1. New Specification AQA Exam in June 2010

2.  Media  TV, Advertising, IT  Popular Culture  Cinema, Music, Fashion/Trends  Healthy Living/Lifestyle  Sport/exercise, health, holidays  Family/Relationships  relationships in family, friendship, partnership

3.  Stimulus card discussion: 5 minutes  Conversation: 10 minutes  Preparation Time: 20 min

4. Stimulus card: 1 sub-topic chosen by candidate out of a choice of two. Conversation: 1 topic or sub-topic chosen by candidate. 2 topics or sub-topics chosen by examiner. Note: The sub-topics have to come from different main topics, so in the end we will have covered all 4 main topics.

5. Stimulus Card: Television (discarded: Holidays) Conversation: Music (student choice ) Holidays (alternative: advertising) Friendships NB: Clashes between student choice and Stimulus Card are avoided by moving down the prescribed sequence of card choice

6. ¡Compra, compra, compra! ¡Precios reducidos! ¡Grandes rebajas! Publicidad en internet Anuncios en la televisión En la calle grandes vallas publicitarias Preguntas ¿De qué trata esta tarjeta? ¿Crees tú lo que se dice en la publicidad? ¿Crees que se ven demasiados anuncios en la televisión? ¿Es verdad que la publicidad es un arte creativo? ¿Hasta qué punto la publicidad influye al público?

7. Part 1: Printed questions  The 5 printed questions will be asked in sequence. (exception: if the first answer was not sufficient a question for more detail may be asked)  Last 2 ½ minutes ( i.e. 30 seconds per question  details need to be given)  "Natural flow": candidate should try to say rather than read their prepared answers (even though the notes from preparation time can be brought in)

8. Part 2: Further questions  Lasts 2 ½ minutes.  5 supplementary questions generated by candidate‘s response.  Candidate needs to include more details & focus on the range of tenses, sentences structures & verb endings.  The questions may move away from the card's content BUT must stay within the sub-topic (which is stated on the card).  Discussion should flow naturally from the stimulus material into the wider discussion of the sub-topic.

9.  Part 1 (printed questions) - 5 marks overall 5 marks: Student develops a wide range of relevant points. 4 marks: develops a number of relevant points 3 marks: some points, little development  Part 2 (further questions) - 5 marks overall 5 marks: Responds to all opportunities to express and develop views and opinions 4 marks: Some evidence of developing ideas and opinions 3 marks: Ideas and opinions are simplistic and underdeveloped. Note: -No marks for factual knowledge. -lengthy pre-learnt response to questions in Part 2 of the Stimulus Card will restrict the marks to a maximum of 2 points.

10.  Conversation will cover the 3 remaining AS topics.  Lasts 10 minutes (approx. 3 minutes on each topic).  Fewer than 2 minutes on any topic will reduce the candidate‘s mark by one band.

11.  Starts with the topic or sub-topic chosen and prepared by candidate:  Students must give a prompt card with up to 5 bullet points to examiner 2 days before.  The prompt card mustn‘t contain any conjugated verb or full sentences.  Not all points need to be covered (nor in the same order as on the card) but the points on the card must be the steer for the examiner.  No aspects outside the heardings on the prompt card will be covered  Prompt card will be sent to AQA.  Lasts approx. 4 minutes.

12. Sub-topic: El cine  Cine ¿cultura o diversión?  Mis películas favoritas  Las películas de terror  La influencia del cine  El futuro del cine

13.  2 more topics (or sub-topics) covered  Lasts 3 minutes each  depth rather than breadth  Candidate must develop ideas and opinions & show spontaneity to access highest mark for interaction.  Delivery of mainly pre-learnt answers will adversely affect the marks awarded.  Examiner will follow up on candidate‘s response rather than a „question & answer“ session.  no discreet points for knowledge of target-language society, i.e. entire exam could be about issues in GB.

14.  explain and exemplify  Describe and define  compare and contrast  give opinions directly  Balancing pros and cons/merits & pitfalls  Give reasons why/why not  hypothetical mode: ¿qué harías si tuvieras....?

15.  Fluency - 10 marks  Pronunciation and Intonation - 5 marks  Interaction: 9-10 marks: A meaningful exchange. Develops ideas spontaneously. Can counter views. 7-8 marks: Reasonable Response. Some spontaneity. Can justify opinions. 5-6 marks: Limited response to challenges of opinions. Offers mostly factual information. 3-4 marks: dependent on examiner‘s prompting.  Knowledge of Grammar - 15 marks (awarded across both parts of the exam.)

16.  develop, make notes of ideas and examples on all sub-topics,  have lots of opinions and reasons for them,  think about how to steer the conversation to topics you want to talk about,  know advanced phrases for giving, defending, contradicting opinions,  know phrases for giving examples and details,  Practice as much as possible in class, with Verónica and between you!!!!