Foreign Languages at GCSE

TSR Wiki > Study Help > Exams and Qualifications > GCSEs > GCSE Subject Guides > Foreign Languages at GCSE

Langauges are a common choice at GCSE with around half of students choosing at least one language to study. Many languages are available, the most common being French, German and Spanish.

For the most common languages the struture of the course and the exam system will be similar to that outlined below.

Grades/Tiers

Foundation Grades: G, F, E, D, C

Higher Grades: D, C, B, A, A*

The course is divided into four skills

Listening

Foundation: 35 Minute Exam

Higher: 45 Minute Exam

The listening exam is answering questions in an exam based on a voice recording played for each question.

Writing

The writing skill is now coursework based, with 3 pieces of coursework, approximately 3/4 to 1 side of A4 each, all in the target-language.

1 piece of coursework must be done under exam conditions.

Reading

Foundation: 30 Minute Exam

Higher: 50 Minute Exam

The reading paper is a question paper based on target language-English and English-target-language translation and answering questions in the corresponding language (ie. Answering questions written in the target-language, in English and vise-versa)

Speaking

Foundation: 8-10 Minutes

Higher: 10-12 Minutes

The set-out of the speaking exam is as following:

- Short Role Play

- 1 Minute Presentation with discussion

- General Conversation

All speaking must be in the target-language, and is recorded for playback.

Chinese GCSE

Chinese as a subject in the curriculum is restricted to specialist language colleges and native speakers. Only a few schools have it as a compulsory subject (e.g. Brighton College [1]). At the moment, Edexcel is the only British board to offer it, at GCSE and A-level (Edexcel also offers it at O-level. CIE offers Chinese at A-level, as Chinese (first language), Chinese language and Chinese literature, as well as Chinese (first language) as IGCSE).

GCSE

At GCSE, Edexcel, there are two options, a full four-skill GCSE (entry code: 1666) or a three-skill one (entry code: 1667) for centres without a teacher-examiner to do the oral; however, a native speaker can come to do the oral, even a family member.

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