German

• Course Overview
• Assessment & Examination
• Resources
• Prior Knowledge
• Beyond The Course
• Entry Requirements

Course Overview

A Level German is a vibrant, stimulating course which allows students with a passion for languages to take their skills to a much greater level. Over the course of two years, you will study a variety of topics including German festivals and traditions, art and architecture, youth politics, and immigration, whilst honing your four skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening. You will also read two literary texts, learning to discuss and analyse these in essays. The speaking exam, as well as featuring the topics covered over the two years, also includes a presentation by you on a German topic of your choice. You will start your research at the end of Year 12, aiming to demonstrate a thorough knowledge of your subject.

Assessment & Examination

A-level German is a 2-year course, with three examinations at the end of the second year.

Paper 1 - Listening, Reading and Writing (2 hours 30 minutes) 50% of A-level

• Listening and responding to questions in the Target Language
• Reading and responding to questions in the Target Language.
• Translations from and into the Target Language.

Paper 2 - Writing (2 hours) 20% of A-level

• Answer 2 essay questions on 2 texts that you will have studied.

Paper 3 – Speaking - 30% of A-level

• Discussion of one of the themes studied based on a stimulus card (5–6 minutes)
• Presentation (2 minutes) and discussion (9–10 minutes) of individual research project.

Resources

• You will be provided with a wide variety of target language materials and resources to enhance your learning outside of lessons, including textbooks and literary texts. We also encourage you to purchase a good German-English dictionary and grammar books.

Prior Knowledge

You should have a keen interest in languages and an ability to learn vocabulary and grammar rules in class and independently.

Beyond The Course

A-level Languages students can go on to study Languages at University – one or more, possibly alongside another subject. Universities often offer options to keep a language going as a minor subject alongside others, such a Business or Law. Travelling or working abroad is also a possibility. The ability to speak another language is a skill greatly valued by employers in many industries, opening up opportunities locally and further afield.

Entry Requirements

GCSE Level 6 in German

Entry to Sixth Form also requires:

• GCSE Level 5 in English and Mathematics
• Four other GCSEs at Level 5
• Four other GCSEs at Level 5, in addition to English and Maths.