What matching is: In a matching task (Zuordnen) you link two sets together: each person to what they say, or each heading to its paragraph, or the two halves of a sentence. Each option is used once, and there is often one extra distractor that matches nothing — to catch you out.
- zuordnen
- to match / pair up
- das Paar
- the pair (a matched couple)
- die Überschrift
- the headline / heading
- der Absatz
- the paragraph
- die Meinung
- the opinion / view
- das überzählige Wort / die übrige Option
- the extra (spare) option that matches nothing
There's usually one extra: Matching tasks normally give you one more option than you need. One item will be left over — „es bleiben Wörter übrig“ — so if everything seems to fit easily, double-check: one of your matches is probably wrong.
Common matching formats: Matching comes in a few standard shapes. Whatever the format, the rule is the same: each option is used once, and there's usually one extra to catch you. Match on meaning, not on a single shared word.
| Format | Was du zuordnest |
|---|---|
| Personen ↔ Meinungen | jede Person mit dem, was sie sagt oder denkt |
| Überschriften ↔ Absätze | jede Überschrift mit dem Absatz, den sie zusammenfasst |
| Satzhälften | den Anfang eines Satzes mit seinem richtigen Ende |
| Fragen ↔ Antworten | jede Frage mit der Antwort, die dazu passt |
| Wie viele Optionen? | eine mehr, als du brauchst — eine bleibt übrig |
Each option, once only: Every option is used exactly once. If you've used one twice, one of those matches is wrong — and remember the spare option is meant to be left over.
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A reliable matching routine: Don't match top-to-bottom in order. Read both lists, lock in the matches you're sure of, then use elimination for the rest. Finish by checking nothing is used twice and the spare is left over.
Win at matching — 5 steps
1
Read both lists
Read both sets fully before you match anything, so you know all the options.
2
Sure ones first
Do the matches you are certain of first — they remove options from play.
3
Eliminate
For the rest, cross off options already used; the choice gets smaller each time.
4
Match the rest
Match every remaining item — leave no question blank, even if unsure.
5
Check
Confirm no option is used twice and the spare distractor is the one left over.
Read both → Sure ones first → Eliminate → Match rest → Check
Anchor on the sure matches: Start with the matches you're confident about. Each one you lock in removes an option, making the doubtful ones easier — that's why you don't go in order.
A matching task in action: Here are three short statements — the kind Paper 2 (Reading) matches a person to. The text stays in front of you, so you find who says what. Read all three (tap Übersetzung anzeigen if you get stuck), then we'll match one question together.
Drei Jugendliche und ihre Freizeit: Drei Jugendliche erzählen, wie sie ihre Freizeit verbringen.
Anna: „Ich liebe Sport. Ich trainiere dreimal pro Woche mit dem Basketballteam, und am Wochenende spielen wir Spiele. Für mich ist es wichtig, fit zu bleiben und mit meinen Freundinnen zusammen zu sein.“
Lukas: „Ich bleibe lieber zu Hause. Ich spiele Gitarre und schreibe meine eigenen Lieder. Große Menschenmengen mag ich nicht so gern; ich fühle mich wohler, wenn es ruhig ist.“
Mara: „Am liebsten reise ich. Jeden Sommer besuche ich mit meiner Familie ein neues Land und lerne ein paar Wörter ihrer Sprache. So lerne ich andere Kulturen kennen, ohne viel Geld auszugeben.“
- die Freizeit
- free time
- trainieren
- to train / practise
- Lieder schreiben
- to write / compose songs
- die Menschenmenge
- the crowd
- andere Kulturen kennenlernen
- to get to know other cultures
Matching a person to a statement
Eine Zuordnung, Schritt für Schritt
- Read the question — „Wer sagt, dass er oder sie Dinge über andere Länder lernt, ohne viel Geld auszugeben?“
- Locate the person. Scan for „reisen“ / „Kulturen“ / „Geld“: Mara sagt „So lerne ich andere Kulturen kennen, ohne viel Geld auszugeben“.
- Match — Die Antwort ist Mara. (Anna spricht über Sport; Lukas über die Gitarre und die Ruhe — sie passen nicht.)
Match the whole meaning: Match on the meaning of the whole statement, not a single word it shares with the question. A distractor person may use one of the same words while saying something different.
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Where matching marks are lost: Matching marks are lost when you match on a single shared word rather than the meaning, when you reuse an option, or when you leave a blank. Compare the two columns.
Gute Praxis
- Match on the meaning of the whole statement, not one shared word.
- Do the sure matches first, then eliminate for the rest.
- Use each option exactly once.
- Match every item; leave the spare distractor as the one left over.
Typische Fehler
- Match because two items share a single word, ignoring the meaning.
- Reuse an option for two items.
- Leave a question blank instead of matching by elimination.
- Forget there is a spare and try to use every option.
Don't be fooled by a shared word: A distractor often repeats a word from the question while meaning something different. Always check the whole statement says what the question claims — a shared word is not a match.