Why study A level German?
Whatever plans you have for the future, a knowledge of German will increase your career options. For example, knowing the language of your German business partner improves relations and therefore fosters effective communication and global success.
Did you know that German is the second most commonly used scientific language? Many important websites are in German and Germany is also ranked within the top ten countries globally in terms of annual publication of new books. Knowledge of German therefore offers you extensive international connections for a broad spectrum of careers and interests, all of which are reasons why a German A level will give you the skills you will need to contribute to a multinational and multilingual society.
Level: A level
Board: AQA
Lead teacher/head of department:
Mrs F Chase
Entry requirement: Grade 6 GCSE German; five grade 5s at GCSE including English and
maths
How will A level German be delivered and assessed?
| Year | Unit | Content | Assessment |
| 12 | Themes and grammar | Aspects of German-speaking society: e.g. family, digital world, youth culture Grammar fundamentals and accuracy in spoken/written German | Classroom tasks and mock exams |
| Film or text study | One work from the AQA set list: typically a film such as Good Bye, Lenin! or Das Leben der Anderen | Essay writing, discussion, mock assessment | |
| Speaking practice | General conversation practice Development of fluency and confidence through classroom oral tasks | Teacher-assessed mock speaking tasks | |
| 13 | Listening, reading and writing (50%) | Multiculturalism and aspects of political life in German-speaking countries Grammar consolidation Translation tasks (Eng–Ger / Ger–Eng) | 2-hour and 30-minute written exam Includes two translations |
| Writing (20%) | One literary text and one film, or two literary texts (e.g. Der Vorleser, Andorra) | 2-hour written exam Two critical/analytical essays in German | |
| Speaking (30%) | Individual Research Project (IRP) Discussion of one sub-theme based on stimulus cards | 21–23 minute oral exam (incl. 5 min prep) |
Individual research project (IRP) :
Students must identify a subject or a key question which is of interest to them and which relates to a country or countries where German is spoken. They must select relevant information in German from a range of sources including the internet. The aim of the research project is to develop research skills. Students will demonstrate their ability to initiate and conduct individual research by analysing and summarising their findings, in order to present and discuss them in the speaking assessment.
Examples of IRP topics:
- Sport in der deutschen Gesellschaft (Sport in German society)
- A topic related to a personal interest such as ‘Der Nürburgring’ (The Nürburgring’), ‘Deutsche Hunderassen’ (German dog breeds), ‘Deutsche Computerspiele’ (German computer games),
- An issue such as ‘Tierrecht in Deutschland’ (Animal rights in Germany), ‘Einwanderung in der Schweiz’ (Immigration in Switzerland)
- Debatten zu Umweltfragen im deutschsprachigen Raum (Environmental debates in the German-speaking world)
- Theater und Cabaret im deutschsprachigen Raum (Theatre and Cabaret in the German-speaking world)
