When and How Will the GCSE Be Assessed?

GCSE French/ Italian- An Overview

Examboard: Edexcel www.edexcel.com

When and how will the GCSE be assessed?  Unit 1 = Listening paper worth 20% of final GCSE grade. (F = 30 mins H = 40 mins). TL recordings with questions in English mainly.  Unit 2 = Two controlled speaking assessments lasting 4-6 minutes each and worth 30% of the final GCSE grade (15% each one)  Unit 3 = reading paper worth 20% of final GCSE grade. (F = 35 mins H = 50 mins). TL texts with questions in English mainly.  Unit 4 = Two controlled writing assessments of approximately 200 words lasting one hour each and worth 30% of the final GCSE grade (15% each). For example a film review, a magazine article about what it is like being a teenager, a web page about your school or a blog about what you did at half term. You will prepare and draft the piece in class, then write it up in exam conditions just using notes and a dictionary.

Speaking (Year 10/11) Writing (Year 10/11) Reading & Listening Assessment by teacher Assessed by Edexcel Examination (May/June of Year 11)

Your teacher will choose when during the You will carry out two pieces You can take either a Foundation Tier or Higher course you do your assessment, so you only of writing, for example an Tier paper in each skill. In the listening test, you do it when you are completely ready. article for a magazine, a web will answer questions on recorded material For the speaking part, your teacher will assess page, a blog, or a letter of a from different topic areas. Some material will you. You will carry out two activities from the minimum of 200 words. be formal (for example a telephone message) following: and some informal (for example a conversation • an open interaction. between friends). In the reading test, you will This will be like a non-scripted play and could answer questions about short texts on relate to a transactional situation different topics, for example text messages, • a discussion with your teacher about a advertisements and emails. photo or picture that you have brought in of something personal to you • a short presentation about something that interests you.

Websites http://www.zut.org.uk/index.html (free after 4pm) click on years 10 and 11 and practice all exercises on various topics www.edexcel.com website for Edexcel French and Italian. Students can practice past papers and look at examiners’ reports for common errors. http://www.linguascope.com/ username: campionsch password: global click on linguastars and practice exercises there. http://www.wildfrench.co.uk/ click on avantage 4 and GCSE revision (French GCSE students only)