COURSES

Spanish
Assessment is by terminal exam with two units at
AS and two at A2 level. At both levels, there is a
combined listening, reading and writing paper and a
separate speaking exam. For AS, the speaking exam
accounts for 30% of the overall mark, while the
combined paper accounts for 70%. For A2, the two
AS marks are taken into account but are worth 15%
and 35% respectively and the two A2 units have the
same weighting.
Course outline
AS
Virtually all the key grammar needed to speak the
language fluently is covered in the AS course.
The topics are: Media – TV, advertising,
communication technology; Popular culture –
cinema, music, fashion, trends; Healthy living and
lifestyle – exercise, health and well-being and
holidays; Family relationships – relationships within
the family, friendships, partnerships/marriages.
A2
The grammar covered at AS is reinforced so that
accuracy and manipulation of the language improves.
The topics are: Environment – pollution, energy and
protecting the planet; Multi-cultural society –
immigration, racism and integration; Contemporary
social issues – wealth and poverty, law and order and
the impact of scientific and technological advance.
In addition, pupils at A2 will study a cultural topic
based on a target language country, chosen by the
tutor from:
• A region/community
• A period of twentieth century history
• A novelist/dramatist/poet
• A director/architect/musician/painter
Further information
If you feel you would like to study languages at
university, it is a good idea to study two to A2 level.
This is also helpful if you are planning on studying a
language at university that you have not studied
before as it will demonstrate that you are a good
linguist. Classical languages combine well with
modern European languages at A level as they can
assist you in working out meanings to words and
with linguistic analysis.
It is essential that pupils have at least a grade B at
GCSE and a grade A or above is desirable. If a pupil
has followed a coursework-based GCSE they are not
normally recommended to take an AS and they
should discuss the matter with the Head of
Languages.
The specification numbers are:
1696 (AS); 2696 (A2)
Full course details can be found at:
www.aqa.org.uk
For further information, please contact:
Head of Languages, Ms C Coutand-Moore,
ccm@millfieldschool.com
Millfield Sixth Form Courses 2014-2015 85