- Three levels of award are available: pass, merit, distinction. The standard is broadly equivalent to the National Curriculum KS3 Languages programmes of study.
- FCSE is 100% internally assessed by the school or college and externally moderated by AQA.
- Externally set assignments for listening and reading are available on e-AQA.
- Externally set and exemplar speaking and writing assignments are available on e-AQA.
- Full course total qualification time 135 hours (135 guided learning hours).
- Short course total qualification time 90 hours (90 guided learning hours).
Students should submit evidence from three units. Each unit should be selected from a different theme:
Theme 1: My world
Unit 1 – Relationships, family and friends
Unit 2 – Education and future plans
Theme 2: Holidays and leisure
Unit 3 – Holidays and travel
Unit 4 – Leisure
Theme 3: Lifestyle
Unit 5 – Healthy lifestyle
Unit 6 – Food and drink
Theme 4: My community
Unit 7 – Local area and environment
Unit 8 – Celebrations
Full course portfolio
FCSE (FC):
- Chinese (Mandarin) 8973
- French 8958
- German 8968
- Spanish 8998
Listening
Three externally set assignments – 25%
Reading
Three externally set assignments – 25%
Speaking
One compulsory, externally set role play plus two internally set assignments – 25%
Writing
One compulsory, externally set translation plus two internally set assignments – 25%
- Students produce 12 assignments, ten of which are to be available for moderation (three listening, three reading, three writing, and one recorded speaking assignment).
- For each of the three units, students must produce an assignment in all four skills (listening, reading, speaking and writing).
- The first task on each reading assignment will be a translation from the target language into English.
- One of the three writing assignments submitted must be an externally set translation from English into the target language.
- One of the three speaking assignments produced must be an externally set role-play. The recorded assignment does not have to be the role-play.
Short course portfolio
Spoken language short course
FCSE (SC) Spoken Language:
- Chinese (Mandarin) 8971
- French 8956
- German 8966
- Spanish 8996
Listening
Three externally set assignments – 50%
Speaking
One compulsory, externally set role-play plus two internally set assignments – 50%
- Students produce six assignments, four of which are to be available for moderation (three listening and one recorded speaking).
- For each of the three units, students must produce an assignment in both skills (listening and speaking).
- One of the three speaking assignments produced must be an externally set role-play. The recorded assignment does not have to be the role-play.
Written language short course
FCSE (SC) Written Language:
- Chinese (Mandarin) 8972
- French 8957
- German 8967
- Spanish 8997
Reading
Three externally set assignments – 50%
Writing
One compulsory, externally set translation plus two internally set assignments – 50%
- Students produce six assignments (three reading and three writing), all of which must be available for moderation.
- For each of the three units, students must produce an assignment in both skills (reading and writing).
- One of the three writing assignments submitted must be an externally set translation from English into the target language.