German A level
Exam Board – AQA
Qualification – A Level 7661
Entry requirements – Five GCSEs at grades 9-4, including grade 6 in German and 5 in English
Course specification
During your two years studying A level German, you will cover a variety of themes, including:
• The changing state of the family (Familie im Wandel)
• The digital world (Die digitale Welt)
• Youth culture: fashion and trends, music, television (Jugendkultur: Mode, Musik und Fernsehen)
• Festivals and traditions (Feste und Traditionen)
• Art and architecture (Kunst und Architektur)
• Cultural life in Berlin, past and present (Das Berliner Kulturleben damals und heute)
Paper 1: Listening, reading and writing
What’s assessed
• Aspects of German-speaking society
• Artistic culture in the German-speaking world
• Grammar
How it’s assessed
• Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes
• 90 marks
• 45% of AS
Paper 2: Writing
What’s assessed
• One text or one film from the lists in the specification
• Grammar
How it’s assessed
• Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes
• 50 marks
• 25% of AS
Questions
• Translation into German; a passage of minimum 70 words (15 marks).
• Either one question in German on a set text from a choice of two questions or one question in German on a set film from a choice of two questions (35 marks).
• All questions will require a critical response to aspects such as plot, characterisation, imagery or other stylistic features as appropriate to the work studied.
Paper 3: Speaking
What’s assessed
One sub-theme from Aspects of German-speaking society and one sub-theme
from Artistic culture in the German-speaking world.
How it’s assessed
• Oral exam: 12–14 minutes
• 60 marks
• 30% of AS
Questions
Discussion of two sub-themes (6–7 minutes on each) with the discussion based on
a stimulus card for each sub-theme. The student studies the cards for 15 minutes
before the test begins.
What doors will this open up for me?
The ability to communicate in a foreign language is a very valuable asset in an increasingly globalised world. Studying German A level will gives students the opportunity to pursue their studies at a higher level at university or to use the skills you acquire to enhance your CV and employment prospects in a range of careers.
Careers most often associated with languages include those in the travel industry, bi-lingual secretaries, translators, interpreters, marketing and retail. However, for many careers a language qualification, although perhaps not essential, can be seen as a desirable asset by employers. This is why many universities combine a variety of subjects with language study such as law, business and management studies, and indeed an increasing number prefer a language qualification on entry.
