Skip to content ↓

Spanish A Level

Course Description

The Advanced Level course in Spanish assesses your knowledge of the language and your ability to communicate, but it is also about engaging in discussion, interacting effectively, defending views and taking a stance, independent research and extended writing. There are lots of opportunities to engage in areas of personal interest, such as films, plays or social or cultural issues.You will never be short of intellectual challenge and stimulation!

Contact: Ms B Sciarrino Exam Board: AQA
QAN: 60187323 Subject Code: Sp
The Course

There are four themes which are studied in the course. Part 1 of the first two themes is studied in Year 12 and part 2 in Year 13. 

Theme 1: Social Issues and Trends

  • Part I – Aspects of Spanish-speaking society – current trends
  • Part II – Aspects of Spanish-speaking society – current issues

Theme 2: Political and Artistic Culture

  • Part I – Artistic culture in the Spanish-speaking world
  • Part II – Political culture in the Spanish-speaking world

Theme 3: Grammar

This is not studied as a separate module; it runs throughout the other three themes.

Theme 4: Literary Texts and Films

Students will study one film in Year 12, and one literary text in Year 13

Possible Subject Combinations 

Languages are in themselves multidisciplinary subjects, and as such combine particularly well with Humanities, English, Media Studies and Business Studies; perhaps surprisingly, languages are very well perceived by universities when combined with Sciences.

What do the students say? 

“Being able to speak another language is an important life skill and I would encourage others to continue with languages into A Level.”

Where can languages take me?

A level in Spanish would enable you to progress to a degree in Spanish or to one of many degrees that combine languages with another discipline, eg Business Studies, Law, Chemistry

Spanish would also be a very useful subject for primary school teaching as languages are now compulsory in Key Stage 2

Increasing career opportunities exist which require the ability to travel and communicate in Europe and around the world

Assessment
  Assessment % A Level

Paper 1:
Listening, Reading and Translation

Comprehension exercises and translation

50%

Paper 2:
Written response to literary works and translation

Translation and grammar exercises; essay on a book or film

20%

Paper 3:
Speaking

12-15 minutes 1:1 speaking exam with a teacher

30%