A-level Spanish

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Course duration: 2 years
Examining Board: Edexcel
100% student-focused assessment
Contact teacher: Mrs Gibbons
Entry requirement: B in Spanish GCSE

Course organisation

The requirements of the course are inextricably linked to the 4 language skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing in Spanish. You will study and be assessed on four general topic areas:

  • Youth culture and concerns
  • Lifestyle - Health and fitness
  • The world around us - Travel, tourism, environmental issues and the Spanish speaking world
  • Education and employment

Although topics will be approached using Edexcel AS and A2 students’ books, additional resources endorsed by Edexcel will also be used.

Assessment

AS: You will participate in an 8-10 minute discussion on one of the four general topic areas. In addition, there is a 2 ½ hour exam to assess your listening, reading and writing skills. The writing task will be based on one of the general topic areas.
A2: The speaking assessment is 10-13 minutes long. You will talk about an issue of your choice and interact with your teacher, defending and justifying your opinions. This will be followed by discussion of two other topics.

There is also a 2 ½ hour exam. You will translate a passage from English to Spanish, produce a piece of discursive or creative writing and also write a research-based essay relating to the culture and/or society of a Spanish language country. Your research will relate to ONE of these areas:

a) geographical area
b) historical study
c) aspects of modern society
d) literature and the arts (e.g. text, play or film).

This A-level course will be rigorous, enjoyable and interesting. Students will be required to:

  • Learn tenses not covered at GCSE level
  • Study grammar in depth
  • Acquire a wide knowledge of Advanced vocabulary
  • Develop research skills to prepare for speaking assessments and essay questions
  • Practise the four language skills in class and outside lesson time

Course Aims

By the end of the course you will:

  • have the knowledge, skills and understanding for practical use, further study and/or employment.
  • be able to communicate with speakers of Spanish.
  • take your place in a multilingual, global society.