1. NEW SPECIFICATION For first teaching from Autumn 2016
GCE AS SPANISH
NEW SPECIFICATION
For first teaching from Autumn 2016

2. Specification at a glance: AS
AS: 40% of A level
AS 1: Speaking (30% of AS - 12% of A level)
AS 2 (40% of AS – 16% of A level)
Section A - Listening
Section B - Reading
Section C - Use of Language
AS 3: Extended Writing (30% of AS – 12% of A level)

3. AS level - subject content (1)
Relationships
different family structures
roles, responsibilities and relationships within families
challenges for families
intergenerational issues
influences on young people, for example peers, family and friends

4. AS level – subject content (2)
Culture and Lifestyle
physical well-being, for example diet or exercise
risk-taking behaviour, for example smoking, alcohol and drugs and extreme sports
dealing with stress and challenges, for example school or examinations
hobbies and interests, for example sport or music
the arts, film, fashion and design
social media and technology
holidays, festivals and tourism

5. Assessment Objectives
There are four assessment objectives:
AO1: understand and respond to spoken language
AO2: understand and respond to written language
AO3: manipulate the language accurately
AO4: show knowledge and understanding of aspects of the culture/society of Spanish speaking countries

6. AS 1: Speaking Content: Presentation - 3 minutes - AO4: 30 marks
Conversation - 8 minutes - AO1: 25 marks
AO3: 20 marks
What has changed:
Presentation based on an aspect of a Spanish speaking country (AO4)
No Discussion after the Presentation
What hasn’t changed:
General Conversation

7. AS 2 Section A: Listening
Content:
Qu 1: QA in Spanish marks
Qu 2: QA in English marks (40 minutes)
What has changed:
No objective assessment tasks (VFI/multiple choice)
Fewer marks for the QA in Spanish
QA in English in Question 2

8. AS 2 Section B: Reading Content:
Reading comprehension with QA in Spanish –
AO2: 20 marks
Translation from Spanish into English –
1 hour 20 minutes for Sections B and C:
50 minutes for Section B (recommended)

9. AS 2 Section B: Reading What has changed: No question on synonyms
QA in Spanish assessed according to AO2 only (no AO3)
Translation up to 130 words

10. AS 2 Section C: Use of Language
Content:
Four short grammatical or lexical exercises –
AO3: 20 marks
Translation of short sentences from English into Spanish – AO3: 15 marks
1 hour 20 minutes for Sections B and C:
30 minutes for Section C (recommended)

11. AS 3: Extended Writing Content:
One essay response on a set film or literary text :
- AO2 (Understanding/Response)
35 marks
- AO4 (Knowledge) marks
- AO3 (Target Language) marks
One hour

12. AS 3: Extended Writing What has changed:
Content based on a film or literary text
AO4 (Knowledge of the film/text) is assessed
No word limit
What hasn’t changed:
Each question has two open-ended options
Each question option is supported by three bullet-points