gcse modern foreign languages (french, german, spanish)
TRANSCRIPT
GCSE Modern Foreign Languages (French, German, Spanish)
Introducing Eduqas
Eduqas is the new brand from WJEC, offering Ofqual
reformed qualifications to secondary schools and colleges.
As part of WJEC, we provide expert advice, high quality
resources and support to teachers delivering our
qualifications.
Why is WJEC introducing this new brand?
The Eduqas brand from WJEC was developed as a
response to diverging qualifications between England and
Wales.
WJEC will be the only awarding organisation providing
GCSE and GCE AS/A level qualifications in both Wales
and England following the 2015 reforms.
Why is WJEC introducing this new brand?
In light of diverging qualification requirements, it is
important to brand our qualifications in order to clearly
differentiate between those regulated by Ofqual in
England and those regulated by Welsh Government in
Wales. This differentiation will help teachers to easily
identify the correct specification to teach.
Will WJEC still provide qualifications?
Yes, WJEC will remain the awarding organisation
and will continue to offer a full range of
qualifications. For Ofqual reformed qualifications,
the brand will be WJEC Eduqas.
Why choose us?
We pride ourselves on providing a personal,
dedicated service to teachers. This will not change
under the Eduqas brand. You will continue to have
direct access to the same subject specialists and
administrative support.
GCSE Modern Foreign Languages (French, German, Spanish)
This draft qualification has not yet been accredited by Ofqual. It is published to enable teachers to have early sight of our proposed approach to GCSE French, German and Spanish. Further changes may be required and no assurance can be given at this time that the proposed qualification will be made available in its current form, or that it will be accredited in time for first teaching in September 2016 and first award in 2018.
Assessment objectives and weightings
AO1Listening: understand and respond to different types of spoken language. AO2Speaking: communicate and interact effectively in speech. AO3Reading: understand and respond to different types of written language. AO4Writing: communicate in writing.
Weightings
AO1 AO2 AO3 AO4 Total
Component 1 - 25% - - 25%
Component 2 25% - - - 25%
Component 3 - - 25% - 25%
Component 4 - - - 25% 25%
Overall weighting
25% 25% 25% 25% 100%
SUMMARY OF ASSESSMENTComponent 1: Speaking Oral test: 7-9 minutes (Foundation tier)
10-12 minutes (Higher tier) 25% of qualification
Three tasks: One role playOne photo card discussionOne conversation
Learners are not permitted to use dictionaries in any part of the assessment.
SUMMARY OF ASSESSMENT
Component 2: ListeningWritten examination: 35 minutes (Foundation tier)
45 minutes (Higher tier)25% of qualification
Listening comprehension tasks with non-verbal and written responses
Learners are not permitted to use dictionaries in any part of the assessment.
SUMMARY OF ASSESSMENT
Component 3: ReadingWritten examination: 1 hour (Foundation tier)
1 hour 15 minutes (Higher tier)25% of qualification
Reading tasks with non-verbal and written responses, including one translation task from French into English
Learners are not permitted to use dictionaries in any part of the assessment.
SUMMARY OF ASSESSMENT
Component 4: WritingWritten examination: 1 hour 15 minutes (Foundation tier)
1 hour 30 minutes (Higher tier)25% of qualification
Writing tasks including one translation task from English into French
Learners are not permitted to use dictionaries in any part of the assessment.
ThemesIdentity and culture Local, national,
international and global areas of interest
Current and future study and employment
Youth Culture Self and
relationships Technology and
social media Lifestyle Health and fitness Entertainment and
leisure Customs and
Traditions Food and drink Festivals and
celebrations
Home and Locality Local areas of
interest Transport France and French-speaking countries Local and regional
features and characteristics
Holidays and tourism
Global Sustainability Environment Social issues
Current Study School/college life School/college
studies World of Work Work experience
and part-time jobs Skills and personal
qualities Jobs and Future
Plans Applying for
work/study Career plans
Key features - overview
• All assessments will now be examined. There are no
'controlled assessment' tasks, thus reducing rote learning
and memorisation.
• Mixed tier entry is not allowed. Candidates must sit all
Foundation or all Higher Tier papers.
• Dictionaries will not be allowed in any part of the
assessment.
Key features - overview
• The four assessment objectives (skills of Speaking, Listening,
Reading and Writing) are now equally weighted (25% each).
• Translation tasks will be included, both from and into the 'assessed
language' (i.e. target language)
• Grammar will carry greater importance and a minimum of 10% of the
marks for the speaking and writing papers must be allocated to
knowledge of, and accurate application of grammar.
• Literary-type texts e.g. poems, extracts from novels, plays etc.
(adapted and abridged) will be included on the Reading paper.
Key features – Component 1 NEA
The Speaking tests will be called 'non exam
assessment' (Component 1) and will be set by the
awarding organisation, conducted by the teacher and
marked by the awarding organisation.
Candidates/centres won't know in advance what the
content of the tasks will be, but all three broad themes
will be covered in each test.
Key features – Component 2
Listening (Component 2) will be broadly similar to what centres are used
to now, but with some changes:
• At Foundation tier the test will be 35 minutes long with 5 minutes’
reading time. At Higher tier the test will be 45 minutes long with 5
minutes’ reading time
• There will questions with verbal and non-verbal responses and
higher order skills such as deducing meaning, evaluating and
drawing conclusions will be assessed
• 20-30% of the marks will be awarded for responses to questions set
in the assessed language.
Key features – Component 3Reading (Component 3) will also be broadly similar to what centres are used to
now, but with some changes:
• There will be a translation from the assessed language into English (35-40
words for Foundation tier candidates, 50-55 words for Higher tier candidates)
• At Foundation tier the test will be 1 hour long and at Higher tier the test will
be 1 hour and 15 minutes long
• There will questions with verbal and non-verbal responses and higher order
skills such as deducing meaning, drawing inferences and recognising implicit
meaning will be assessed
• 30-40% of the marks will be awarded for responses to questions set in the
assessed language.
Key features – Component 4
Writing (Component 4) will be a written exam - 1 hour 15 minutes
for Foundation Tier, 1 hour 30 minutes for Higher Tier.
• Candidates/centres won't know in advance what the tasks will
be, but all three broad themes will be covered in the test.
• A translation from English into the assessed language will
also be included. At Foundation tier, candidates will translate
sentences (35-40 words); at Higher tier, candidates will
translate a short passage (50-55 words).
Resources (to be published following accreditation)
• Teachers’ Guide
• Online resources for classroom and
individual student use
Ofqual/ DfE Guidance
• students will be expected to use language for a variety of purposes
including for personal, academic and employment-related use
• students will be expected to understand different types of written
language, including relevant personal communication, public
information, factual and literary texts
• students will make use of appropriate social conventions, including
informal and formal address and register
• literary texts can include extracts and excerpts, adapted and
abridged as appropriate, from poems, letters, short stories, essays,
novels or plays from contemporary and historical sources
Ofqual/ DfE Guidance continued
Students will be expected to
• identify the overall message, key points, details and opinions
• recognise the relationship between past, present and future events
• deduce meaning, recognise and respond to key information,
important themes and ideas
• answer questions, extract information, evaluate and draw
conclusions
• demonstrate understanding by being able to scan for particular
information, organise and present relevant details, draw inferences
in context and recognise implicit meaning where appropriate
Sample Assessment Materials
This draft qualification has not yet been accredited by Ofqual. It is
published to enable teachers to have early sight of our proposed
approach to GCSE Spanish. Further changes may be required and no
assurance can be given at this time that the proposed qualification will
be made available in its current form, or that it will be accredited in time
for first teaching in September 2016 and first award in 2018.
Any Questions?Contact our specialist Subject Officers and administrative team for your subject with any queries. [email protected] (GCSE French and German)[email protected] (GCSE Spanish)[email protected] (Subject Support Officer)