Specifications that use this resource:

Switching to AQA from Edexcel

To save you time and help you compare our GCSE German specification with the Edexcel specification, we’ve created some comparison tables.

These tables highlight the content and requirements side-by-side, so you can make the right choice for your students.

Let us know if you’d like to hear from us, we’ll send you everything you need to get started.

Assessment structure

Listening paper

Foundation

AQA – GCSE German

Edexcel – GCSE German

Foundation Paper 1 – Listening

Foundation Paper 1 – Listening

Written exam

Written exam

35 minutes (including 5 minutes reading time)

35 minutes (including 5 minutes reading time)

40 marks (25% of GCSE)

50 marks (25% of GCSE)

Section A, 32 marks:

Questions and answers in English or non-verbal

Section B, 8 marks:

Questions and answers in the target language or non-verbal

Section A

Questions and answers in English or non-verbal

Foundation: 40 marks

Section B

Questions and answers in the target language or non-verbal

Foundation: 10 marks

Higher

AQA – GCSE German

Edexcel – GCSE German

Higher Paper 1 - Listening

Higher Paper 1 - Listening

Written exam

Written exam

45 minutes (including 5 minutes reading time)

45 minutes (including 5 minutes reading time)

50 marks (25% of GCSE)

50 marks (25% of GCSE)

Section A, 40 marks:

Questions and answers in English or non-verbal

Section B, 10 marks:

Questions and answers in the target language or non-verbal

Section A

Questions and answers in English or non-verbal

Higher: 40 marks

Section B

Questions and answers in the target language or non-verbal

Higher: 10 marks

Speaking paper

Foundation

AQA – GCSE German

Edexcel – GCSE German

Foundation Paper 2 – Speaking

Foundation Paper 2 – Speaking

7–9 minutes (plus 12 minutes preparation time)

7–9 minutes (plus 12 minutes preparation time)

60 marks (25% of GCSE)

70 marks (25% of GCSE)

  • Role play: 2 minutes (15 marks)
  • Photo card: 2 minutes (15 marks)
  • Conversation: 3–5 minutes (30 marks)

Role-play (2 minutes) – 10 marks

Photo card (2 minutes) – 24 marks

Conversation (3½–4½ minutes) – 36 marks

Higher

AQA – GCSE German

Edexcel – GCSE German

Higher Paper 2 – Speaking

Higher Paper 2 – Speaking

10-12 minutes (plus 12 minutes preparation time)

10-12 minutes (plus 12 minutes preparation time)

60 marks (25% of GCSE)

70 marks (25% of GCSE)

  • Role play: 2 minutes (15 marks)
  • Photo card: 3 minutes (15 marks)
  • Conversation: 5–7 minutes (30 marks)

Higher tier

Role-play (2 minutes) – 10 marks

Photo card (3-3½ minutes) – 24 marks

Conversation (5 – 6 minutes) – 36 marks

Reading paper

Foundation

AQA – GCSE German

Edexcel – GCSE German

Foundation Paper 3 – Reading

Foundation Paper 3 – Reading

45 minutes

45 minutes

60 marks (25% of GCSE)

50 marks (25% of GCSE)

Section A, 33 marks:

Questions and answers in English or non-verbal

Section B, 18 marks:

Questions and answers in the target language or non-verbal

Section C, 9 marks:

Translation into English

Section A

Questions and answers in English or non-verbal

Foundation: 28 marks

Section B

Questions and answers in the target language or non-verbal

Foundation: 15 marks

Section C – translation into English

7 marks at each tier

Higher

AQA – GCSE German

Edexcel – GCSE German

Higher Paper 3 – Reading

Higher Paper 3 – Reading

1 hour

1 hour

60 marks (25% of GCSE)

50 marks (25% of GCSE)

Section A, 33 marks:

Questions and answers in English or non-verbal

Section B, 18 marks:

Questions and answers in the target language or non-verbal

Section C, 9 marks:

Translation into English

Section A

Questions and answers in English or non-verbal

Higher: 28 marks

Section B

Questions and answers in the target language or non-verbal

Higher: 15 marks

Section C – translation into English

7 marks at each tier

Writing paper

Foundation

AQA – GCSE German

Edexcel – GCSE German

Foundation Paper 4 – Writing

Foundation Paper 4 – Writing

1 hour

1 hour 10 minutes

50 marks (25% of GCSE)

60 marks (25% of GCSE)

Tasks:

Question 1: Write four sentences to describe a photo (8 marks)

Question 2: Write 40 words approx in response to four short compulsory bullet points (16 marks)

Question 3: Translation of sentences of 35 words approx into the target language (10 marks)

Question 4: Write 90 words approx in response to four compulsory bullet points with a choice of two questions (16 marks)

Question 1: write 20-30 words to describe a photo (12 marks)

Question 2: write 40-50 words in response to 3 compulsory bullet points (16 marks)

Question 3: write 80-90 words in response to 4 compulsory bullet points with choice of two questions (20 marks)

Question 4: translation of sentences of approx 35 words into the target language (12 marks)

Higher

AQA – GCSE German

Edexcel – GCSE German

Higher Paper 4 – Writing

Higher Paper 4 – Writing

1 hour 15 minutes

1 hour 20 minutes

60 marks (25% of GCSE)

60 marks (25% of GCSE)

Tasks:

Question 1: Write 90 words approx in response to four compulsory bullet points with a choice of two questions (16 marks)

Question 2: Write 150 words approx in response to two compulsory bullet points with a choice of two questions (32 marks)

Question 3: Translation of a short passage of 50 words approx into the target language (12 marks)

Tasks:

Question 1: write 80-90 words in response to 4 compulsory bullet points with choice of two questions (20 marks)

Question 2: write 130-150 words in response to four compulsory bullet points, with a choice of two questions (28 marks)

Question 3: translation of short passage of 50 words approx into the target language (12 marks)

Subject content

Core themes

AQA – GCSE German

Edexcel – GCSE German

Identity and culture

  • Me, my family and friends
  • Technology in everyday life
  • Free-time activities
  • Customs and festivals in German-speaking countries/communities

Identity and culture

  • Who am I?
  • Daily life
  • Cultural life

Local, national, international and global areas of interest

  • Home, town, neighbourhood and region
  • Social issues
  • Global issues
  • Travel and tourism

Local area, holiday and travel

  • Holidays
  • Travel and tourist transactions
  • Town, region and country

Current and future study and employment

  • My studies
  • Life at school/college
  • Education post-16
  • Jobs, career choices and ambitions

School

  • What school is like
  • School activities

Future aspirations, study and work

  • Using languages beyond the classroom
  • Ambitions
  • Work

International and global dimension

  • Bringing the world together
  • Environmental issues