A Comprehensive Revision Guide for Edexcel GCE A Level Chinese 9CN0/01

Book excerpt: The Edexcel GCE A Level Chinese is an advanced level qualification in Chinese language skills, which is offered by the UK-based exam board Edexcel (now a part of Pearson Education). The General Certificate of Education (GCE) refers to a group of qualifications taken by students in the UK and other countries of the British Commonwealth. This qualification is designed for students aged 16-18 and is typically taken after completing the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) level of study. The qualification assesses the student's proficiency in Chinese language skills, including listening, speaking, reading, and writing, and is available in both spoken Mandarin and spoken Cantonese. The Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Advanced GCE in Chinese (spoken Mandarin/spoken Cantonese) consists of two externally-examined papers assessing listening, reading, and writing, and a speaking assessment. The first paper (9CN0/01) evaluates listening, reading, and translation skills, while the second paper (9CN0/02) tests the student's ability to write responses to works and translation. The third paper (9CN0/03M/03C) is an internally conducted and externally assessed speaking assessment. This advanced-level qualification is ideal for students who possess a strong command of the Chinese language and wish to demonstrate their proficiency to universities or employers. Edexcel GCE A Level Chinese Paper 3 Speaking assessment is conducted internally by the school or institution, but is externally assessed by a qualified examiner. The total assessment time is between 27 and 30 minutes, which includes a single period of 15 minutes' formal preparation time. The assessment is worth 30% of the overall qualification, with a total of 72 marks available. The assessment is divided into two tasks. Task 1 requires students to read and respond to two short texts based on Theme 1 and then hold a discussion. Task 2 is based on a discussion from Theme 2, which assesses the students' ability to use a range of language accurately and effectively, as well as their knowledge and understanding about the culture and society of the Chinese-speaking world. Overall, the assessment is designed to assess a range of skills and abilities, including language accuracy, communication and interaction skills, summarising and understanding written sources in speech, and knowledge and understanding about the culture and society of the Chinese-speaking world. The assessment aims to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the students' language proficiency and cultural awareness, and to help them develop their skills further.