The GCSE course provides an opportunity to study the language and the culture of China, the country with economical and political importance as well as the social and cultural arguments. It is designed to equip our girls properly for the multilingual global society and the increasingly competitive future we live in. The New Specification (commences in September 2009) made the course more accessible for Western speakers.
Subject Aims: To enable girls to develop:
- an understanding of Chinese in a variety of contexts
- a knowledge of Chinese vocabulary and structures
- transferable language learning skills
- the ability to communicate effectively in Chinese
- awareness and understanding of countries and communities where Chinese is spoken.
New Specification for external examination topic areas (Listening and Reading)
- Out and about
- Visitor information; Basic weather; Local amenities
- Accommodation; Public transport; Directions
- Customer service and transactions
- Cafés and restaurants; Shops; Dealing with problems
- Personal information
- General interests; Leisure activities; Family and friends; Lifestyle
- Future plans, education and work
- Basic language of the internet; Simple job advertisements
- Simple job applications and CV; School and college; Work and work experience
Controlled Assessment Themes (Speaking and Writing)
- Media and culture: Music/film/reading; Fashion/celebrities/religion; Blogs/internet
- Sport and leisure: General interests; Sporting events; Lifestyle choices
- Travel and tourism: Holidays; Accommodation; Eating, food, drink
- Business, work and employment: Work experience; part-time jobs; Product or service information
- Centre-based option
Assessment
| Unit |
Percentage |
Time |
Assessment |
| Listening |
20% |
40min + 5min reading time |
June. Externally assessed. |
| Speaking |
30% |
2 tasks of 4-6min each |
Can be taken at any time during the course prior to the deadline selected for submission of marks. Marked by the centre with a representative sample externally moderated by Edexcel. |
| Reading |
20% |
50min |
June. Externally assessed. |
| Writing |
30% |
2 single assessment sessions of no more than 1 hour |
Can be taken at any time during the course prior to the deadline selected for submission of marks. Controlled assessment. Marked by Edexcel. |
The full exam board spec. can be found here.