GACE: German

The German assessment, offered as part of the Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators, is divided into two tests.

The first test consists of 50 selected-response questions (70% of the test score) and 2 constructed-response assignments (30% of the test score). The content areas covered by the first test are listening comprehension, language structures, language comparisons, and oral expression. The topics covered by the listening comprehension subarea are: deriving, interpreting, and analyzing a variety of culturally authentic oral messages, including public address announcements, conversations among friends, lectures, and radio announcements. The topics covered by the language structures and comparisons subarea are: the linguistic structures of German; variations within German; and the connections between German and English. The topic covered by the oral expression subarea is the ability to respond to a prompt with an effective oral message in German, using appropriate vocabulary and linguistic structures.

The second test consists of 50 selected-response questions (70% of the test score) and 2 constructed-response questions (30% of the test score). The content areas covered by the second test are reading comprehension, cultural perspectives and connections, and written expression. The topics covered by the reading comprehension subarea are: techniques for understanding, interpreting, and analyzing authentic materials written in German, including brochures, websites, newspaper articles, letters, and literary works. The topics covered by the cultural perspectives and connections subarea are: the relationship between the products and perspectives of German-speaking cultures; and the relationship between the historical development, geographic features, and practices of German-speaking cultures and the perspectives of these cultures. The topic covered by the written expression subarea is the ability to respond to a prompt with an effective written message in German using appropriate vocabulary, syntax, and mechanical conventions.

The examination must be completed within four hours. The total test score is placed on a scale of 100 to 300, with 220 as the lowest passing score. Scores are based on the number of selected-response questions answered correctly and the scores assigned by judges to the constructed responses. Test-takers will also receive performance indices indicating their success in each subarea of the examination. Scores will be available approximately a month after the date of the examination; unofficial results are posted on the internet, and an official score report is mailed to the test-taker, the Professional Standards Commission, and the institution specified by the test-taker during registration.

Practice Questions

1. Which of the following is NOT true of relative pronouns in German?

A: They are put in the dative case when used as a direct object.
B: They have the same number and gender as their antecedent.
C: Their case is determined by their role in the relative clause.
D: They are always included.

2. What is the nominative neuter form of the definite article?

A: dem
B: den
C: das
D: die

3. Translate the following: Wer sind in der Stadt.

A: You are in the street.
B: We are in the street.
C: We are in the city.
D: You are in the city.

4. Which is the most frequently-used mood for German verbs?

A: subjunctive
B: indicative
C: imperative
D: reflexive

5. With which of the following is the definite article NOT used in German?

A: proper names after an adjective
B: names of geographical locations
C: days of the week
D: unspecified nouns

Answer Key

1. A. When used as a direct object, a relative pronoun would be put into the accusative case.
2. C. Das is also the accusative neuter form of the definite article.
3. C. The preposition in can also mean "at" in certain situations.
4. B. The indicative mood is used for asserting facts and describing real situations.
5. D. The indefinite article would be used in this case.