Languages
Changes to GCSE MFL papers from summer 2023
An update on Ofqual's consultation decision to extend vocabulary adaptations to GCSE Modern Foreign Language exam papers, with effect from May/June 2023 onwards.
Ofqual’s consultation on extending vocabulary adaptations, originally introduced for the summer 2022 series as an accessibility measure, has now concluded. As a result, the requirement for awarding bodies to use vocabulary that is not on the specification vocabulary lists for GCSE Modern Foreign Language assessments has been removed from summer 2023 onwards. In addition, this will allow exam boards to give the meaning of (gloss) unfamiliar vocabulary.
GCSE French, German and Spanish
For Paper 1 (Listening) and Paper 3 (Reading), all words outside the core vocabulary list in the specification, which are not cognates, will be removed. This applies to both Foundation and Higher tier papers.
These adaptations do not affect Paper 2 (Speaking) or Paper 4 (Writing) as the vocabulary in these papers is already drawn exclusively from the core vocabulary lists. These changes will apply for the lifetime of the current (2016) specifications.
GCSE Arabic, Chinese, Greek, Gujarati, Italian, Japanese, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Turkish and Urdu
For these languages we will be following a two-stage approach to adapting our assessments, due to the late notification of the required changes:
1. For summer 2023 all words outside the core vocabulary list in the specification will be glossed for Paper 1 (Listening) and Paper 3 (Reading), at both Foundation and Higher tiers.
2. From summer 2024 onwards, Paper 1 and Paper 3 will use only the core vocabulary list, as far as possible, with minimal use of glossing where unavoidable.
These adaptations do not affect Paper 2 (Speaking) or Paper 4 (Writing) as the vocabulary in these papers is already drawn exclusively from the core vocabulary lists. These changes will apply for the lifetime of the current specifications.
NB The 2016 GCSEs’ vocabulary lists were not required to be comprehensive and presumed prior knowledge from KS3 study. This removal/glossing will therefore not apply to commonly understood words such as those taught at KS3, which will continue to be included in the reading and listening texts as necessary. This is the same approach as used for the covid adaptations.
Subject advisor
Rebecca Waker
Languages
Subject updates
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July 2024 Languages Update
Dear colleagues,
Welcome to my last full update of the 2023-2024 academic year. In this update I have news to share regarding free resources, our popular Revise resources and an update on the GCE Chinese and Japanese ammendment.
I have also included all the key dates and information you will need in preparation for exam results. I hope you enjoy a relaxing summer break and I will be in touch prior to the results days in August with key reminders.
As ever, you can contact me via the details at the bottom of this page and I’ll be happy to support with your questions related to our qualifications.
Best wishes,
RebeccaSubject Advisor for Languages
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Getting Ready for Results 2024
Dear colleagues,
Please see below all the details you should need related to exam results and post-results services.
As ever, you can contact me via the details at the bottom of this page and I’ll be happy to support with your questions related to our qualifications.
Best wishes,
RebeccaSubject Advisor for Languages