German — Foreign Language 0525
Build vocabulary and grammar for everyday communication. Practise reading, listening, writing and speaking through familiar topics and original examples.
What you'll cover
- Everyday activities
- Personal and social life
- The world around us
- The world of work
- The international world
Published syllabus exam years: 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030. Confirm exam-series and centre availability with your school and Cambridge.
Cambridge IGCSE German - Foreign Language 0525 syllabus map
2025–2027 Version 2 and 2028–2030 syllabuses
5 of 5 sections have teaching and practice
Start the learning pathwayStudy options and assessment
All German texts, listening scripts, prompts, model responses, examples and exercises here are original StudyForA practice, not Cambridge assessment material. The map covers the five broad topic areas, the published grammar categories and the paper formats for both syllabus cycles; Cambridge describes its topic sub-lists as examples rather than an exhaustive vocabulary boundary. The separate 2028 vocabulary spreadsheet is linked but has not been reconciled word by word. German-language specialist review, comprehensive vocabulary auditing and full timed paper simulations remain outstanding. Browser speech synthesis is not Cambridge audio and cannot guarantee accent or pronunciation. Speaking checklists and writing review are practice aids, not an examiner mark or Cambridge moderation. This is not a complete 130-hour course. Confirm exam year, series, zone and entry with your school and Cambridge. The map contains 17 original lessons: five topic-area pathways, five grouped grammar pathways and every year-specific Reading, Speaking and Writing format, plus Listening. Each includes Guided, Independent and Transfer practice with explained answers. The catalogue's broad topics are mapped, but the vocabulary spreadsheet has not been reconciled word by word and specialist German review remains pending.
The 2025–2027 route uses a 45-mark Reading paper with selected response and short answers and a 45-mark Writing paper (5+12+28). From 2028, Reading is all multiple-choice/matching and Writing is 40 marks (5+10+25); candidates may make supervised Speaking notes and must hand them in before the test. Cambridge applies the Reading change in March 2028 for India and June 2028 onwards elsewhere. Confirm your exam series and centre entry.
Choose your paper route
- Exams in 2025–2027 · Version 2P1 Listening 40 · P2 Reading 45 · P3 Speaking 40 · P4 Writing 45
All four components are 25%. Reading includes matching, multiple choice and short answers in German. Writing uses 5+12+28 marks. Speaking preparation is supervised and candidates may not make notes. June is available in all zones; November in zones 3 and 4 only.
- Exams in 2028–2030P1 Listening 40 · P2 Reading 40 · P3 Speaking 40 · P4 Writing 40
All components remain 25%. Reading is entirely multiple choice/matching from March 2028 in India and June 2028 elsewhere. Speaking notes may be made under supervision and must be handed in before the test. Writing uses 5+10+25 marks. The 2028 vocabulary list contains minor changes and is linked but not reconciled word by word.
Cambridge describes a target around CEFR A2 with some B1 elements and gives about 130 guided learning hours as a guide. Learners' needs vary; this pathway is not a complete 130-hour course.
View syllabus coverage
The map links all five broad topic areas, grouped grammar coverage and original practice for the published paper formats. The 2025–2027 Version 2 update changes access arrangements and availability, not teaching content. The 2028 vocabulary spreadsheet is linked but not reconciled item by item; German specialist review, complete timed specimen simulations and official speaking/writing assessment remain outstanding.
A · time expressions, telling the time, days of the week, months and seasons; A · food and drink: meals, fruit and vegetables, meat, fish and seafood, snacks, drinks, cutlery and utensils; A · the human body, health and illness; A · travel and transport
- Everyday activitiesA
B · self, family and friends; B · home: rooms, furniture, furnishings, garden and household appliances; B · colours; B · clothes and accessories; B · leisure time, hobbies, sport and holidays
- Personal and social lifeB
C · people and places, continents, countries, nationalities and compass points; C · natural world, environment, climate and weather; C · communications, technology, digital world, documents and texts; C · built environment, buildings and services, urban areas and shopping; C · measurements including size and shape; C · materials
- The world around usC
D · education: learning institutions, education and training, classroom, learning tools, subjects and studying; D · work: jobs, careers and the workplace
- The world of workD
E · countries, nationalities and languages; E · culture, customs, faiths and celebrations
- The international worldE
Supplemental grammar and structures · official syllabus appendix
- German cases, articles and nounsGRAM-CASES · Supplemental StudyForA practice, not a syllabus section
- Adjective endings and comparisonGRAM-ADJECTIVES · Supplemental StudyForA practice, not a syllabus section
- Verbs, tenses and intentionGRAM-VERBS · Supplemental StudyForA practice, not a syllabus section
- German sentence structureGRAM-CLAUSES · Supplemental StudyForA practice, not a syllabus section
- Prepositions, quantities and timeGRAM-PREPOSITIONS · Supplemental StudyForA practice, not a syllabus section
Practice the papers
Practice the papers
- Listening · original practicePaper 1 · 1 lessons
About 50 minutes, 40 marks and 25% in both cycles; 37 selected-response/matching questions and six minutes to transfer answers. Recordings are heard twice. Browser speech synthesis and scripts here are not Cambridge audio.
- Reading · written-response routePaper 2 · 2025–2027 · 1 lessons
One hour, 45 marks: six groups of multiple choice/matching and short answers in German. Use this lesson for the relevant earlier syllabus and series.
- Reading · all selected responsePaper 2 · 2028–2030 · 1 lessons
One hour, 40 marks; six multiple-choice/matching groups. The transition is March 2028 in India and June 2028 onwards elsewhere.
- Speaking · no preparation notesPaper 3 · 2025–2027 · 1 lessons
About ten minutes speaking plus ten minutes of supervised preparation. One role play and two topic conversations; no notes in preparation. The centre assesses and Cambridge moderates.
- Speaking · preparation notes handed inPaper 3 · 2028–2030 · 1 lessons
About ten minutes speaking plus ten minutes of supervised preparation. One role play and two topic conversations; supervised notes are permitted and handed to the teacher/examiner before the test. The centre assesses and Cambridge moderates.
- Writing · 45-mark routePaper 4 · 2025–2027 · 1 lessons
One hour, 45 marks: Q1 form 5; Q2 about 80–90 words, 12; Q3 about 130–140 words, 28.
- Writing · revised 40-mark routePaper 4 · 2028–2030 · 1 lessons
One hour, 40 marks: Q1 5; Q2 10 (5 task completion, 5 range/accuracy); Q3 25 (9 task completion, 9 range, 7 accuracy). StudyForA practice does not award Cambridge marks.
Lessons and worked examples
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- 01
Everyday activities
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 02
Personal and social life
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Not started - 03
The world around us
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Not started - 04
The world of work
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Not started - 05
The international world
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Not started - 06
German cases, articles and nouns
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Not started - 07
Adjective endings and comparison
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Not started - 08
Verbs, tenses and intention
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Not started - 09
German sentence structure
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Not started - 10
Prepositions, quantities and time
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Not started - 11
Listening for details and attitude
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Not started - 12
Reading through 2027
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Not started - 13
Reading from 2028
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Not started - 14
Speaking through 2027
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Not started - 15
Speaking from 2028
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Not started - 16
Writing through 2027
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Not started - 17
Writing from 2028
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These checks record your study activity and self-assessment, not a mastery score. Check the course coverage map for available lessons and remaining topics.
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Topic tests: Easy, Normal and Difficult
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Browse 5 topics →No StudyForA practice set is published for this exact qualification yet. Use the official papers below or in the resource guide.