning in different words.

Frage 16: Option a says „lassen sich nur in Deutschland verkaufen". „sich lassen" means „can be sold", but the text does not say that → a is false. Correct is c „zeigen steigende Verkaufszahlen" (text: „20 Prozent über dem Vorjahr"). Read passive forms carefully.

• This is almost always a complaint from a customer.
• The answers for 19 and 20 are in the original customer email. You can read the questions or the email first. Both ways are fine.
• Underline the tasks from the manager. What must be included in your answer? Every point must appear.
Example from the model test (Frage 20): time trapIn the text Herr Stemmler writes: „In den letzten drei Wochen" there were problems. Answer b „seit einigen Wochen" is correct. Answer c „seit drei Monaten" is the number/time trap. Always check the exact time expression from the text. Example from the model test (Frage 21): tick off the manager's tasksThe team leader Marisa Leon writes exactly what must go into the reply: (1) answer the customer politely, (2) explain the reason for the problems, (3) „Ganz wichtig": write how you will solve the problems in the future. Underline these points and tick off each one. Only if all are included can you get full marks.

• Read the questions first and imagine the scene: Who is speaking? What is happening? What should I listen for?
• Close your eyes while the audio is playing. Reading and listening at the same time can disturb concentration.
Example: paraphrase instead of the same wordThe correct answer almost never uses exactly the same word as the audio. Example (Hören Teil 4, Julian): in the audio he says he is krank and cannot come → the correct answer a says „meldet sich … krank". Focus on the meaning, not on one single word. Do not search for one keyword in the audio. The correct answer usually says it with different words.

• Before listening: mark the small words, not the information words — meistens, sollte, manchmal, muss, immer, and nicht/kein before something (they reverse the meaning).
• Close your eyes while listening, then quickly find the matching answer.
• First ask: Which option does not fit? Cross it out. Then choose the best one quickly and confidently. Do not think too long.

• You know the format — skip the instruction. The example is already filled in and gives you the context.
• Follow the slide titles like a red thread. Read only one word from the title. When you hear that the speaker is at that slide, listen closely and find the option.
• Here keep your eyes open, because you need the title as an anchor. Everything is in order, with no going back and fewer traps.
• Lost the thread? Stay calm, catch the general idea, match it to a title, and continue. Losing the thread briefly is okay; overthinking is worse.

• Imagine this: You receive a voice message. The person says what you should do for them.
• Read the question first, then close your eyes and listen carefully: What does the person need? Then open your eyes and choose the best answer.
• Decide quickly and do not think back.

• Do not forget Frage 41! Many people miss it while writing, but it is a free point. Circle 41 first, or draw an arrow → on the task sheet and circle it when the note is finished.
• The name is said twice. Do not panic the first time. The person spells it later. First listen to the situation.
• Write quickly and use abbreviations, for example + for „und". Ask me for the abbreviation and spelling list.
Example from the model test (Frage 41–45)The caller first says only „Andreas Nowitzky mein Name, vom Altstadthotel". A little later he spells it: „N–O–W–I–T–Z–K–Y". Calmly wait for the spelling and first listen for the situation (reason for Frage 41: the Angebot with the new underground garage). And the number „0–30–990–93–11"? Deliberately leave it out. Deliberately skip the phone number. It is the hardest part, but it gives very few points and is all-or-nothing. One wrong digit = everything wrong. It only makes you nervous. Better fill in notes, to-dos, and names.

• Do not read the word list first. Individual words give you no real information.
• Read the whole text first. Imagine the situation and already guess in your head which words might fit.
• Fill in the safe gaps first. Then the other gaps become easier.
• Connectors are the key (time, cause, contrast). Ask me for the connector list.
Example from the model test (Frage 49)The sentence: „…wenn Sie mir kurz mitteilen könnten, [49] ich frühestens mit einer Antwort rechnen kann". Here the person is asking about a time → the correct word is WANN (i). The sentence itself shows you what type of word is missing (here: an indirect question about time).

• Skim the whole email first without focusing on the gaps. What is the situation? What does the person want?
• Then go to the first gap: first guess yourself what belongs there, then compare with the answer options.
• Unsure between two options? Read further and look for information that confirms one answer or excludes the other.
• This section tests verb + noun combinations: which words naturally go together? Learn fixed combinations like rechnen mit … or einen Bereich erweitern.
Example from the model test (Frage 53)The sentence contains the verb „erweitern" („möchten unseren … um Badmodernisierungen erweitern"). Only one noun fits with it: c „aktuellen Leistungsbereich" (not „letzten Auftrag" or „Arbeitsnachweis"). The verb in the sentence already shows you which noun fits the gap.

• The writing space is very small. Write compactly, not a long text.
• Prepare ONE template that works for every complaint. You only change the information. Do not prepare many templates; prepare one.
• The template should always include: thank you for the email · a sincere apology · real information from the task · tick off all tasks from the manager.

• Read the topics quickly. Choose the one you can say the most about. Decide and start immediately. Do not search for the perfect topic.
• Use a fixed structure: 1–2 points for · 1–2 points against · at the end a short summary with your own opinion, not only neutral. Close politely, for example: „Ich freue mich auf das nächste Treffen."
• Finding ideas: Think about the effect on yourself and on other people — mentally, physically, emotionally, socially. This gives you arguments quickly.

For note-taking, speed matters. The most important points, especially "additional information", give the most points, so write quickly using these symbols and abbreviations.

Universal symbols (understood almost everywhere)

Time and date

Workplace vocabulary

Some German letter names sound very different from English, and some sound like other letters. You should know the following securely.

The most dangerous letters

Typical confusions

Umlauts, ß and double letters