Languages
Update on speaking endorsement
This quick update refers to the support available for this important element of the amendments made to GCSE and International GCSE language assessments in summer 2021.
You're reminded that speaking endorsement applies to GCSEs in all languages and to our International GCSEs in Chinese, French, German and Spanish.
As confirmed in GCSE and International GCSE posts, the speaking endorsement criteria were finalised by Ofqual in November 2020 and a link to their ‘Subject Level Conditions and Requirements’ documents was provided.
GCSE -Speaking endorsement assessment criteria for summer 2021
International GCSE - Speaking endorsement assessment criteria for summer 2021
You can discover more on the speaking endorsement by visiting the ‘Summer 2021 Exams Support’ tab at the top of each of the relevant qualification pages on our website. From here, you’ll be able to access the following:
In addition, there are useful exemplification of possible target-language grammatical structures at 'Pass', 'Merit' and 'Distinction' levels for each of the fourteen languages that we offer. International GCSE teachers can access the guidance from the link below.
Language-specific International GCSE summer 2021 guidance
Further support is available in the form of pre-recorded Subject Advisor briefings:
Getting to grips with GCSE speaking endorsement
Getting to grips with speaking endorsement – International GCSE Chinese, French, German and Spanish
As you will see from the FAQs, all candidates (including private and non-taught candidates) must be offered an opportunity for some speaking assessment to facilitate speaking endorsement. This can be done with external tutors and remotely. Although our language qualifications are designed for taught learners, I’ve posted some support in the Language teacher Community if you’re looking for specialist teachers to conduct speaking assessments in languages that are not taught at your school or college.
Help me find someone to conduct a speaking assessment in a language not taught at my centre
The Centre needs to ensure that an assessor declaration form is completed by the person assessing the students and responsible for determining the candidates' speaking endorsement levels. This has been uploaded to our website and you can access via the links below:
Subject advisor
Rebecca Waker
Languages
Subject updates
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March 2024 Languages Update
Dear colleagues,
Welcome to your March 2024 Pearson Edexcel Languages qualifications update.
If you had one I hope your February half term break was enjoyable. In this update I am pleased to be able to share with you various support documents and resources related to both the current and new GCSE specifications. I am also including information related to the speaking exams as these are coming up soon for most of our qualifications.
As always, please do get in contact if there is anything I can support you with in relation to our languages qualifications.
Best wishes
Rebecca Waker
Subject Advisor for Languages
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February 2024 Languages Update
Dear colleagues,
I hope you have had a postitive start to 2024. In this update I have lots to share with you related to resources and support both for our current and new specifications.
It's been great getting to see lots of you either online or face-to-face at events like the Association of Language Learning London event this month.
Please remember that you can get in touch with me using the details at the bottom of this page. I am available for all your questions about our languages qualifications.
Best wishes
Rebecca Waker
Subject Advisor for Languages