The new
languages GCSE:
CONSIDERING THE NEW DRAFT GCSE SPECIFICATIONS
Overview – who does
what?
 Department for Education  Subject content
 Ofqual
 Assessment processes
 Awarding bodies
 Specifications and
examinations
 Ofqual
 Ofsted
 Standards and grades
 Standards in the
classroom
Headline changes
 Linear assessment (all content examined at the end)
 Skills weighting (25% each skill)
 No dictionaries allowed at any stage
 No mixed tier entry
 5% (min.) overall marks (split between speaking and
writing) allocated to grammatical knowledge and application
 Some target language questions (listening and reading)
 Vocabulary lists
 Prescribed themes
 Direct, cumulative build from KS2 and KS3
Timing and marks overview
Listening - F Listening - H Speaking - F Speaking - H Reading - F Reading - H Writing - F Writing - H
7–9
35 minutes 45 minutes
10 – 12
minutes (+
including 5 including 5
minutes (+
1 hour 15
12 minutes
40 minutes 1 hour
1 hour
mins reading mins reading
preparation
minutes
Edexcel
preparation
(50 marks) (50 marks) (60 marks)
time
time
time)
(60 marks)
time)
25%
25%
25%
(50 marks) (50 marks)
(72 marks)
25%
(60 marks)
25%
25%
25%
25%
7–9
35 minutes 45 minutes minutes (+ 10 – 12
including 5 including 5 10-12
minutes (+
1 hour 15
45 minutes 1 hour
1 hour
mins reading mins reading minutes
preparation
minutes
AQA
(60 marks) (60 marks) (50 marks)
time
time
preparation time)
(60 marks)
25%
25%
25%
(40 marks) (50 marks) time)
(60 marks)
25%
25%
25%
(60 marks) 25%
25%
7–9
10 – 12
35 minutes 45 minutes minutes (+ minutes (+
including 5 including 5 10-12
10-12
1 hour 15
1 hour 15
1 hour
1 hour
mins reading mins reading minutes
minutes)
minutes
minutes
OCR
(50 marks)
(37 marks)
time
time
preparation preparation
(50 marks)
(50 marks)
25%
25%
(40 marks) (40 marks) time)
time)
25%
25%
25%
25%
(40 marks) (40 marks)
25%
25%
Vocabulary lists
Vocabulary lists
Edexcel
pp.39 - 113 = 74 pages and very
dense (key verbs = 6 pages)
AQA
pp.25 - 80 = 55 pages (key verbs =
1.5 pages)
OCR
List of KS3 prior vocabulary
knowledge areas expected but no
GCSE vocabulary lists
Target language
questions and rubrics
 The overall rubrics containing instructions to students may continue
to be in English, as at present. Questions for the majority of modern
foreign languages may be set in the assessed language or English, as
appropriate to the task. They should be set in the language in which
the candidate is expected to respond.
 In listening (AO1) 20 - 30% of the marks must be awarded for
responses to questions set in the assessed language.
 In speaking (AO2) students will be required to express themselves
solely in the assessed language.
 In reading (AO3) 30 - 40% of the marks must be awarded for
responses to questions set in the assessed language.
 In writing (AO4) students will be required to express themselves solely
in the assessed language. Questions may be asked in English where
translation into the assessed language is required or where the
context of the questions is detailed or complex.
Rubrics
Edexcel
100% English for all papers, even
when responses required in TL.
AQA
Section B of Listening and Reading
papers in TL.
OCR
TL questions will have TL rubrics.
Themes
Language contexts will be organised in a specified
number of broad themes, addressing relevant matters
relating to:
 identity and culture
 local, national, international and global areas of
interest
 current and future study and employment
Themes / Topics
Edexcel
•
•
•
•
•
AQA
• Theme 1: Identity and culture
• Theme 2: local, national, international and global
areas of interest
• Theme 3: current and future study and
employment
OCR
• Theme 1: Identity and culture
• Theme 2: local, national, international and global
areas of interest
• Theme 3: current and future study and
employment
Identity and culture
Local area, holiday, travel
School
Future aspirations, study and work
International and global dimension
Headline changes
 Linear assessment (all content examined at the end)
 Skills weighting (25% each skill)
 No dictionaries allowed at any stage
 No mixed tier entry
 5% overall marks (split between speaking and writing)
allocated to grammatical knowledge and application
 Some target language questions (listening and reading)
 Vocabulary lists
 Prescribed themes
 Direct, cumulative build from KS2 and KS3
Joined up
GCSE specifications will be cumulative and
progressive in content and language. They will take
account of the matters, skills and processes specified
in the national curriculum programmes of study for key
stages 2 and 3. They will also build on the foundation
of core grammar and vocabulary outlined in the
programmes of study for key stages 2 and 3,
increasing the level of linguistic and cognitive demand.
This session
 Listening
 Speaking
 Reading
 Writing
Assessment objectives
Listening
 20 - 30% of the marks must be awarded for responses to
questions set in the assessed language.
 Responses to questions in the assessed language may
include (but are not limited to): single letters, numbers
and/or percentages in figures, names, single words and/or
phrases in the assessed language.
 Responses in the assessed language should not be
assessed for quality of language, but purely for
comprehension.
 Foundation length: 35 minutes including 5 mins reading
 Higher length: 45 minutes including 5 mins reading
Listening (F + H)
14 Qs (F) and 10 Qs (H)
multiple-response, short-answer open response
2 multiple-response in TL. There will be no requirement for students
Edexcel
to produce written responses in the TL.
20% in TL
4 overlap Qs – spread through paper = 34% overall mark (F + H)
AQA
11 Qs (F) and 13 Qs (H)
Section A –in English
Section B – questions in the target language, to be answered in the
target language or non-verbally.
20% in TL
3 overlap Qs – spread through paper = 27.5% overall mark (F) and
22% (H)
OCR
10 Qs (F) 9 Qs (H)
multiple – choice, non-verbal responses, short answers tasks
20% in TL
2 overlap questions - tasks 9 & 10 on F, tasks 1 & 2 on H (1 in TL)
Word Counts Listening Transcripts
Edexcel
Foundation = 706
Higher = 1017 words
AQA
Foundation = 547
Higher = 955 words
OCR
Foundation = 920
Higher = 1255 words
NB: This was painstaking work and it was hard to be exact here due to
different formatting, i.e. numbering of each sub-question but it gives an
overall idea.
Look / feel of the listening papers
Edexcel
i. I don't like the use of the visuals - there is a lot of visual information to
read /deduce, often just for 3 points. It just seems to add to the feel of
complexity.
ii. The questions on the page feel dense and complex - this feels
unnecessary as often the transcripts are very short and simple, often with 3
marks only per question. However, what learners see and have to make
sense of before they can listen is what is on the page and this is
unnecessarily over-engineered.
iii. Some questions at F level rely on the understanding of single, trickier
words (e.g. relojes, tebeos)
AQA
Foundation and Higher - no visuals at all, even for
context! Instructions very clear, layout very clear but
very monotonous and no sense of context or culture on
the page.
OCR
I like the use of photos at the start of each listening Q.
Tasks are clear.
Edexcel Foundation Listening
Overview SAMS
TL or English
Question type
Marks
Q1
English
8 pictures – select 1 for each of 3 people
3
Q2
English
7 categories – select correct 3
3
Q3
English
multiple-response (4 options)
3
Q4
English
multiple-response
(2 out of 5 options x 2 questions)
4
Q5
English
7 statements – 3 correct
3
Q6
TL
multiple-response (4 options)
5
Q7
English
select 3 correct from table with 21 options
3
Q8
English
8 pictures – select correct 3
3
Q9
English
questions
3
Q10
English
7 categories – select correct 3
3
Q11
English
questions
4
Q12
English
questions
4
Q13
TL
multiple-response (2 out of 4 options x 3)
5
Q14
English
questions
4
Total marks available for the paper
50
Edexcel Higher Listening
Overview SAMS
TL or English
Question type
Marks
Q1
TL
multiple-response (2 out of 4 options x
3)
5
Q2
English
7 categories – select correct 3
3
Q3
English
7 categories + 2 people = 14 options –
select correct 3
3
Q4
English
questions
5
Q5
English
questions
10
Q6
English
multiple-response
(2 out of 5 options x 2 questions)
4
Q7
TL
multiple-response (4 options)
5
Q8
English
questions
5
Q9
English
7 statements – 3 correct, 7 statements –
3 correct
6
Q10
English
multiple-response
4
Total marks available for the paper
50
Section A: in English (Qs 1-9)
Section B: in TL (Qs 10-11)
AQA Foundation Listening
Overview SAMS
TL or English
Question type
Marks
Q1
English
multiple-response – select 2 of 4 x 2
4
Q2
English
multiple-response – select 2 of 8 statements x 3
6
Q3
English
multiple-response select 1 of 4 x 2 for two
people
4
Q4
English
1 question + 1 multiple-response
(3 options)
2
Q5
English
5 categories – select correct 1 for each of 3
speakers
3
Q6
English
1 question - 3 different single item responses
3
Q7
English
2 sentence completions (each with two gaps)
4
Q8
English
2 questions
2
Q9
English
Positive, Negative, P+N – 2 opinions x 2 people
4
Q10
TL
table completion in TL – tense recognition
4
Q11
TL
6 categories – 4 extracts to listen and match
4
Total marks available for the paper
40
Section A: in English (Qs 1-9)
Section B: in TL (Qs 10-11)
AQA Higher Listening
Overview SAMS
TL or English
Question type
Marks
Q1
English
Positive, Negative, P+N – 2 opinions x 2 people
4
Q2
English
select 1 from 7 categories (x 5 items)
5
Q3
English
questions
3
Q4
English
1 question
1
Q5
English
audio in 3 sections – 3 multiple-respons (3
options), 1 with choice of 2 of 5 options
5
Q6
English
5 categories – select correct 1 for each of 3
speakers
3
Q7
English
1 sentence completion, 4 questions
5
Q8
English
audio in 2 sections – 10 options (8 of which get
chosen) likes and dislikes
8
Q9
English
Write down questions asked in interview
4
Q10
English
1 question
2
Q11
TL
table completion in TL – tense recognition
4
Q12
TL
single word written answers
2
Q13
TL
audio in 2 sections – multiple-response (3 of 6
options) and (1 of 3 options)
4
Total marks available for the paper
50
OCR Foundation Listening
Overview SAMS
TL or English
Question type
Marks
Q1
English
multiple-response (3 options)
4
Q2
English
multiple-response (3 options)
4
Q3
English
True/False/Not mentioned
4
Q4
TL
8 statements – 4 correct
4
Q5
English
match statement to person
4
Q6
English
choose 1/3 advantages and 1/3
disadvantages for two people
4
Q7
English
Person 1, Person 2 or both
4
Q8
English
8 statements – 4 correct
4
Q9
TL
multiple-response (3 options)
4
Q10
English
questions
4
Total marks available for the paper
40
OCR Higher Listening
Overview SAMS
TL or English
Question type
Marks
Q1
TL
multiple-response
4
Q2
English
questions
4
Q3
English
positive / negative / both
4
Q4
English
who says this? Person 1, 2 or both
5
Q5
English
sentence completion
5
Q6
English
multiple – response (14 options)
4
Q7
English
who says this? 5 people, 6
statements
5
Q8
TL
multiple-response
4
Q9
English
questions
5
Total marks available for the paper
40
Listening: ideas for teaching
 Maximise use of target language in the classroom
 Use strategies to make listening a task not a test
 Use authentic materials as much as possible
 Mix and match text book / past paper audio
 Use listen and read – make multiple use of transcripts
 Encourage repeated listening to the same passage
 Use self-created differentiated passages (hard 
easy)
 Teach prediction and note-taking explicitly
Speaking
 unpredictability
“ the awarding organisation must take all reasonable steps to
minimise the predictability of each such assessment.”
 preparation time (between 10 and 12 minutes)
 teacher-conducted, audio-recorded, awarding body-assessed
 conversation (more than one topic, only one of which may be
chosen by the learner in advance of the assessment)
 two further tasks, from the following: (role play, response to visual
stimulus, response to textual stimulus, response to stimulus with
visuals and text)
 no dictionaries
 Foundation – 7-9 minutes Higher – 10-12 minutes
Speaking (F)
Speaking (H)
Edexcel
Role play - 10 marks (1 - 1.5 minutes)
Picture-based task - 20 marks
(2.5 - 3 minutes)
Conversation - 30 marks
(3.5 - 4.5 minutes)
12 minutes preparation time
Role play - 12 marks (2 - 2.5 minutes)
Picture-based task - 24 marks
(3 - 3.5 minutes)
Conversation - 36 marks
(5 - 6 minutes)
12 minutes preparation time
AQA
Role-play – 15 marks (2 minutes)
Photo card – 15 marks (2 minutes)
Conversation – 30 marks (3 – 5
minutes)
10-12 minutes preparation time
Role-play – 15 marks (2 minutes)
Photo card – 15 marks (3 minutes)
questions based on the card.
Conversation – 30 marks (5 - 7
minutes)
10 – 12 minutes preparation time
OCR
Role play - 10 marks (1–2 minutes)
Picture stimulus/conversation - 10
marks (2-3 minutes)
Conversation - 20 marks (4
minutes)
10 – 12 minutes preparation time
Role play - 10 marks (2-3 minutes)
Picture stimulus/conversation - 10
marks (2-3 minutes)
Conversation - 20 marks (6
minutes)
10 – 12 minutes preparation time
Edexcel Foundation Speaking
Role Play
Edexcel Foundation Speaking
Role Play
Edexcel Foundation Speaking
Role Play mark scheme
Marks
1-3
4-7
8-10
Description
Inconsistent communication of information, short answers with little expansion
Attempts most elements (register, asking questions, initiating the conversation),
with recurrent slips which frequently hinder communication.
Attempts unexpected question with much hesitation, may need prompting
Communicates relevant information with some omission or ambiguity, gives
simple expansions on some responses
All elements (register, asking questions, initiating the conversation) are
attempted but with varying levels of success. Slips sometimes hinder
communication
Deals with unexpected questions with partial success and with hesitation
NB: Candidates cannot achieve more than 5 marks if they do not initiate the
roleplay.
Communicates relevant information unambiguously, with the some extended
responses
All elements (register, asking questions, initiating the conversation) are
attempted successfully with the occasional slip which does not hinder
communication
Deals appropriately with unexpected questions, there may be hesitation
AQA Foundation Speaking
Role Play
AQA Foundation Speaking
Role Play
AQA Foundation Speaking
Role Play mark scheme
OCR Foundation Speaking
Task 1: Role Play
Picture Task (F)
Picture Task (H)
Edexcel
Picture-based task - 20 marks
(2.5 - 3 minutes)
4 English prompts on card
Teacher asks 4 TL questions (repeat, no rephrasing or
follow ups)
Make notes on A4 paper to use in exam
MS – Comm.&Content (7), Interaction & Spontaneity
(7), Linguistic knowledge & Accuracy (6)
Past, Present & Future references required
Picture-based task - 24 marks
(3 - 3.5 minutes)
4 English prompts on card (repeat, no rephrasing or
follow ups)
Make notes on A4 paper to use in exam
MS – Comm.&Content (7), Interaction & Spontaneity
(7), Linguistic knowledge & Accuracy (6)
Past, Present & Future references required
AQA
Photo card – 15 marks (2 minutes)
3 TL questions on card
Teacher asks 5 TL questions (repeat and rephrasing
allowed)
Can make notes to use in the exam.
MS – Communication and use of language (15)
Present tense only
OCR
Picture stimulus/conversation - 10 marks (2-3
minutes)
No prompts on card (but all cards have same pattern
of questions)
Teacher asks 5 TL questions (can ask different
questions as well)
Can make notes on paper provided to use.
MS – Communication (5) Language (5)
Past, Present & Future references required
Photo card – 15 marks (3 minutes)
3 TL questions on card
Teacher asks 5 TL questions (repeat and rephrasing
allowed)
Can make notes to use in the exam.
MS – Communication and use of language (15)
Past, Present & Future references required
Picture stimulus/conversation - 10 marks (2-3
minutes)
No prompts on card (but all cards have same pattern
of questions)
Teacher asks 5 TL questions (can ask different
questions as well)
Can make notes on paper provided to use.
Past, Present & Future references required
Edexcel Foundation Speaking
Picture Task
Edexcel Foundation Speaking
Picture Task
Picture-based discussion
Communication and content
Marks Description
Edexcel Foundation Speaking
Picture-based discussion mark scheme
0
No rewardable material
1–2
Describes and narrates isolated information relevant to the picture and the topic
Expresses isolated thoughts and opinions although often disjointed
Pronunciation and intonation are occasionally understandable but mostly impede
communication
Describes and narrates information relevant to the picture and the topic, but with
little development
Expresses thoughts and opinions with justification, some of which is developed,
exchanging points of view with the teacher/examiner
Pronunciation and intonation are understandable but communication is impaired
when more detailed language is attempted
Describes and narrates information relevant to the picture and the topic, with
some use of detail
Expresses thoughts and opinions with justification, some of which is developed,
exchanging points of view with the teacher/examiner
Pronunciation and intonation are generally accurate, with occasional impairment
in communication
3–5
6–7
Picture-based discussion
Interaction and spontaneity
Edexcel Foundation Speaking
Picture-based discussion mark scheme
Marks Description
0
No rewardable material
Predominantly single word responses with long pauses
1–2
Wholly reliant on teacher/examiner prompting
Unable to deal with unexpected questions
Shows a little ability to manipulate language but with frequent hesitation
3–5
Often simple responses and any initiative and expansion is mainly reliant
on teacher/examiner prompting
Able to deal with unexpected questions in isolated instances
Shows an ability to manipulate language to respond spontaneously, but
6–7
with some hesitation
Takes the initiative and expands on some responses but may need some
teacher/examiner prompting
Occasionally interacts naturally and sometimes deals with unexpected
questions successfully
Edexcel Foundation Speaking
Picture-based discussion
Linguistic Knowledge and Accuracy
Picture-based discussion mark scheme
Marks Description
0
No rewardable material
1–2
Restricted range of vocabulary and structures; may contain non-French
words
Isolated examples of correct language
Little attempt to use any tenses and time frames to refer to past, present,
and future events
Uses a narrow range of high frequency vocabulary and grammatical
structures, often repetitive
Some accurate language but with a predominance of basic errors
Attempts to use tenses and time frames to refer to past, present, and
future events with a little success
Uses familiar and predictable vocabulary and grammatical structures
Fairly accurate overall but with some basic errors
Uses tenses and time frames to refer to past, present, and future events
with some success
3–4
5–6
AQA Foundation Speaking
Photo card
AQA Foundation Speaking
Photo card
AQA Foundation Speaking
Photo card mark scheme
OCR Foundation Speaking
Task 2: Picture Stimulus
Conversation (F)
Conversation (H)
Edexcel
Conversation - 30 marks
(3.5 - 4.5 minutes)
Topic 1: student’s choice, can present
for up to 1 minute
Topic 2: specified ty the AB
No suggested questions
Conversation - 36 marks
(5 - 6 minutes)
Topic 1: student’s choice, can present
for up to 1 minute
Topic 2: specified ty the AB
No suggested questions
AQA
Conversation – 30 marks (3 – 5
minutes)
Topic 1: student’s choice
Topic 2: specified ty the AB
Suggested questions
Conversation – 30 marks (5 - 7
minutes)
Topic 1: student’s choice
Topic 2: specified ty the AB
Suggested questions
OCR
Conversation - 20 marks (4
minutes)
Mini presentation (45 seconds) +
Conversation 1 (2 minutes total)
Conversation 2 (2 minutes)
Can have cue card with 3 x short
headings (max. 20 words in total)
Suggested questions
Conversation - 20 marks (6
minutes)
Mini presentation (45 seconds) +
Conversation 1 (3 minutes total)
Conversation 2 (3 minutes)
Can have cue card with 3 x short
headings (max. 20 words in total
Suggested questions
Speaking: ideas for teaching
 Maximise use of target language in the classroom
 Teach students how to ask questions and do this often
Consider length of utterance and length of turn
 Repeat speaking activities immediately with less / no support
 Plan in favour of language use rather than language practice
activities
 Increase the opportunities for unscripted interaction in every
lesson
 Focus on working from memory as often as possible – have
explicit memory / retention strategies
Reading
 10% to 15% of marks for AO3 for questions/tasks
requiring translation.
 Learners are expected to:
'recognise and respond to key information, important
themes and ideas in more extended written text and
authentic sources, including some extracts from
relevant abridged or adapted literary texts'.
We expect an awarding organisation to interpret the
reference to an 'extended written text' as being to a
text which is –
- for the Foundation tier, a minimum of 90 words
- for the Higher tier, a minimum of 150 words
Reading (F + H)
Edexcel
10 Qs (F) and 10 Qs (H) 40 minutes / 1 hour
multiple-response, short-answer open response, one translation
4 multiple-response in TL (F) and 3 Qs (2 multiple-response and one short answer) in
TL (H).
30% in TL
4 overlap Qs – spread through paper = 34% (F + H)
Word count: 1154 (F), 1474 (H)
AQA
14 Qs (F) and 13 Qs (H) 45 minutes / 1 hour
Section A –in English
Section B – questions in the target language, to be answered in the target language
or non-verbally.
30% in TL
4 overlap Qs – spread through paper = 25% (F + H)
Word count: 924 (F), 1468 (H)
OCR
11 Qs (F) 10 Qs (H) 1 hour / 1 hour 15 minutes
multiple – choice, non-verbal responses, short answers tasks, one translation
28% in TL
2 overlap questions - tasks 9 & 10 on F, tasks 1 & 2 on H (1 in TL) = 18%
Word count: 669 (F), 1286 (H)
Edexcel Foundation Reading
Overview SAMS
TL or English
Question type
Marks
Q1
English
paragraph text (47 words) – 5 of 9 correct items
5
Q2
English
literary text (153 words) - questions
6
Q3
English
text (92 words)
7 statements – 3 correct
3
Q4
English
literary text (108 words) – who says this? (4
options each time)
4
Q5
English
paragraph text (62 words) – 5 of 11 correct items
5
Q6
English
text (109 words) – multiple-response (4 options)
5
Q7
TL
text (110) – 5 of 11 correct phrases (90 words)
5
Q8
TL
text (100) multiple-response (4 options)
5
Q9
TL
text (90) sentence completion (further 52 words)
5
Q10
Translation into English (41 words)
Total marks available for the paper
7
50
Edexcel Higher Reading
Overview SAMS
TL or English
Question type
Marks
Q1
English
text (92 words)
7 statements – 3 correct
3
Q2
English
literary text (108 words) – who says this? (4
options each time)
4
Q3
English
literary text (124 words) questions
5
Q4
TL
text (235 words) – questions
5
Q5
TL
text (109 words) – multiple-response (4 options)
5
Q6
TL
text (110) – 5 of 11 correct phrases (90 words)
5
Q7
English
text (214) – 5 of 11 correct phrases
5
Q8
English
text (214) multiple-response (4 options)
6
Q9
English
text (123) 5 of 11 correct phrases
5
Q10
Translation into English (55 words)
Total marks available for the paper
7
50
Section A: in English (Qs 1-8)
Section B: in TL (Qs 9-13)
AQA Foundation Reading
Overview SAMS
TL or English
Question type
Marks
Q1
English
word level text (15 words) – 8 words 4 correct
4
Q2
English
short phrase level text (22 words) – questions
4
Q3
English
4 texts (32 words) match to 6 statements
4
Q4
English
text (60 words) questions
4
Q5
English
text (21 words) matching 4 to 6 possibilities
4
Q6
English
literary text (109 words) questions
3
Q7
English
text (108 words) 4 categories – Past, Now or Future
4
Q8
English
text in 2 sections (58 + 34 words) questions
6
Q9
TL
6 shorts texts (103 words) – match to 4 short texts (51 words)
4
Q10
TL
4 texts (80) words – match to 6 categories (10 words)
4
Q11
TL
3 short texts (22 words) – match to 5 headings (5 words)
3
Q12
TL
3 texts (109 words) – table completion in TL
4
Q13
TL
3 texts (40 words) – single word TL answers to one question
3
Q14
Translation into English (35 words)
Total marks available for the paper
9
60
Section A: in English (Qs 1-7)
Section B: in TL (Qs 8-12)
AQA Higher Reading
Overview SAMS
TL or English
Question type
Marks
Q1
English
literary text (109 words) questions
3
Q2
English
text (156 words) questions
6
Q3
English
5 short texts (157 words) questions (1-2 marks) applied to each
text
7
Q4
English
text – Q/A format (60 words) questions in form of responding to
categories
4
Q5
English
text (108 words) 4 categories – Past, Now or Future
4
Q6
English
text (149) two multiple-response (3 and 4 options) and two
questions
5
Q7
English
text (160 words) 2 from 5 correct, two questions
4
Q8
TL
text (108 words) – questions (20 words)
3
Q9
TL
short text with gaps (39 words) – fill 3 gaps from 7 possibilities
(7 words)
3
Q10
TL
3 texts (109 words) – table completion in TL
4
Q11
TL
6 short literary excerpts (82 words) – Which text is it? questions
4
Q12
TL
6 shorts texts (103 words) – match to 4 short texts (51 words)
4
Q13
Translation into English 50 words)
Total marks available for the paper
9
60
OCR Foundation Reading
Overview SAMS
TL or English
Question type
Marks
Q1
English
1 word level text (10 words) –3 statements
3
Q2
English
1 word level text (6 words) –5 statements
5
Q3
English
text (37 words) 8 statements – 4 correct
4
Q4
TL
text (38 words) true / false / NIT (31 words)
5
Q5
TL
text (55 words) multiple-response (60 words)
3 options
5
Q6
English
5 v. short texts (35 words) –4 statements
4
Q7
English
text (63 words) multiple-response 3 options
5
Q8
English
2 texts – who says that? (53 words)
Person 1, 2 or both
5
Q9
TL
2 texts – who says that? (141 words)
Person 1, 2 or both (90 words)
4
Q10
English
literary text (110) questions
5
Q11
Translation into English (40 words)
Total marks available for the paper
5
50
OCR Higher Reading
Overview SAMS
TL or English
Question type
Marks
Q1
TL
text (141 words) multiple-response (90
words) 3 options
4
Q2
English
(Literary text) (110 words) questions
5
Q3
English
3 texts (99 words) – who says that?
6 statements
6
Q4
English
text (111 words) 8 statements – 4 correct
4
Q5
English
text (100 words) questions
6
Q6
TL
text (109 words) multiple-response (49
words) 3 options
5
Q7
English
text (109 words) multiple-response 3 options
5
Q8
TL
2 texts (128 words) – who says that?
Person 1, 2 or both (69 words)
5
Q9
English
text (119) questions
5
Q10
Translation into English (53 words)
Total marks available for the paper
5
50
New aspects to reading paper
Literary text Qs
Translation
Edexcel
Foundation: 2 Qs – 10/50 = 20% total
Higher: 2 Qs – 9/50 = 18% total
Foundation: 41 words – 7/50 = 14%
Higher: 55 words – 7/50 = 14%
AQA
Foundation: 1 Q – 3/60 = 5%
Higher: 2 Qs – 7/60 = 12%
Foundation:
Higher: 50 words – 9/60 = 15%
OCR
Foundation: 1Q – 5/50 = 10% total
Higher: 1Q – 5/50 = 10% total
Foundation: 40 words – 5/50 = 10%
Higher: 53 words – 5/50 = 10%
Reading: ideas for teaching
 Read for different purposes
 Read a variety of material
 Combine reading with speaking and writing
 Combine reading with listening
 Read to translate
 Read to develop vocabulary
Writing
 20% of marks for AO4 for questions/tasks requiring translation.
 Learners have to:
'translate a short passage from the assessed language into
English' as part of the assessment of their ability to understand
and respond to written language,
and
'translate sentences and short texts from English into the
assessed language' as part of the assessment of their ability to
communicate in writing.
We expect the length of any such 'short passage' or 'short text' in
an assessment to be –
- for the Foundation tier, a minimum of 35 words, and
- for the Higher tier, a minimum of 50 words.
Writing (F) 1 hour
Writing (H) 1 hour 15
Edexcel
5 tasks
1 – list + 2 sentences (8 marks)
2 – picture description (8 marks) –
3 – open response email – 4 bullets (12 marks)
4 – overlap task – choice of two Qs (email / report) – 4
bullets (20 marks)
Qs 2,3,4 markschemes = Comm. & Content, Linguistic
knowledge & Accuracy
5 - translation into TL – 5 sentences (12 marks – 3 x
sentences /2 and 2 sentences /3)
No word counts for tasks (although specification said there
would be)
3 tasks
1 - overlap task – choice of two Qs (email / report) – 4
bullets (20 marks)
2 – essay article – no bullets – title with two aspects to the
question (28 marks)
Qs 1,2 markschemes = Comm. & Content, Linguistic
knowledge & Accuracy
5 – translation into TL – short paragraph (12 marks) –
global markscheme in bands
AQA
4 tasks
1 – list task (student produces six nouns) – (6 marks)
2 – message (student produces nine sentences in response
to nine short tasks, approximately 60 words in total) – (18
marks)
3 – translation into TL (approximately 35 words) – (10
marks)
4 – structured writing task (student responds to 5
compulsory bullet points, producing approximately 90 words
in total) – choice from two questions – (16 marks)
OCR
5 tasks
1 – Part A – 2 pictures write 1 sentence for each (4 marks)
1 – Part B – 3 x short sentences (6 marks)
1 – Part C – 40 words task (7 marks) 4 Comm. 3. Lang.
2 – overlap 90 – 100 words – 4 bullets (12 marks)
3 – translation into TL – 5 sentences (8 marks – 2 x /1, 3 x
/2)
3 tasks
1 – structured writing task (student responds to 5
compulsory bullet points, producing approximately 90
words
in total) – choice from two questions – (16 marks)
2 – open-ended writing task (student responds to four
compulsory bullet points, producing approximately 150
words in
total) – choice from two questions – (32 marks)
3 – translation from English into the target language
(approximately 50 words) – (12 marks).
3 tasks
1 – overlap but longer 115 – 125 words – 5 bullets (16
marks)
2 – article or report – 150 – 200 words – 3 bullets (24
marks)
3 – translation into TL – 5 sentences (10 marks)
Writing: ideas for teaching
Students need to:
 know how to form simple, compound and complex
sentences
 have a bank of structures and core language that they
can manipulate well across a the range of contexts at
GCSE
 have language stored in long-term memory
 be attentive to detail, able to spot and correct errors
 vary vocabulary and structures
 write for different purposes, showing an awareness of
style and register
The new
languages GCSE:
CONSIDERING THE NEW DRAFT GCSE SPECIFICATIONS
Rachel Hawkes
http://www.rachelhawkes.com/PandT/2018_GCSE/2018GCSE.php