German: Second Language: ATAR - a summary of syllabus changes
This table summarises the main changes that have occurred in the process of adapting Stage 2 and Stage 3 of
this course into Year 11 and Year 12 syllabuses for implementation in 2015 (Year 11) and 2016 (Year 12).
Content changes
Overall
Content changes
Year 11 specific
Content changes
Year 12 specific
Changes to the
assessment table
Year 11
2014/9985
 Renaming of the course to German: Second Language ATAR Course
 Revision of the Rationale to provide greater clarity and alignment to the Australian
Curriculum: Languages German
 Addition of information on the new process for applying for enrolment in a language
course.
 Inclusion of the Representation of the General capabilities and the Cross-curriculum
priorities from the Australian Curriculum
 Refinement/changes to names of topics and inclusion of description
 Movement of Textual conventions from Linguistic resources to Text types
 Movement of some grammatical items to different units
 Synthesis of grade descriptions to eliminate repetition and increase clarity
 Inclusion of description of textual conventions for texts types in appendix
 Inclusion of grammar and assumed grammar with elaborations in appendix.
 Two content areas have been renamed; Learning contexts and topics was previously
Learning contexts, and Text types and textual conventions was previously Text types
 Content area descriptions have been revised to provide clarity of interpretation and
depth of treatment
 Unit names have been retained and minor amendments have been made to the unit
descriptions
 Prescribed topics names have been refined or changed to align with the contexts, and a
description is provided with each topic to provide clarity of interpretation
 The number of text types has been reduced and a list of texts types and textual
conventions is included as an appendix
 Grammatical items have been redistributed, a list of elaborations of grammatical items
has been included for each unit and a list of assumed learning is included as an appendix.
 Two content areas have been renamed; Learning contexts and topics was previously
Learning contexts, and Text types and textual conventions was previously Text types
 Content area descriptions have been revised to provide clarity of interpretation and
depth of treatment
 Unit names have been retained and minor amendments have been made to the unit
descriptions
 Prescribed topics names have been refined or changed to align with the contexts, and a
description is provided with each topic to provide clarity of interpretation
 The number of text types has been reduced and a list of texts types and textual
conventions is included as an appendix
 Grammatical items have been redistributed, a list of elaborations of grammatical items
has been included for each unit and a list of assumed learning is included as an appendix.
 Based on previous WACE course assessment table with the following amendments:
o the assessment type Response (Listening and responding) has been renamed
Response: Listening and Response (Viewing, reading and responding) has been
renamed Response: Viewing and reading
o the wording of the assessment types has been modified slightly
o written and practical (oral) examinations have been included as assessment types
o weightings for each assessment type are fixed.
German: Second Language | ATAR | a summary of syllabus changes
Changes to the
assessment table
Year 12
Changes to
assessment type
weightings
Year 11
Changes to
assessment type
weightings
Year 12
 Based on previous WACE course assessment table with the following amendments:
o the assessment type Response (Listening and responding) has been renamed
Response: Listening and Response (Viewing, reading and responding) has been
renamed Response: Viewing and reading
o the wording of the assessment types has been modified slightly
o written and practical (oral) examinations have been included as assessment types
o weightings for each assessment type are fixed.
 Weightings of each assessment type are fixed
o Oral communication – 20%, previously 25 - 35%
o Response: Listening – 15% and Response: Viewing and reading – 15%, previously
Response 25 - 45%
o Written communication 20%, previously 30 – 40%.
 Weightings of each assessment type are fixed
o Oral communication – 15%, previously 25%
o Response: Listening – 10%, previously 25%
o Response: Viewing and reading – 10%, previously 25%
o Written communication 15%, previously 25%
o Written examination – 35%, previously not included as an assessment type
o Practical (oral) examination – 15%, previously not included as an assessment type.
Examination design brief changes
Section/s renamed
 Practical (oral) examination:
o Part A – Preparation of stimulus, previously Viewing and preparation of stimulus
o Part B – Discussion of stimulus, previously Discussion prompted by stimulus item
 Written examination:
o Section One – Response: Listening, previously Response (Listening and responding)
o Section Two – Response: Viewing and reading, previously Response (Viewing, reading
and responding).
Section/s format or
weighting
 Practical (oral) examination:
o Part B – 35% of the practical examination, previously 8% of the total examination
o Part C – 65% of the practical examination, previously 17% of the total examination.
 Written examination:
o Section One
 Response: Listening – 30%, previously Response (Listening and responding) 25%.
 Number of texts is 2-3 short spoken texts, previously 3-4 texts.
o Section Two
 Response: Viewing and reading – 30%, previously Response (Viewing, reading and
responding) 25%.
 Number of texts is 4 print texts in German, previously 3-6 texts.
o Section Three
 Written communication – 40%, previously 25%.
Sections removed
Nil.
Sections added
Nil.
Other changes
 Supporting information has been refined to ensure clarity in content and process, e.g.
number of times texts are played, types of texts and question formats to be used.
2014/9985
German: Second Language | ATAR | a summary of syllabus changes