Switching to AQA: from Eduqas
Why choose AQA
Our new GCSE French, German and Spanish specifications have been developed for learners of all abilities. We’ve focused on making our assessments clear and accessible with engaging and relevant content. Our new specifications show your learners the value of language learning as a life-long skill while making sure they can achieve the results they deserve.
To make sure they are accessible to all, we’ve trialled our assessments with learners and designed our new specifications based on your feedback.
As you prepare for first teaching in 2024, we have all of the support and resources you need to support your planning, and we’re here to support you, every step of the way.
Assessment structure
Listening paper
Foundation
| AQA new specification | Eduqas current specification |
|---|---|
| Foundation paper – Listening | Foundation component 2 – Listening |
| Written exam | Written exam |
| 35 minutes (including 5 minutes of reading time and 2 minutes of checking time at the end of the paper) | 35 minutes (including 5 minutes of reading time) |
| 40 marks (25% of GCSE) | 45 marks (25% of GCSE) |
Section A – 32 marks: Section B – 8 marks: | No sections to distinguish answers in English and answers in the target language. |
Higher
| AQA new specification | Eduqas current specification |
|---|---|
| Higher paper 1 – Listening | Higher component 2 – Listening |
| Written exam | Written exam |
| 45 minutes (including 5 minutes of reading time and 2 minutes of checking time at the end of the paper) | 45 minutes (including 5 minutes of reading time) |
| 50 marks (25% of GCSE) | 45 marks (25% of GCSE) |
Section A – 40 marks: Questions and answers in English or non-verbal. Section B – 10 marks: Dictation with five short sentences to transcribe in the target language. | No sections to distinguish answers in English and answers in the target language. |
Speaking paper
Foundation
| AQA new specification | Eduqas current specification |
|---|---|
| Foundation paper 2 – Speaking | Foundation component 1 – Speaking |
| 7–9 minutes (plus 15 minutes preparation time) | 7–9 minutes (plus 12 minutes preparation time) |
| 50 marks (25% of GCSE) | 60 marks (25% of GCSE) |
|
|
Higher
AQA new specification | Eduqas current specification |
|---|---|
Higher paper 2 – Speaking | Higher component 1 – Speaking |
10–12 minutes (plus 15 minutes preparation time) | 10–12 minutes (plus 12 minutes preparation time) |
50 marks (25% of GCSE) | 60 marks (25% of GCSE) |
|
|
Reading paper
Foundation
AQA new specification | Eduqas current specification |
|---|---|
Foundation paper 3 – Reading | Foundation component 3 – Reading |
45 minutes | 1 hour |
50 marks (25% of GCSE) | 60 marks (25% of GCSE) |
Section A – 40 marks: Questions and answers in English or non-verbal. Section B – 10 marks: Translation of short sentences from target language into English (minimum 35 words). | No sections to distinguish answers in English and answers in the target language. Translation is at the end of the paper and carries 6 marks out of 60. |
Higher
AQA new specification | Eduqas current specification |
|---|---|
Higher paper 3 – Reading | Higher component 3 – Reading |
1 hour | 1 hour 15 minutes |
50 marks (25% of GCSE) | 60 marks (25% of GCSE) |
Section A – 40 marks: Questions and answers in English or non-verbal. Section B – 10 marks: Translation of short sentences from target language into English (minimum 50 words). | No sections to distinguish answers in English and answers in the target language. Translation is at the end of the paper and carries 6 marks out of 60. |
Writing paper
Foundation
AQA new specification | Eduqas current specification |
|---|---|
Foundation paper 4 – Writing | Foundation component 4 – Writing |
1 hour 10 minutes | 1 hour 20 minutes |
50 marks (25% of GCSE) | 60 marks (25% of GCSE) |
Question 1: Write five sentences to describe a photo (10 marks) Question 2: Write 50 words approx. in response to five short compulsory bullet points (10 marks) Question 3: Multiple choice grammar gap-fill task (5 marks) Question 4: Translation of sentences of a minimum of 35 words from English into the target language (10 marks) Question 5: Write approximately 90 words in response to three compulsory bullet points with a choice of two questions (15 marks) | Question 1: Write six sentences, eg fill in a form (12 marks) Question 2: Write 60 words in response to three bullet points (16 marks) Question 3: Write 90-120 words in response to three bullet points with no choice of question (20 marks) Question 4: Translation of sentences of a minimum of 35 words into the target language (12 marks) |
Higher
AQA new specification | Eduqas current specification |
|---|---|
Higher paper 4 – Writing | Higher component 4 – Writing |
1 hour 15 minutes | 1 hour 30 minutes |
50 marks (25% of GCSE) | 60 marks (25% of GCSE) |
Question 1: Translation of sentences from English into the target language, minimum of 50 words (10 marks) Question 2: Write approximately 90 words in response to three compulsory bullet points with a choice of two questions (15 marks) Question 3: Write 150 words approximately in response to two compulsory bullet points with a choice of two questions (25 marks) | Question 1: Write 90-120 words in response to three bullet points with no choice of question (20 marks) Question 2: Write 150-180 words in response to two bullet points, with a choice of two themes (28 marks) Question 3: Translation of sentences of a minimum of 50 words into the target language (12 marks) |
Themes and topics
AQA new specification | Eduqas current specification |
|---|---|
Theme 1: People and lifestyle
Theme 2: Popular culture
Theme 3: Communication and the world around us
| Identity and culture
Local, national, international and global areas of interest
Current and future study and employment
|