Languages
Scaling support for 2016 and 2017 specification A level languages
Grade boundaries for 2016 specification (French, German and Spanish) and 2017 specification (Chinese, Italian and Russian) A levels are now determined using scaled subject marks rather than raw marks. As they are linear, they are awarded at qualification rather than at paper level. This guidance has been produced to explain the scaling and to illustrate how this affects the raw marks.
In addition, there’s an online converter to help you transfer raw marks into scaled ones. This should prove helpful when marking mock exams and used in conjunction with the relevant A level qualification grade boundaries.
Subject advisor
Rebecca Waker
Languages
Subject updates
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March 2026 Languages Update
Welcome to the March 2026 Languages update. For some international qualifications, speaking exams are now getting underway, while for UK qualifications this is still a time to prepare and get everything in place.
Alongside speaking, this update also flags a small number of wider qualification updates and reminders worth knowing about now, with clear signposting to the support available, so you can focus on what matters most for you and your students.
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GCSE (2024) French, German and Spanish Digital Sequencing Tool
The Digital Sequencing Tool replaces the GCSE French, German and Spanish Sequencing Grids from the previous qualification.
From 2026 onwards, teachers will use this digital tool to create the individual sequences of tasks for each assessment.