The A Level in Spanish aims to encourage students to develop their interest in language learning, considering their study of the language in a broader context. Therefore, it aims to develop students’ awareness and understanding of contemporary society, cultural background and heritage as well as to communicate confidently, clearly and effectively in the target language for a range of purposes. With the growing expectation that candidates applying for jobs should be competent in at least one foreign language, Spanish is suitable for students wishing to pursue a wide variety of courses and subsequent careers.
Applicants should have the required background experience and qualifications to start a course. For a typical A Level course, the College normally requires 5 GCSE passes at grades A* - C / 9 - 4, including English and Mathematics. A satisfactory IELTS score is an alternative to GCSE.
Paper 1: Listening, reading and translation (Paper code: 9SP0/01) Written examination: 2 hours, 40% of the qualification, 80 marks Section A: Listening (30 marks) A listening assessment based on a recording, featuring male and female Spanish speakers. Students will respond to comprehension questions based on a variety of contexts and sources. Section B: Reading (30 marks) A reading assessment based on a variety of text types and genres where students will have to respond to comprehension questions. Section C: Translation into English (20 marks) An unseen passage to be translated from Spanish to English. Paper 2: Written response to works and translation (Paper code: 9SP0/02) Written examination: 2 hours and 40 minutes, 30% of the qualification, 120 marks Section A: Translation (20 marks) Students translate an unseen passage from English into Spanish. Section B: Written response to works (literary texts) (50 marks) Students must write an extended response on either one or two of the prescribed literary texts and films. Students select one question from a choice of two for each of their chosen literary text(s). If a student answers questions on two literary texts then they do not complete Section C. Section C: Written response to works (films) (50 marks) Students who answer only one question from a literary text in Section B must now write an extended response on one of the prescribed literary texts and films. Students select one question from a choice of two for their chosen film. Paper 3: Speaking (Paper code: 9SP0/03) Internally conducted and externally assessed Total assessment time: between 21 and 23 minutes, which includes a single period of 5 minutes of formal preparation time 30% of the qualification, 72 marks Students complete two tasks. Task 1 is worth 30 marks and Task 2 is worth 42 marks. Task 1 (discussion on a Theme) Students discuss one theme from the specification based on a stimulus containing two different statements. Task 2, Part 1 (independent research presentation) Students present a summary of at least two of the written sources they have used for their research and give a personal response to what they have read. Task 2, Part 2 (discussion on independent research) Students answer questions on their presentation and then have a wider discussion on their research.
About Education Provider
| Region | London |
| Local Authority | City of London |
| Ofsted Rating | |
| Gender Type | Co-Educational |
| ISI Report | View Report |
| Boarding Fee | £21,000 - £27,300 |
| Sixth Form Fee | £8,200 - £43,500 |
| Address | 31 Jewry Street, London, EC3N 2ET |
The A Level in Spanish aims to encourage students to develop their interest in language learning, considering their study of the language in a broader context. Therefore, it aims to develop students’ awareness and understanding of contemporary society, cultural background and heritage as well as to communicate confidently, clearly and effectively in the target language for a range of purposes. With the growing expectation that candidates applying for jobs should be competent in at least one foreign language, Spanish is suitable for students wishing to pursue a wide variety of courses and subsequent careers.
Applicants should have the required background experience and qualifications to start a course. For a typical A Level course, the College normally requires 5 GCSE passes at grades A* - C / 9 - 4, including English and Mathematics. A satisfactory IELTS score is an alternative to GCSE.
Paper 1: Listening, reading and translation (Paper code: 9SP0/01) Written examination: 2 hours, 40% of the qualification, 80 marks Section A: Listening (30 marks) A listening assessment based on a recording, featuring male and female Spanish speakers. Students will respond to comprehension questions based on a variety of contexts and sources. Section B: Reading (30 marks) A reading assessment based on a variety of text types and genres where students will have to respond to comprehension questions. Section C: Translation into English (20 marks) An unseen passage to be translated from Spanish to English. Paper 2: Written response to works and translation (Paper code: 9SP0/02) Written examination: 2 hours and 40 minutes, 30% of the qualification, 120 marks Section A: Translation (20 marks) Students translate an unseen passage from English into Spanish. Section B: Written response to works (literary texts) (50 marks) Students must write an extended response on either one or two of the prescribed literary texts and films. Students select one question from a choice of two for each of their chosen literary text(s). If a student answers questions on two literary texts then they do not complete Section C. Section C: Written response to works (films) (50 marks) Students who answer only one question from a literary text in Section B must now write an extended response on one of the prescribed literary texts and films. Students select one question from a choice of two for their chosen film. Paper 3: Speaking (Paper code: 9SP0/03) Internally conducted and externally assessed Total assessment time: between 21 and 23 minutes, which includes a single period of 5 minutes of formal preparation time 30% of the qualification, 72 marks Students complete two tasks. Task 1 is worth 30 marks and Task 2 is worth 42 marks. Task 1 (discussion on a Theme) Students discuss one theme from the specification based on a stimulus containing two different statements. Task 2, Part 1 (independent research presentation) Students present a summary of at least two of the written sources they have used for their research and give a personal response to what they have read. Task 2, Part 2 (discussion on independent research) Students answer questions on their presentation and then have a wider discussion on their research.