German is spoken by more than 120 million people around the globe and is in the top ten of the most widely spoken languages in the world. Germany is vital to the UK as our largest single trading partner, so wherever you choose to work, you are likely to have contact with Germany and need the language. Studying German

These topics are covered across the two year course and range from ‘Familie im Wandel’ to ‘Deutschland und die EU’ to ‘Feste und Traditionen’.

The Individual research project is linked directly to the speaking exam and makes up approximately 85% of your oral marks.

You decide on your research project so be wise and choose something which interests you!

There are three A-level exams:

Paper 1: Listening, reading and writing

Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes; total raw mark: 100.

You will be tested on all 3 skills, including translation across all of the aforementioned subject content areas.

Paper 2: Writing

Duration: 2 hours; total raw mark: 80.

This paper allows you to choose from two questions based on a film and a book. You will study both but can choose which one to write about in the exam.

Paper 3: Speaking

Duration: 21–23 minutes (including 5 minutes supervised preparation time); total raw mark: 60.

The test will be in two parts. Part 1 will be the discussion of one sub-theme from those in this specification, lasting 5–6 minutes, and Part 2 will be the presentation and discussion of the student’s individual research project.

Extending Your Experience

The course clearly lends itself to travel and communication within German speaking countries. You will be involved in the development of European links and may have the opportunity to undertake work experience abroad as part of your studies.

Entry Requirements:

You will require a GCSE pass in German at grade 5 or above. We will consider other candidates on an individual basis.

Where will this course take me?

The European Union is our largest trading partner and having good language skills will considerably widen your employment opportunities. In many employment fields such as Marketing, Finance, Tourism and Engineering, at least one modern language is a must. An A level in German is a valid qualification towards university entrance requirements.