Consultation outcome

GCSE reform: regulations for modern foreign languages

From:
Ofqual
Published
16 December 2014
Last updated
9 February 2015 — See all updates

Applies to England

This consultation has concluded

Read the full outcome

GCSE Modern Foreign Languages: Decisions on Conditions and Guidance

Ref: Ofqual/15/5613

PDF, 162 KB, 5 pages

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Analysis of Responses to our Consultation on Conditions and Guidance for GCSE Modern Foreign Languages

Ref: Ofqual/15/5605

PDF, 321 KB, 18 pages

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Detail of outcome

We have decided to adopt our proposed rules and guidance for reformed GCSEs in French, German and Spanish, with minor changes to clarify some of our expectations. We have now published final versions of our:

Our new rules will require reformed GCSEs in French, German and Spanish to:

  • comply with the Department for Education’s subject content for modern foreign languages, and our assessment objectives
  • offer Foundation tier (grades 1 to 5) and Higher tier (grades 4 to 9) assessments
  • assess spoken language skills using non-exam assessment that is set and marked by the awarding organisation, and taken by students during a five week period in April and May
  • use a common approach to spoken language assessments – with all assessments of similar length (between 7 and 9 minutes at Foundation tier, between 10 and 12 minutes at Higher tier), and involving similar tasks
  • assess listening skills using a common approach – a 35 minute assessment at Foundation tier, and a 45 minute assessment at Higher tier
  • prohibit the use of dictionaries in exams and the speaking assessment, as well as in the formal preparation period before the speaking assessment
  • allocate 5% of marks (split between speaking and writing) to knowledge and accurate application of the grammar and structures of the language

Our new rules allow (but do not require) awarding organisations to produce vocabulary lists as part of their specifications – provided they design their assessments in a way which is not restricted to the words on the list.

Our guidance explains how awarding organisations should interpret parts of the subject content, and our assessment objectives.

Original consultation

Summary

Proposed regulations and guidance for the design, delivery and award of new modern foreign languages GCSEs.

This consultation ran from
to

Consultation description

This consultation is about the rules and guidance we need to put in place for new GCSEs in modern foreign languages. These rules will apply to the exam boards that want to offer new modern foreign languages GCSEs from September 2016. This is part of Ofqual’s work supporting the government’s changes to GCSEs, AS and A levels.

Documents

GCSE Modern Foreign Languages: Consultation on Conditions and Guidance

Ref: Ofqual/14/5581

PDF, 469 KB, 43 pages

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Updates to this page

Published 16 December 2014
Last updated 9 February 2015 + show all updates

  1. Published consultation outcome, and conditions and guidance for reformed GCSEs in French, German and Spanish

  2. First published.

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