Languages

Welcome to AQA's Languages gateway – your way in to our broad range of languages qualifications from primary school onwards.

We fully support the view that some knowledge of a foreign language is essential in today's world and our range of languages and qualifications provides opportunities for learners of all levels and abilities to have their achievements recognised.

Select a specification

Entry Level Certificate (ELC) is for learners working below Grade G at GCSE. It is also suitable for using with beginners in KS2 to provide recognition for the Primary Languages initiative.

We offer specifications in French, German, Italian and Spanish. Subject to QCA approval Chinese will also be available from September 2008. These courses are suitable for primary schools right up to introductory courses for sixth formers or adults.

There are 12 units grouped into 4 themes. Teachers send in students' work from one unit in each theme. We supply tests for Reading and Writing: the teacher marks the tests and we moderate them. For Listening and Speaking, the teacher sets and marks the tests and we moderate them.

The course is targeted at National Curriculum Levels 1, 2 and 3.

In addition to the languages that ELC offer, achievement of individual units can also be recognised through AQA's Unit Award Scheme in any modern language.

Foundation Certificate of Secondary Education (FCSE) ‘bridges the gap’ between ELC and GCSE. It provides clear progression and covers National Curriculum Levels 4, 5 and 6.

FCSE is available in French, German, Italian and Spanish to all schools for first teaching from September 2008. Subject to QCA approval Chinese will also be available from September 2008.

There is no prescribed content or vocabulary: FCSE covers material that is routinely taught in KS3, the first three years of secondary school. There are 12 units grouped into 4 themes, the same as the current GCSE themes. All four skill areas are assessed. We supply tests for Reading and Writing: the teacher marks the tests and we moderate them. For Listening and Speaking, the teacher sets and marks the tests and we moderate them (or teachers can use tests supplied by us). Students take the tests when they are ready and teachers send in students' work from just three units.

There are three levels of award: Pass, Merit and Distinction.

Achievement of individual units from the FCSE qualification can be recognised through the AQA Unit Award Scheme.

At General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) we offer three specifications in each of French, German and Spanish: Linear, Modular and a Short Course. The content of the Linear Full Course and Modular specifications is the same and is spread over four themes. The Short Course specification is based on two of these themes, with reduced exam times for Reading and Listening.

The modular GCSE has tests and coursework spread over two years. Students can re-sit tests. Many schools find that the short-term goals and feedback of this approach increases motivation.

The Linear courses have exams at the end. In French, German, Italian, Spanish and Urdu, coursework can be done instead of the Writing exam. We set and mark Reading, Listening and Speaking exams at Foundation or Higher Tier.

There are Linear tiered GCSEs in Bengali, Italian, Panjabi and Urdu and Linear untiered GCSEs in Modern Hebrew and Polish.

Draft new GCSEs and specimen material have now been submitted to QCA.

The last re-sits for the current GCEs are in June 2009 for AS and in January 2010 for A2.

There are new specifications in all languages currently available at A-level (General Certificate of Education, GCE). French, German and Spanish have 4 units and Bengali, Modern Hebrew, Panjabi and Polish have 2 units.

We have kept the popular aspects of the current specification, building on the knowledge and skills developed at GCSE and at the same time providing a sound basis for future study.

The key changes include a reduction in the number of topics, enabling students to study them in more depth. It is hoped that the topics we have chosen will prove to be more appealing and relevant to students, reflecting their interests at this stage in their studies. We have kept the popular options for schools to have a visiting examiner for the Speaking units and the availability of the AS units in January exam sessions.