Students choosing an A level in French, German, Spanish or another modern language in England often ask what the course involves beyond “more advanced GCSE”. The Department for Education (DfE) sets the framework that every exam board specification must follow in its document “GCE AS and A level subject content for modern foreign languages”, published 18 December 2014 for teaching from 2016 and last updated on 13 July 2023. It applies to England. This article summarises that document, and it does not compare exam boards, whose specifications add their own detail. It is general information for learners and adult returners, not advice on choosing a board.
What the course is meant to achieve
The DfE describes the study of a modern language as an interdisciplinary subject with the same cognitive and academic advantages as other humanities. It says the content provides depth of knowledge, understanding and intercultural competence, and fosters transferable skills such as communication, critical thinking, autonomy, resourcefulness and creativity. The document says the content was designed to be relevant to students of all disciplines, whether or not they go on to study the subject further, and to offer a foundation for degree-level study.
Its aims include developing control of the language system to convey meaning in speech and writing, interacting effectively with users of the language including through online media, engaging critically with texts and films in the original language, and mediating between cultures and between speakers of the language and speakers of English. A level students must also develop their capacity for critical and analytical thinking, and as independent researchers, through the language of study. The AS and A level content must build on the knowledge, understanding and skills in the GCSE content, which the site’s guide to GCSE French, German and Spanish summarises.
Themes: society, culture and the arts
Specifications must require students to study themes relating to the society and culture, past and present, of the countries where the language is spoken, from two areas of interest: social issues and trends, and political and/or intellectual and/or artistic culture. The rule is one theme from each area at AS (two in total) and two themes from each area at A level (four in total). The DfE says students must use authentic spoken and written sources from a variety of contexts and genres, including online media, as stimulus material for the themes and for language development at the same time.
The language skills tested
The subject content lists what students must be able to do. It includes using language spontaneously to initiate communication, ask and answer questions, express feelings, present viewpoints, develop arguments, persuade, and analyse and evaluate in speech and writing. It requires applying knowledge of pronunciation, morphology, syntax, vocabulary and idiom, and using communication strategies such as adjusting the message, circumlocution and self-correction. Students must listen and respond to spoken passages, including some extended ones, and read and respond to a variety of texts, including contemporary, historical and literary material. They must be able to infer meaning from complex material, summarise information from spoken and written sources, and translate:
- unseen passages from the language of study into English at both AS and A level;
- unseen sentences or short texts into the language of study at AS, and an unseen passage or passages at A level.
Literature and film
At AS, the DfE says students must study one literary work or film and respond critically in writing, in the language of study, to aspects such as plot structure, characterisation and imagery. At A level, they must study two works, either a literary work and a film or two literary works. The list of literary works must include at least two of these genres: novels, series of short stories, plays, selections of poems and life writing such as autobiography or letters. The film list must include feature-length films and may include selections of short films organised by theme or director. Students cannot be assessed on both a film adapted from a literary work and the original literary work.
The individual research project
A level specifications must also require students to develop research skills in the language of study. They must show they can initiate and conduct individual research on a subject of personal interest relating to a country where the language is spoken, identify a key question and select relevant information from authentic sources including the internet, use the information to illustrate their knowledge, and analyse and summarise findings through oral presentation and discussion.
Grammar lists
An annex sets out the grammatical content for French, German and Spanish, divided by AS and A level. The DfE says the examples in the lists are indicative rather than exhaustive, and that items marked (R) require receptive knowledge only. The French AS list, for instance, covers noun gender and agreement, pronouns including relative and reflexive forms, and tenses from the present and perfect to the conditional and pluperfect, with the past historic marked (R). For other languages, awarding organisations must develop grammar appendices “comparable” in challenge and breadth to those for French, German and Spanish.
Chinese is treated differently
An annex sets out exceptions for Chinese, added in the July 2023 update. Questions and responses in listening and reading comprehension tasks must be in English unless writing skills are also intentionally being assessed. Questions about literary works and films are provided in both Chinese and English, though students still respond in Chinese.
Common questions
Does this apply outside England?
The DfE document applies to England. The site’s piece on Scotland’s 1+2 language policy covers a different system.
Can adults sit the qualification privately?
See the guide to taking a language GCSE or A level as a private candidate.
The bottom line
The DfE’s A level framework for England makes a language course a study of culture and society as well as language: four themes at A level, two works, an individual research project, translation in both directions and, for French, German and Spanish, defined grammar lists. Chinese has its own exceptions. Exam boards fill in the detail, so a learner should read the chosen board’s specification alongside this framework.
Sources
- Department for Education, “Modern foreign languages: GCE AS and A level subject content” (July 2023) (assets.publishing.service.gov.uk)
- GOV.UK, “GCE AS and A level modern foreign languages” (publication page and update history)