GCSE Modern Foreign Languages
Examination Board: AQA
Pupils who study either AQA German or Spanish will follow the same topic areas and sit the same format of final examinations in their respective language.
Pupils study their language course over a 2-year period and cover three thematic areas, with sub-topics within the below theme areas.
Theme 1: Identity and culture
Topic 1: Me, my family and friends which includes: relationships with family and friends, marriage/partnership
Topic 2: Technology in everyday life which includes: social media, mobile technology
Topic 3: Free-time activities which includes music,cinema, TV, food and eating out, sport
Topic 4: Customs and festivals in Spanish-speaking countries/communities
Theme 2: Local, national, international and global areas of interest
Topic 1: Home, town, neighbourhood and region
Topic 2: Social issues which includes: charity/voluntary work, healthy/unhealthy living
Topic 3: Global issues which includes: The environment, poverty/homelessness
Topic 4: Travel and tourism
Theme 3: Current and future study and employment
Topic 1: My studies
Topic 2: Life at school/college
Topic 3: Education post-16
Topic 4: Jobs, career choices and ambitions
GCSE Languages are assessed through 4 skill areas, listening, speaking, reading and writing at the end of the course. Each skill equates to 25% of the final grade. There are two tiers of entry, Higher and Foundation. Higher allows pupils to achieve grades 9-4 and Foundation 5-1. Pupils should have an idea of the tier of entry they will be aiming to sit in the final examinations, but these are reviewed throughout the course in relation to the Pre-Public Examinations (PPEs). Final decisions on tier of entry are made following the second series of PPEs.
Paper 2, Speaking, takes place before the main exam period.
Paper 1, Listening and Paper 3, Reading take place in the same examination session, with Paper 4, Writing, taking place in a separate exam session.
Letters have been sent to parents/carers about the opportunity to purchase a revision workbook.
Year 11 students have 2 main assessments, one in November, and one in late February. In both of these, pupils will sit Paper 1, Paper 3 and Paper 4.
A second speaking mock examination will take place in January, with the first mock speaking examination completed in June of Year 10.
In addition to this, we have several common interim assessments mainly focussing on the written aspect of the examination.
Independent learning is key for success in Modern Foreign Languages; therefore a homework programme has been put in place with 3 key activities to be completed weekly.
- Vocabulary learning
- Topic test from Exampro, testing listening and reading skills with past examination questions.
- Speaking answer revision – Pupils are asked to learn their answers to 2-4 questions from their speaking booklet.
Students are also given a speaking booklet with some example questions that they can prepare responses to and revise from these for their speaking and in turn support their writing exam.
Key dates
- W/C 15.01.2024 – Mock speaking examinations
- W/C 22.04.2024 – Final speaking examinations
- German Listening and reading – May 2024
- German Writing – May 2024
- Spanish Listening and reading – June 2024
- Spanish Writing – June 2024
There are plenty of useful websites for additional revision:
AQA website: www.aqa.org.uk
Students can use this to access the vocabulary specification to learn and a variety of past papers.
BBC Bitesize: GCSE Modern Foreign Languages - BBC Bitesize
Another useful website, with practice questions and past exam papers and revision videos and notes.
Quizlet: Languages Flashcards | Quizlet
To support the students in their Spanish this year we are offering the following:
Spanish speaking support – Tuesdays 3-3.30pm
There is an open invite to all pupils who would like to practice their speaking skills. Some pupils will be invited specifically to complete a minimum of a 5 week cycle to develop their exam skills .