GCSE FGS 2024 Specification Comparison - latest versions

Up-dated Tuesday 23rd April 2024

For each specification since 2008, I have carried out an objective detailed analysis comparing the Awarding Organisations and people have told me that this has been helpful.

While I reorganise my website, I will try to use this blogpost as a home for links to my latest analyses relating to the new GCSE 2024 specification which I will store in my Google Drive as pdfs or Google docs.

Devising high-stakes, summative assessments for very large-scale testing is a skill, and the process of analysing approaches has taught me a great deal about the elements needed for such testing which may not be those we use in a formative, teaching context.  

I think that the AOs have done a superb job in producing these specifications, responding to changes which they did not initiate and about which they were hardly consulted.  

Two of the three AOs have been accredited for French by Ofqual, and I think that the result of the accreditation process has been to make tasks and their criteria more valid, reliable, transparent and inclusive.  Eduqas is awaiting accreditation for French.  The official timeline expects German and Spanish specifications to be accredited by the Summer term.  You can then use the Autumn term to make your decision in preparation for the Year 9 Options process.

I hope this document is of help to someone, if only as a starting point for asking questions.  Any kindly worded suggestions and corrections welcome! (Every time I check I find a mistake!) On Twitter I am  @HelenMyers 

It would also be great if you could join ALL if you are not already a member!

Here is a list of documents which relate to the new GCSE 2024.  They are stored in my Google Drive. They are under regular review, and when I edit a document, I upload it again and it has a new link. 

LATEST VERSION: Up-dated Tuesday 23rd April 2024 

1. Link to 'At a Glance' comparison (word) (Revised 7/11/23) Now out of date as Eduqas has withdrawn - see new link number 17
2. Link to detailed specification comparison (20/4/24: Now out of date as Eduqas has withdrawn - see new link number 16(V12 - updated 15/7/2023)
3. Link to Verb analysis - which verbs needed, anchor verbs + those which pattern them (word)
4. Link to Grammar - itemised to facilitate review (spreadsheet)
5. Link to document detailing YouTube video Playlist. (new 15/7/23)
6. Link to Presentation for Teachmeet Icons, Manchester Saturday 7th October 2023 (New 7/10/23)
7. Link to ALL London webinar page (with links to YouTube video, pdf of presentation, chat etc) (New 26/10/23)
8. Link to spreadsheet comparing defined vocabulary of AQA and Edexcel.  Use tab 'comb sort'.  NB - this is work in progress- we plan to refine it!  But it may be that others have already done a better version, in which case I will pause! Credit to David Blow for his spreadsheet skills!  (Revised 8/11/23)  Vocabulary spreadsheet key 
9. Link to AQA GCSE 2024 Foundation Formative Criteria for Dictation, Speaking and Writing  (Revised 7/11/23)
10. Link to AQA GCSE 2024 HigherFormative Criteria for Dictation, Speaking and Writing (Revised 7/11/23)
11. Link to Edexcel GCSE 2024 Foundation Formative Criteria for Dictation, Speaking and Writing (Revised 7/11/23)
12. Link to Edexcel GCSE 2024 Higher Formative Criteria for Dictation, Speaking and Writing (Revised 7/11/23)
13. Verbs and tenses revision course (reference for learners, links to Flippity games + classroom routine dialogues) (New 8/11/23)
14. Link to Presentation for Ely schools 9th November 2023 (458 slides!!!)  (New 11/11/23)
15. Link to Presentation at Language Show 11th November 2023 (180 slides) (New 11/11/23)
16. Link to detailed specification comparison - AQA and Edexcel (New 20/04/24)17. 
17. Link to 'At a Glance Comparison ' - AQA and Edexcel (New 20/04/24)
18. Link to 'Resourcing the new GCSE' (New 23/04/24)

Analysis of GCSE French 2024 Specifications June 2023

AQA and Pearson Edexcel GCSE French 2024 specifications have been accredited.  Eduqas has not yet been accredited.  It seems that there has been a very thorough accreditation process, and although there are some curious anomalies (for example a discrepancy between which AO the Role Play belongs to ) on the whole, the result of those accredited promises a transparent exam.  In particular it is helpful to have more clarification of terms used and more exemplification of mark schemes.  

I am starting to up-date the GCSE specification comparison which I prepared for the 3 drafts.  It will take time!  (Always longer than I think it will!).  Meanwhile, here is an 'at-a-glance' comparison of the accredited AQA , the accredited Edexcel, and the draft Eduqas.  There may be errors.  I will update them here.

It can be downloaded here.

DRAFT – TO BE CHECKED  - GCSE specifications comparison ‘at a glance’

 Grammar: all have the same requirements, but may choose different illustrations for some features, and different layout.

Vocabulary: all have  same constraint (85% of most frequent top 2,000 words, 30 multi word phrases + 20 cultural items)

Assessment Objectives : all the same, but have distributed weightings differently.

 

Element	AQA  - Final Link	Edexcel- Final Link	Eduqas - Draft LInk
Themes	Theme 1: People and lifestyle Topic 1: Identity and relationships with others Topic 2: Healthy living and lifestyle Topic 3: Education and work   Theme 2: Popular culture • Topic 1: Free-time activities Topic 2: Customs, festivals and celebrations • Topic 3: Celebrity culture   Theme 3: Communication and the world around us Topic 1: Travel and tourism, including places of interest • Topic 2: Media and technology • Topic 3: The environment and where people live	1.        My personal world 2.        Lifestyle and wellbeing 3.        My neighbourhood 4.        Media and technology 5.        Studying and my future 6.        Travel and tourism   Possible subjects within any of the contexts: •family •friends •relationships •equality •physical well-being •mental well-being •food and drink •sports •places in town •shopping •transport  •the natural world  •environmental issues •social media and gaming  •future opportunities (e.g. work, travel)  •school •music TV and film •accommodation  •tourist attractions	1.         Identity: for example, personal attributes, cultural background, languages spoken and learning, national, racial, gender stereotypes, family, friends, relationships 2.         Everydaylife:for example, education, school life, routines, activities, sport, being healthy/unhealthy, entertainment, social media 3.         My future :for example, future plans (work, education, aspirations),role models 4.         Exploring : for example, places and people, travel, including geography, customs and traditions, festivals, famous lives, historical stories 5.         Global matters :for example, the natural world, environment/climate change, attitudes, inequalities, poverty, prejudice, war/peace, citizenship

 

Listening (incl dictation)	‘Paper 1’ F: 35 mins 40 marks (32+8) NB – scaled up to 50 H: 45 mins 50 marks (40 + 10) 25% 5 mins reading time at start, 2 mins checking time at end	‘Paper 2’ F:45 mins H: 60 minutes 50 marks 25% 5 minutes reading time	‘Component 2’ F: 35 mins H: 45 mins 50 marks 25%
Speaking	‘Paper 2’ NEA - F: 7-9 mins - H: 10-12 mins - 50 marks - 25%	‘Paper 1’ NEA - F: 7-9 mins - H: 10-12 mins - 50 marks - 25%	‘Component 1’ NEA - F: 7-9 mins - H: 10-12 mins - 50 marks - 25%
Speaking Role play	F+H 10 marks, 1.5 mins	F+H: 10 marks recommend 1-1.5 minutes	F+H: 10 marks 1-1.5 minutes
Speaking Read aloud + unseen questions	F+H 5 + 10  = 15 marks F: min 35 words, 2.5mins H: min 50 words, 3.5 mins 4 unseen questions	F+H 8+4 = 12 marks 2 unseen questions =4 F: 1.5-2 minutes H: 2- 2.5 minutes	F+H 15 marks Read aloud Up to 1 minute Unprepared conversation 1-1.5 minutes 3 unseen questions
Speaking – visual stimuli	F+H 1x photo card with 2 photos 5+15+5 = 25 marks [ F: 4-5 mins H: 6-7 mins No compulsory questions	F+H 28 [12 + 16] 28 marks 1 photo card (choice from 2 photos) 2 compulsory questions + 1 compulsory subject opening F: 1.5-2 + 3-3.5 = 4.5-5.5 mins H: 2-2.5 + 5-5.5 = 7-8 minutes	F+H 25 marks Sequence of 4 photos 4-5 minutes 4 Compulsory questions (scripted paraphrase if needed – but penalised if used too much)
Reading incl dictation	‘Paper 3’ F: 45 mins H: 1 hour   50 marks [40 + 10], 25%	‘Paper 3’ F: 45 mins H: 60 mins 50 marks (40 + 10) 25%	‘Component 3, Section A’ (Part of 2-hour paper) Section A = 50 marks (44+6), 25%
Writing (incl translation)	F: 1 hour 10 mins H: 1 hour 15.  50 marks (40 + 10)25%	F:  1 hr 15 mins 50 marks H: 1 hr 20 min 50 marks 25%	‘Component 3, Section B’ (Part of 2-hour paper) Section B= 50 marks (40+10), 25%
	‘Paper 4’ F: 4 tasks + translation Photo prompt – 5 statements (10) 5 bullet point prompt – 50 words (5+ 5 = 10) Grammar m/c - 5 Translation (5+5 = 10) 3 bullet point prompt – 90 words (choice of 2) (10 + 5 = 15) H: 3 tasks + translation Translation (10) 3 bullet point prompt – 90 words (choice of 2) (10 + 5 = 15) 2 bullet point question – 150 words (choice of 2) (15 + 10 = 25)	‘Paper 4’ F: 3 tasks + translation Photo prompt – 4 statements (8) 3 BP prompt – formal context - 40-50 words (choose 1 of 2) (9 + 5 = 14) 4 BP prompt –informal context - 80-90 words (choice of 2) (AO1 13 + AO3 5 = 18] Translation 5 sentences [6+4 = 10] H: 2 tasks + translation 4 bullet point prompt – informal context  80-90 words (choice of 2) (13 + 5 = 18] 4 bullet point question – formal context - 130-150 words (choice of 2) (17 + 5 = 22] Translation (6+4=10)	‘Component 3, Section B’ F: 3 tasks + translation En word prompt – 5 sentences (8) 3 BP  - 60-80 words (12) Open ended with written French prompt (20) Translation (10) H: 2 tasks + translation Open ended with written French prompt (20) 3BP – 150-170 words (15+5 = 20) Translation (10)