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Using a range of language qualifications

Schools and colleges interested in investigating the available range of language qualifications may find this information helpful.

Alternatives to GCSE/GCE are being considered because:

• in 2004 the study of a modern foreign language at key stage 4 became an entitlement rather than a requirement
• take up of post-16 languages is low and has declined in most languages over the past decade
• students throughout the phase will be following programmes that are more individual and include different vocational qualifications.

The chart below includes the accredited language qualifications from entry level to level 3. All except level 3 NVQ language units are approved for use pre- as well as post-16. Several awarding bodies offer suites of qualifications with progression through the levels.

Entry level

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Awarding bodies

MFL qualifications

Entry level

	Title		Language		Awarding Body
	Certificate in		French		AQA; CCEA; Edexcel; OCR; WJEC
	Certificate in		German		AQA; CCEA; Edexcel; OCR; WJEC
	Certificate in		Spanish		AQA; CCEA; Edexcel; OCR; WJEC
	Certificate in		Welsh; Welsh second language		WJEC
	Certificate in business language competence		French; German; Italian; Japanese; Russian; Spanish		OCR
	Certificate in practical languages		Arabic; Chinese; Danish; Dutch; French; German; Italian; Japanese; Modern Greek; Panjabi; Polish; Portuguese; Russian; Spanish; Swedish; Turkish; Urdu		ABC

Level 1

	Title		Language		Awarding Body
	See GCSEs listed in level 2
	Certificate in business language competence		French; German; Italian; Spanish		OCR
	Certificate in foreign language		French; German; Italian; Spanish		NCFE
	Certificate in practical languages		Arabic; Chinese; Danish; Dutch; French; German; Italian; Japanese; modern Greek; Panjabi; Polish; Portuguese; Russian; Spanish; Swedish; Turkish; Urdu		ABC
	NVQ units		Arabic; Chinese; modern Greek; Japanese; Portuguese; Russian; Urdu		Edexcel
	NVQ units		French; German; Italian; Spanish		C&G; Edexcel; LCCIEB; OCR
	NVQ units		Irish		OCR
	NVQ units		Japanese		C&G
	NVQ units		Welsh		C&G; Edexcel; OCR
	Award		Welsh second language		WJEC

Level 2

	Title		Language		Awarding Body
	GCSE		Arabic		Edexcel
	GCSE		Bengali		AQA
	GCSE		Chinese		Edexcel
	GCSE		Dutch		OCR
	GCSE		French		AQA (A&B); CCEA; Edexcel; OCR; WJEC
	GCSE short course		French		AQA; Edexcel; WJEC
	GCSE		Gaeilge		CCEA
	GCSE		German		AQA (A&B); CCEA; Edexcel; OCR; WJEC
	GCSE short course		German		AQA; WJEC
	GCSE		Gujarati		OCR
	GCSE		Irish		CCEA
	GCSE		Italian		AQA; Edexcel
	GCSE		Japanese		Edexcel
	GCSE		Modern Greek		Edexcel
	GCSE		Modern Hebrew		AQA
	GCSE		Panjabi		AQA
	GCSE		Persian		OCR
	GCSE		Polish		AQA
	GCSE		Portuguese		OCR
	GCSE		Russian		AQA; Edexcel
	GCSE		Spanish		AQA (A&B); CCEA; Edexcel; OCR; WJEC
	GCSE short course		Spanish		AQA; WJEC
	GCSE		Turkish		OCR
	GCSE		Urdu		AQA; Edexcel
	GCSE		Welsh; Welsh second language		WJEC
	GCSE short course		Welsh second language		WJEC
	Certificate in business language competence		French; German; Italian; Spanish		OCR
	Certificate in foreign language		French; German; Italian; modern Greek; Spanish		NCFE
	Certificate in practical languages		Arabic; Chinese; Danish; Dutch; French; German; Italian; Japanese; modern Greek; Panjabi; Polish; Portuguese; Russian; Spanish; Swedish; Turkish; Urdu		ABC
	NVQ units		French; German; Italian; Spanish		C&G;  LCCIEB; OCR
	NVQ units		Irish		OCR
	NVQ units		Welsh		C&G; OCR

Level 3

	Title		Language		Awarding Body
	AS/A		Arabic		Edexcel
	AS/A		Bengali		AQA
	AS/A		Chinese		Edexcel
	AS/A		Dutch		OCR
	AS/A		French		AQA; CCEA; Edexcel; OCR; WJEC
	AS/A		German		AQA; CCEA; Edexcel; OCR; WJEC
	AS/A		Gujarati		OCR
	AS/A		Irish		CCEA
	AS/A		Italian		Edexcel
	AS/A		Japanese		Edexcel
	AS/A		Modern Greek		Edexcel
	AS/A		Modern Hebrew		AQA
	AS/A		Panjabi		AQA
	AS/A		Persian		OCR
	AS/A		Polish		AQA
	AS/A		Portuguese		OCR
	AS/A		Russian		Edexcel
	AS/A		Spanish		AQA; CCEA; Edexcel; OCR; WJEC
	AS/A		Turkish		OCR
	AS/A		Urdu		Edexcel
	AS/A		Welsh; Welsh second language		WJEC
	Certificate in		French; German; Spanish for business		LCCIEB
	Certificate in business language competence		French; German; Italian; Spanish		OCR
	NVQ units		French; German; Italian; Spanish		C&G; Edexcel; LCCIEB; OCR
	NVQ units		Irish		OCR
	NVQ units		Urdu		Edexcel
	NVQ units		Welsh		C&G; OCR
	AEA		French		OCR
	AEA		German		CCEA
	AEA		Irish		CCEA
	AEA		Spanish		Edexcel
	AEA		Welsh		WJEC
	AEA		Welsh second language		WJEC

Awarding bodies

	Initials		Full title
	ABC		ABC Awards
	AQA		Assessment and Qualifications Alliance
	CCEA		Council for the Curriculum Examinations and Assessment
	C&G		City & Guilds
	LCCIEB		London Chamber of Commerce and Industry Examinations Board
	OCR		Oxford, Cambridge & RSA Examinations
	NCFE		NCFE
	WJEC		Welsh Joint Education Committee

Case studies

> Using qualifications

Other web links

> ABC

> AQA

> CCEA

> C&G

> LCCIEB

> OCR

> NCFE

> WJEC

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Page updated: 12 June 2008
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