From September 2008 A Level Latin will be examined in 4 units. Candidates need to have acquired a good pass in this subject at GCSE level in order to have a realistic prospect of success. Latin is a subject with a strong academic reputation and it is welcomed by all universities as a qualification for a great variety of courses.
AS Unit 1 Latin Language (1hr 30min examination)
Unseen Latin Prose tested by translation. Candidates should be familiar with the language of authors of the
1 st century BC and 1 st century AD. Candidates need to be able to recognise and translate a defined list of grammatical constructions (in effect this is little more than what has been already learned for GCSE) as well as knowing a Defined Vocabulary List (about 700 words).
AS Unit 2 Latin Verse and Prose Literature (1hr 30min examination)
Candidates are expected to prepare two set texts: one verse and one prose. Approximately 225 lines will be set from each text. Candidates will be required to answer a series of questions, including a short essay, on a passage from each set text.
From June 2012 to June 2014 inclusive, the AS set texts will be:
Ovid, Amores III. 2, 4, 5, 14
Cicero, In Verrem II, 1. 53-69.
A2 Unit 3 Latin Verse (2hr examination)
Prescribed set texts; unseen Latin verse tested via comprehension and translation.
From June 2013 to June 2015 the A2 verse set texts will be:
Either: Virgil, Aeneid IV, 1-299. Rest of book to be read in translation.
Or: Propertius, III, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16, 21, 25
A2 Unit 4 Latin Prose (2hr examination)
Prescribed set texts; unseen Latin prose tested via comprehension and translation.
From June 2013 to June 2015 the A2 prose set texts will be:
Either: Tacitus, Annals XV, 20-23, 33-45
Or: Sallust, Bellum Catilinae, 14 - 29