Exam Writing: Filling Out a Form
Exam Writing: Filling Out a Form
A1 exams (like the Goethe-Institut Start Deutsch 1) commonly include a task where you fill in a form with personal details — this lesson covers the fixed vocabulary those forms use.
Grammar Comparison
Grammar Comparison
Forms use noun labels, not full sentences
Name: / Vorname: / Geburtsdatum: / Wohnort:
Last name: / First name: / Date of birth: / City of residence:
Unlike a conversation, form-filling doesn't require conjugated verbs or full sentences at all — you're matching a labeled noun to a short answer, much like English forms. The main task in an exam setting is recognizing these label nouns quickly and knowing what kind of answer format each expects (a date, in German day-month-year order; a place name; a yes/no checkbox, etc.).
Geburtsdatum uses German date order
Geburtsdatum: 03.05.1998
Date of birth: 05/03/1998 (American) or 3 May 1998 (British)
Remember from the dates lesson: German writes day.month.year. On an exam form, 03.05.1998 means the 3rd of May, 1998 — not March 5th. This is one of the most common careless mistakes English-speaking exam candidates make when filling in their own details under time pressure.
Vocabulary
Vocabulary
| German | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| der Vorname | dair FOR-nah-meh | first name |
| der Nachname | dair NAHKH-nah-meh | last name/surname |
| das Geburtsdatum | dahs geh-BOORTS-dah-toom | date of birth |
| der Geburtsort | dair geh-BOORTS-ort | place of birth |
| die Adresse | dee ah-DRES-seh | the address |
| der Wohnort | dair VOHN-ort | city/place of residence |
| die Telefonnummer | dee tay-lay-FOHN-noom-mer | phone number |
| die Unterschrift | dee OON-ter-shrift | signature |
| die Staatsangehörigkeit | dee SHTAHTS-ahn-geh-her-rikh-kyt | nationality/citizenship |
| männlich / weiblich | MENN-likh / VYP-likh | male / female |
| das Formular | dahs for-moo-LAHR | the form (document) |