What gap-fill is: In a gap-fill (der Lückentext) you complete a sentence or a short summary with the right word or words. The missing words come from the text — or from a given list (eine Wortbank) of options. It's a Reading task, so the answer is always in front of you: your job is to find the word and write it correctly.
- der Lückentext / die Lücke füllen
- the gap-fill / to fill in the gap
- die Lücke / das Leerfeld
- the gap / blank space
- ergänzen / vervollständigen
- to complete / fill in
- das fehlende Wort
- the missing word
- die Wortbank / eine Liste von Wörtern
- a word bank / a list of words to choose from
- dem Text zufolge / laut Text
- according to the text
The word comes from the text: Almost always the word you need is already in the text (or in a given word bank). You don't invent it — you locate it and copy it across, with the correct spelling, umlauts and capital letters for nouns.
What a good gap-fill answer needs: A gap-fill answer is usually one word or a few words. To earn the mark it has to do three things at once: come from the text (or the word bank), fit grammatically, and be spelled correctly — umlauts and capital letters included.
| Anforderung | Was es bedeutet |
|---|---|
| Wie lang? | ein einziges Wort oder nur wenige Wörter |
| Woher kommt es? | aus dem Text (oder einer Wortbank), nicht aus der Fantasie |
| Muss es passen? | ja, es muss grammatisch in den Satz passen |
| Zählt die Rechtschreibung? | ja — das Wort muss korrekt geschrieben sein, mit Umlauten |
| Übereinstimmung | Kasus, Genus und Numerus müssen passen (der/die/das, Singular/Plural) |
Spelling counts here: Because gap-fill is marked objectively, a misspelt word — a missing umlaut (a for ä) or a noun written without its capital letter — can cost the mark. Copy the word exactly as the text writes it.
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A reliable gap-fill routine: Don't just drop in the first plausible word. Read the gapped sentence, predict what kind of word fits, find it in the text, write it correctly, and check it fits. Five quick steps.
Fill the gap — 5 steps
1
Read the gapped sentence
Read the whole sentence with the gap. What is it telling you, and what is missing?
2
Predict the word type
Decide what kind of word fits the gap: a noun? a verb? a number? an adjective?
3
Find it in the text
Scan the text (or the word bank) for a word of that type that makes the sentence true.
4
Write it correctly
Copy the word with the right spelling, umlauts and capital letters — objective marking is strict.
5
Check it fits
Re-read the completed sentence. Does it fit grammatically (case, gender, number, verb form)?
Read → Predict type → Find → Write → Check fit
Predict the word type first: Before you hunt, ask what kind of word the gap needs. If the gap follows „ein… “ it's probably a noun; right after the subject it's likely a verb. Predicting the type means you scan for the right word, not just any word.
A gap-fill in action: Here is a short text — the kind Paper 2 (Reading) gives you. The text stays in front of you, so you find the missing word, you don't recall it. Read it once for the gist (tap Übersetzung anzeigen if you get stuck), then we'll fill one gap together.
Ein Markt mit regionalen Produkten: Im Stadtteil Lindenfeld gibt es seit Kurzem jeden Samstagvormittag einen Markt mit regionalen Produkten. Die Bauern aus der Umgebung verkaufen Obst, Gemüse und frischen Käse direkt an die Kunden, ohne Zwischenhändler. Deshalb sind die Preise meistens niedriger als im Supermarkt.
Die Stadtverwaltung unterstützt die Initiative, weil sie den kleinen Erzeugern hilft und den Transport von Lebensmitteln verringert. Die Anwohner sind begeistert: Viele sagen, das Essen schmecke besser und außerdem hätten sie ihre Bauern persönlich kennengelernt. Der Markt öffnet um acht Uhr und schließt, sobald die Produkte ausverkauft sind.
- seit Kurzem
- recently / since not long ago
- der Bauer / der Erzeuger
- the farmer / the producer
- ohne Zwischenhändler
- with no middlemen
- die Stadtverwaltung
- the town administration / council
- begeistert
- delighted / thrilled
Filling one gap
Eine Lücke, Schritt für Schritt
- Read the gapped sentence — „Die Bauern verkaufen das Obst direkt an die Kunden, ohne _________.“
- Predict the word type. After „ohne“ we need a noun (and it must be capitalised) — what is missing between farmer and customer?
- Find it in the text. Scan for „direkt an die Kunden“: „verkaufen… direkt an die Kunden, ohne Zwischenhändler.“
- Write & check — ohne Zwischenhändler. Capital Z (it's a noun), umlaut ä, and the plural matches „die Kunden“.
Copy it exactly: Once you've found the word, copy it letter for letter from the text — capital letter and umlaut included. In objective gap-fill marking, „Zwischenhandler“ (no umlaut) or „zwischenhändler“ (no capital) can lose a mark that „Zwischenhändler“ would have earned.
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Where gap-fill marks are lost: Gap-fill marks are usually lost to small slips: the wrong form of a word, a word that is not from the text, a word that doesn't fit the grammar, or a simple misspelling (missing umlaut, missing capital). Compare the two columns.
Gute Praxis
- Take the word straight from the text (or the word bank).
- Put it in the right form — case, gender, number, verb tense.
- Spell it exactly, with the correct umlauts and the capital letter for nouns.
- Re-read the whole sentence to confirm it fits grammatically.
Typische Fehler
- Use the wrong form of the word (singular for plural, wrong tense).
- Write a word that is not in the text or the word bank.
- Choose a word that doesn't fit the grammar (wrong case after a preposition).
- Misspell the word — drop an umlaut or a capital — and lose the mark.
Form and spelling decide the mark: Even when you've found the right idea, the wrong form („Produkt“ for „Produkte“) or a missing umlaut/capital can cost the mark. Check the form fits and copy the spelling exactly.