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AQA GCSE mandarin exam chat 2024

How did the exam go?
Anyone able to post a sort of unofficial mark scheme?
Did you find the exam to be hard or easy?
Just a chat for anything you want to talk about in terms of the Mandarin GCSE exams
(edited 9 months ago)

Scroll to see replies

Reply 1
i feel like it was pretty good. reading was ok, but listening was a lot better than what we’d done when we did previous years’ exams
Reply 2
What was that listening question about music? Pop music and what???
Original post by Mjudge1218
What was that listening question about music? Pop music and what???

I think the second one was Beijing Opera
Reply 4
Original post by I don’t know.
I think the second one was Beijing Opera

yeah thats what i got too - 京剧
(edited 9 months ago)
Reply 5
I don't remember the last multiple choice question but it was like worth 5 marks and all my answers were C.
Reply 6
Where did you lot put the phone and the note?
Original post by e3vvaann_
Where did you lot put the phone and the note?
I said the phone was in the study and the note was on the desk
What did people put for the question on festivals?
Where were the parents going and where did the friends go?
Reply 8
Original post by I don’t know.
I said the phone was in the study and the note was on the desk
What did people put for the question on festivals?
Where were the parents going and where did the friends go?

I said ‘parents going south stay with relatives, friends busy working’
Original post by Mjudge1218
I said ‘parents going south stay with relatives, friends busy working’

ye i got the friends busy working
does anyone have any predictions for the writing topics that might come up on wednesday?
Reply 11
Original post by isobelchoi
does anyone have any predictions for the writing topics that might come up on wednesday?


let me check
I do have a prediction for this year: but firstly here are questions that came up in past years
June 2019:
Question 1.1:
You are writing about your education for your Chinese friend.
Mention:
your school routine


positive and negative aspects of your school

a school trip you have been on recently

your plans for the future.


Question 1.2:
You write a blog for your Chinese exchange school about where you live.
Mention:


your town

positive and negative aspects of your house

a recent visit you made to town

where you would like to live in the future.

Question 2.1:
You are writing an article for a Chinese lifestyle magazine.
Mention:


your opinion about healthy living

a memorable meal.


Question 2.2:
You are writing an article for your school newsletter about hobbies.
Mention:


the importance of hobbies

a recent fun activity.


June 2020:
Question 1.1:
Watching films is one of your hobbies. You are writing an email to your Chinese e-pal about this hobby.
Mention:


your opinion about watching films

a recent trip to the cinema

an actor/actress you like

your plans for next weekend.

Question 1.2:
You are a celebrity and have been asked to write a short article for a Chinese magazine.
Mention:


a typical day at work

how you spent last weekend

who influences you the most

your ambitions for the future.

Question 2.1:
You enter a competition called 'My Hometown' to win a two-week holiday in China.
Mention:


what you think about your local area

how to improve your local area in the future.

Question 2.2:
You are writing about part-time jobs for your school newsletter.
Mention:


what you have done in your part-time job

advantages and disadvantages of your ideal career.

June 2021: (covid year so 3 questions were given)

Question 1.1:
Theme 1 - Identity and culture. . your school would like to know students views
Mention:


what lunch at your school is like your wieve prock of eating out.

who you would most like to have a meal with in the future.

Question 1.2:
Theme 2 - Local, national, international and global areas of interest
You are going to China this summer. Write an email to your friend.
Mention:


why you want to go to China

a place in China you like

your past experience of eating Chinese food

what you will do in China.

Question 1.3:
Theme 3 - Current and future study and employment
Write a blog for a Chinese website about your school life.
Mention: |


how you usually travel to school

which subjects) you like/dislike

what you did last week at school

something you will do next year.


Question 2.1:
Theme 1 - Identity and culture
A post on a Chinese online forum asks, 'Are Celebrations Necessary?' Write a response to the forum expressing your views.
Mention:


the importance of celebrating festivals

a memorable event you have experienced recently.


Question 2.2:
Theme 2 - Local, national, international and global areas of interest
Your school is having a health awareness week. Write an article for students in your school about healthy living.
Mention:


why it is important to keep fit

how you plan to stay healthy in the future.


Question 2.3:
Theme 3 - Current and future study and employment
Your local council is carrying out a survey amongst students about local schools.
Write an article to voice your thoughts.
Mention:


why learning is important for young people

suggestions for future improvements to your school.


June 2022:frown:also covid year with 3 questions)

Question 1.1:
Theme 1 - Identity and culture
Write a blog post about your shopping habits.
Mention:


how often you shop

your views about your local shopping centre

what you bought last week

your plan for your next shopping trip.


Question 1.2:
Theme 2 - Local, national, international and global areas of interest
Write an article for your school newsletter about your local park.
Mention:


your views about your local park

your favourite weather for going to the park

how you travelled there last time

who you would like to go with next time.


Question 1.3:
Theme 3 - Current and future study and employment
You are writing an email to your Chinese e-pal about school.
Mention:


what after-school activity you do at the moment

your views about the teacher who runs it

what you did last week in the session

what subjects you plan to study next year.


Question 2.1:
Theme 1 - Identity and culture
You have always enjoyed music. Write a blog for a music website.
Mention:


your views about music

a music event you have been to.


Question 2.2:
Theme 2 - Local, national, international and global areas of interest
A Chinese travel website is asking people to post about their holidays. Write a post for the website.
Mention:


your views about holidays

what your dream holiday would be.


Question 2.3:
Theme 3 - Current and future study and employment
You have always enjoyed reading. Write an article about the library for the school newsletter.
Mention:


your views about the school library

a recent special event which took place in the school library.


June 2023:

Question 1.1:Write an email to your Chinese e-pal about a celebration that you went to recently.
Mention:
what the celebration was for
what you did at the celebration
your views about the celebration
what you plan to do for your birthday next year.

Question 1.2:
Write a blog post about your school life.
Mention:
whether your school is far from your home your views about a teacher
a lesson you had recently
what you plan to do at school next year.

Question 2.1:
You are asked to participate in a survey about the environment. Write a response to the organiser.
Mention:
your views about environmental issues in your local area
what young people could do to improve the environment locally in the future.

Question 2.2:
Write an article for your school newsletter about students and work.
Mention:
your views about students having part-time jobs a voluntary job you had in the past.

So to summarise:
Questions that have come up are


education with your Chinese friend (your school)

a blog on your Chinese exchange school (writing about your town/ local area)

Healthy living/ lifestyle

Hobbies

Opinion on watching films

Your work life

Your Hometown

Your part-time job

School

Celebrating festivals

Healthy living

Importance of school/ improvements

Shopping

A park

Your school/ what you want to do

Your favourite type of music/ music

School library

Views on holidays

Celebrations

Celebrations

School/ opinions on school

Environmental issues

Part time job


Saying all that, any ideas on what it could be?
My guess is something on social media or sports potentially for the 16 mark question as it hasn’t come up before
And maybe post-16/ university or Charity.
Last year for the 32 markers the topics were theme 2 and 3, so maybe a theme 1 topic, such as family, friends or celebrations??

Does anyone else have any predictions?
Below are all the GCSE topics on the AQA website.

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/languages/gcse/chinese-spoken-mandarin-8673/subject-content/themes#Theme_1_Identity_and_culture
(edited 8 months ago)
Reply 13
Original post by I don’t know.
I do have a prediction for this year: but firstly here are questions that came up in past years
June 2019:
Question 1.1:
You are writing about your education for your Chinese friend.
Mention:
your school routine

positive and negative aspects of your school

a school trip you have been on recently

your plans for the future.


Question 1.2:
You write a blog for your Chinese exchange school about where you live.
Mention:

your town

positive and negative aspects of your house

a recent visit you made to town

where you would like to live in the future.

Question 2.1:
You are writing an article for a Chinese lifestyle magazine.
Mention:

your opinion about healthy living

a memorable meal.


Question 2.2:
You are writing an article for your school newsletter about hobbies.
Mention:

the importance of hobbies

a recent fun activity.


June 2020:
Question 1.1:
Watching films is one of your hobbies. You are writing an email to your Chinese e-pal about this hobby.
Mention:

your opinion about watching films

a recent trip to the cinema

an actor/actress you like

your plans for next weekend.

Question 1.2:
You are a celebrity and have been asked to write a short article for a Chinese magazine.
Mention:

a typical day at work

how you spent last weekend

who influences you the most

your ambitions for the future.

Question 2.1:
You enter a competition called 'My Hometown' to win a two-week holiday in China.
Mention:

what you think about your local area

how to improve your local area in the future.

Question 2.2:
You are writing about part-time jobs for your school newsletter.
Mention:

what you have done in your part-time job

advantages and disadvantages of your ideal career.

June 2021: (covid year so 3 questions were given)
Question 1.1:
Theme 1 - Identity and culture. . your school would like to know students views
Mention:

what lunch at your school is like your wieve prock of eating out.

who you would most like to have a meal with in the future.

Question 1.2:
Theme 2 - Local, national, international and global areas of interest
You are going to China this summer. Write an email to your friend.
Mention:

why you want to go to China

a place in China you like

your past experience of eating Chinese food

what you will do in China.

Question 1.3:
Theme 3 - Current and future study and employment
Write a blog for a Chinese website about your school life.
Mention: |

how you usually travel to school

which subjects) you like/dislike

what you did last week at school

something you will do next year.


Question 2.1:
Theme 1 - Identity and culture
A post on a Chinese online forum asks, 'Are Celebrations Necessary?' Write a response to the forum expressing your views.
Mention:

the importance of celebrating festivals

a memorable event you have experienced recently.


Question 2.2:
Theme 2 - Local, national, international and global areas of interest
Your school is having a health awareness week. Write an article for students in your school about healthy living.
Mention:

why it is important to keep fit

how you plan to stay healthy in the future.


Question 2.3:
Theme 3 - Current and future study and employment
Your local council is carrying out a survey amongst students about local schools.
Write an article to voice your thoughts.
Mention:

why learning is important for young people

suggestions for future improvements to your school.


June 2022:frown:also covid year with 3 questions)
Question 1.1:
Theme 1 - Identity and culture
Write a blog post about your shopping habits.
Mention:

how often you shop

your views about your local shopping centre

what you bought last week

your plan for your next shopping trip.


Question 1.2:
Theme 2 - Local, national, international and global areas of interest
Write an article for your school newsletter about your local park.
Mention:

your views about your local park

your favourite weather for going to the park

how you travelled there last time

who you would like to go with next time.


Question 1.3:
Theme 3 - Current and future study and employment
You are writing an email to your Chinese e-pal about school.
Mention:

what after-school activity you do at the moment

your views about the teacher who runs it

what you did last week in the session

what subjects you plan to study next year.


Question 2.1:
Theme 1 - Identity and culture
You have always enjoyed music. Write a blog for a music website.
Mention:

your views about music

a music event you have been to.


Question 2.2:
Theme 2 - Local, national, international and global areas of interest
A Chinese travel website is asking people to post about their holidays. Write a post for the website.
Mention:

your views about holidays

what your dream holiday would be.


Question 2.3:
Theme 3 - Current and future study and employment
You have always enjoyed reading. Write an article about the library for the school newsletter.
Mention:

your views about the school library

a recent special event which took place in the school library.


June 2023:
Question 1.1:Write an email to your Chinese e-pal about a celebration that you went to recently.
Mention:
what the celebration was for
what you did at the celebration
your views about the celebration
what you plan to do for your birthday next year.
Question 1.2:
Write a blog post about your school life.
Mention:
whether your school is far from your home your views about a teacher
a lesson you had recently
what you plan to do at school next year.
Question 2.1:
You are asked to participate in a survey about the environment. Write a response to the organiser.
Mention:
your views about environmental issues in your local area
what young people could do to improve the environment locally in the future.
Question 2.2:
Write an article for your school newsletter about students and work.
Mention:
your views about students having part-time jobs a voluntary job you had in the past.
So to summarise:
Questions that have come up are

education with your Chinese friend (your school)

a blog on your Chinese exchange school (writing about your town/ local area)

Healthy living/ lifestyle

Hobbies

Opinion on watching films

Your work life

Your Hometown

Your part-time job

School

Celebrating festivals

Healthy living

Importance of school/ improvements

Shopping

A park

Your school/ what you want to do

Your favourite type of music/ music

School library

Views on holidays

Celebrations

Celebrations

School/ opinions on school

Environmental issues

Part time job


Saying all that, any ideas on what it could be?
My guess is something on social media or sports potentially for the 16 mark question as it hasn’t come up before
And maybe post-16/ university or Charity.
Last year for the 32 markers the topics were theme 2 and 3, so maybe a theme 1 topic, such as family, friends or celebrations??
Does anyone else have any predictions?
Below are all the GCSE topics on the AQA website.
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/languages/gcse/chinese-spoken-mandarin-8673/subject-content/themes#Theme_1_Identity_and_culture
wait we don’t get three questions? my teacher said we do apparently one per theme
Original post by hertz24/7
wait we don’t get three questions? my teacher said we do apparently one per theme
No, we don’t but in COVID years they gave three questions per sub question so for question 1 there were 3 options instead of the usual 2 same with question 2
(edited 8 months ago)
Original post by I don’t know.
I do have a prediction for this year: but firstly here are questions that came up in past years
June 2019:
Question 1.1:
You are writing about your education for your Chinese friend.
Mention:
your school routine

positive and negative aspects of your school

a school trip you have been on recently

your plans for the future.


Question 1.2:
You write a blog for your Chinese exchange school about where you live.
Mention:

your town

positive and negative aspects of your house

a recent visit you made to town

where you would like to live in the future.

Question 2.1:
You are writing an article for a Chinese lifestyle magazine.
Mention:

your opinion about healthy living

a memorable meal.


Question 2.2:
You are writing an article for your school newsletter about hobbies.
Mention:

the importance of hobbies

a recent fun activity.


June 2020:
Question 1.1:
Watching films is one of your hobbies. You are writing an email to your Chinese e-pal about this hobby.
Mention:

your opinion about watching films

a recent trip to the cinema

an actor/actress you like

your plans for next weekend.

Question 1.2:
You are a celebrity and have been asked to write a short article for a Chinese magazine.
Mention:

a typical day at work

how you spent last weekend

who influences you the most

your ambitions for the future.

Question 2.1:
You enter a competition called 'My Hometown' to win a two-week holiday in China.
Mention:

what you think about your local area

how to improve your local area in the future.

Question 2.2:
You are writing about part-time jobs for your school newsletter.
Mention:

what you have done in your part-time job

advantages and disadvantages of your ideal career.

June 2021: (covid year so 3 questions were given)
Question 1.1:
Theme 1 - Identity and culture. . your school would like to know students views
Mention:

what lunch at your school is like your wieve prock of eating out.

who you would most like to have a meal with in the future.

Question 1.2:
Theme 2 - Local, national, international and global areas of interest
You are going to China this summer. Write an email to your friend.
Mention:

why you want to go to China

a place in China you like

your past experience of eating Chinese food

what you will do in China.

Question 1.3:
Theme 3 - Current and future study and employment
Write a blog for a Chinese website about your school life.
Mention: |

how you usually travel to school

which subjects) you like/dislike

what you did last week at school

something you will do next year.


Question 2.1:
Theme 1 - Identity and culture
A post on a Chinese online forum asks, 'Are Celebrations Necessary?' Write a response to the forum expressing your views.
Mention:

the importance of celebrating festivals

a memorable event you have experienced recently.


Question 2.2:
Theme 2 - Local, national, international and global areas of interest
Your school is having a health awareness week. Write an article for students in your school about healthy living.
Mention:

why it is important to keep fit

how you plan to stay healthy in the future.


Question 2.3:
Theme 3 - Current and future study and employment
Your local council is carrying out a survey amongst students about local schools.
Write an article to voice your thoughts.
Mention:

why learning is important for young people

suggestions for future improvements to your school.


June 2022:frown:also covid year with 3 questions)
Question 1.1:
Theme 1 - Identity and culture
Write a blog post about your shopping habits.
Mention:

how often you shop

your views about your local shopping centre

what you bought last week

your plan for your next shopping trip.


Question 1.2:
Theme 2 - Local, national, international and global areas of interest
Write an article for your school newsletter about your local park.
Mention:

your views about your local park

your favourite weather for going to the park

how you travelled there last time

who you would like to go with next time.


Question 1.3:
Theme 3 - Current and future study and employment
You are writing an email to your Chinese e-pal about school.
Mention:

what after-school activity you do at the moment

your views about the teacher who runs it

what you did last week in the session

what subjects you plan to study next year.


Question 2.1:
Theme 1 - Identity and culture
You have always enjoyed music. Write a blog for a music website.
Mention:

your views about music

a music event you have been to.


Question 2.2:
Theme 2 - Local, national, international and global areas of interest
A Chinese travel website is asking people to post about their holidays. Write a post for the website.
Mention:

your views about holidays

what your dream holiday would be.


Question 2.3:
Theme 3 - Current and future study and employment
You have always enjoyed reading. Write an article about the library for the school newsletter.
Mention:

your views about the school library

a recent special event which took place in the school library.


June 2023:
Question 1.1:Write an email to your Chinese e-pal about a celebration that you went to recently.
Mention:
what the celebration was for
what you did at the celebration
your views about the celebration
what you plan to do for your birthday next year.
Question 1.2:
Write a blog post about your school life.
Mention:
whether your school is far from your home your views about a teacher
a lesson you had recently
what you plan to do at school next year.
Question 2.1:
You are asked to participate in a survey about the environment. Write a response to the organiser.
Mention:
your views about environmental issues in your local area
what young people could do to improve the environment locally in the future.
Question 2.2:
Write an article for your school newsletter about students and work.
Mention:
your views about students having part-time jobs a voluntary job you had in the past.
So to summarise:
Questions that have come up are

education with your Chinese friend (your school)

a blog on your Chinese exchange school (writing about your town/ local area)

Healthy living/ lifestyle

Hobbies

Opinion on watching films

Your work life

Your Hometown

Your part-time job

School

Celebrating festivals

Healthy living

Importance of school/ improvements

Shopping

A park

Your school/ what you want to do

Your favourite type of music/ music

School library

Views on holidays

Celebrations

Celebrations

School/ opinions on school

Environmental issues

Part time job


Saying all that, any ideas on what it could be?
My guess is something on social media or sports potentially for the 16 mark question as it hasn’t come up before
And maybe post-16/ university or Charity.
Last year for the 32 markers the topics were theme 2 and 3, so maybe a theme 1 topic, such as family, friends or celebrations??
Does anyone else have any predictions?
Below are all the GCSE topics on the AQA website.
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/languages/gcse/chinese-spoken-mandarin-8673/subject-content/themes#Theme_1_Identity_and_culture
i’m begging for the theme 1 topic for the 32 markers 🙏🙏🙏 but when i was doing the reading and listening paper last tuesday, i realised that parts of the reading were very similar to a listening paper of a previous year, so the exam board might apply the same thing to writing: e.g. reusing topics before
it’s almost impossible to tell though, so take my words with a pinch of salt
Reply 16
Original post by isobelchoi
i’m begging for the theme 1 topic for the 32 markers 🙏🙏🙏 but when i was doing the reading and listening paper last tuesday, i realised that parts of the reading were very similar to a listening paper of a previous year, so the exam board might apply the same thing to writing: e.g. reusing topics before
it’s almost impossible to tell though, so take my words with a pinch of salt

i agree cuz i feel like the environment usually comes up for 32 markers but mb they’ll make it a 75 characters question this year
Original post by I don’t know.
I said the phone was in the study and the note was on the desk
What did people put for the question on festivals?
Where were the parents going and where did the friends go?

parents went to visit relatives, friends were busy working
Original post by I don’t know.
How did the exam go?
Anyone able to post a sort of unofficial mark scheme?
Did you find the exam to be hard or easy?
Just a chat for anything you want to talk about in terms of the Mandarin GCSE exams

What did everyone get for the last translation question in the reading paper.
Anyone know what the writing test's on / have done it yet?

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