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Cambridge (CIE) · IGCSE

German (9-1) 7159

Build vocabulary and grammar for everyday communication. Practise reading, listening, writing and speaking through familiar topics and original examples.

17 lessons and reviews0 practice setsSyllabus 2025–2030
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At a glance

What you'll cover

  • Everyday activities
  • Personal and social life
  • The world around us
  • The world of work
  • The international world
Explore the sections

Published syllabus exam years: 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030. Confirm exam-series and centre availability with your school and Cambridge.

Syllabus 2025–2030

Cambridge IGCSE (9–1) German 7159 syllabus map

2025–2027 Version 2 and 2028–2030 syllabuses · 9–1 grading

5 of 5 sections have teaching and practice

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Study 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. This is the separate 9–1 qualification 7159; Cambridge states that it is otherwise the same as 0525. Cambridge lists 7159 as a limited-availability 9–1 qualification: in June, zone 3 and centres in Oman and UAE; in November, zone 3 only. Confirm your centre and series before choosing this code.

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. Cambridge lists 7159 as a limited-availability 9–1 qualification: in June, zone 3 and centres in Oman and UAE; in November, zone 3 only. Confirm your centre and series before choosing this code.

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. Cambridge lists 7159 as a limited-availability 9–1 qualification: in June, zone 3 and centres in Oman and UAE; in November, zone 3 only. Confirm your centre and series before choosing this code.

  • 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 lists 7159 as a limited-availability 9–1 qualification: in June, zone 3 and centres in Oman and UAE; in November, zone 3 only. Confirm your centre and series before choosing this code.

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. Cambridge states that 7159 has the same subject content as 0525, with 9–1 grading. Cambridge lists 7159 as a limited-availability 9–1 qualification: in June, zone 3 and centres in Oman and UAE; in November, zone 3 only. Confirm your centre and series before choosing this code.

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

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

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

D · education: learning institutions, education and training, classroom, learning tools, subjects and studying; D · work: jobs, careers and the workplace

E · countries, nationalities and languages; E · culture, customs, faiths and celebrations

Supplemental grammar and structures · official syllabus appendix

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Practice the papers
Assessment skills

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. Cambridge lists 7159 as a limited-availability 9–1 qualification: in June, zone 3 and centres in Oman and UAE; in November, zone 3 only. Confirm your centre and series before choosing this code.

  • 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. Cambridge lists 7159 as a limited-availability 9–1 qualification: in June, zone 3 and centres in Oman and UAE; in November, zone 3 only. Confirm your centre and series before choosing this code.

  • 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. Cambridge lists 7159 as a limited-availability 9–1 qualification: in June, zone 3 and centres in Oman and UAE; in November, zone 3 only. Confirm your centre and series before choosing this code.

  • 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. Cambridge lists 7159 as a limited-availability 9–1 qualification: in June, zone 3 and centres in Oman and UAE; in November, zone 3 only. Confirm your centre and series before choosing this code.

  • 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. Cambridge lists 7159 as a limited-availability 9–1 qualification: in June, zone 3 and centres in Oman and UAE; in November, zone 3 only. Confirm your centre and series before choosing this code.

  • 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. Cambridge lists 7159 as a limited-availability 9–1 qualification: in June, zone 3 and centres in Oman and UAE; in November, zone 3 only. Confirm your centre and series before choosing this code.

  • 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. Cambridge lists 7159 as a limited-availability 9–1 qualification: in June, zone 3 and centres in Oman and UAE; in November, zone 3 only. Confirm your centre and series before choosing this code.

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Lessons and worked examples

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  1. 01

    Everyday activities

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  2. 02

    Personal and social life

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  3. 03

    The world around us

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  4. 04

    The world of work

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  5. 05

    The international world

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  6. 06

    German cases, articles and nouns

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  7. 07

    Adjective endings and comparison

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  8. 08

    Verbs, tenses and intention

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  9. 09

    German sentence structure

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  10. 10

    Prepositions, quantities and time

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  11. 11

    Listening for details and attitude

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  12. 12

    Reading through 2027

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  13. 13

    Reading from 2028

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  14. 14

    Speaking through 2027

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  15. 15

    Speaking from 2028

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  16. 16

    Writing through 2027

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  17. 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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