Handout for Chinese A level

Important procedures

September	Get your folder and textbook ready	Specs (8610/9610)
January	Register for exam via your school examination officer. NOT LMS, the Chinese school!	AS paper 6261 A2 paper 6262
May/June	Checks before exams Do well in exams
July/August	Inform Mr. Dong your exam result.	gxdong63@aol.com or 020 8964 3975
Throughout the year	Read Chinese online regularly Do your homework	www.xys.org www.bbc.co.uk/chinese www.sohu.com and many others

What is the exam like?

AS - Unit 1: Reading and Writing (3 hours)

Section 1 (40%, or 20%) You will have to read three passages in Chinese, and then answer questions on them in the Chinese.

Section 2 (20%, or 10%) You will have to read a passage in Chinese and translate it into English.

Section 3 (40%, or 20%) You will be expected to read a short printed Chinese ‘stimulus’ for a task, such as writing a letter, report or article in Chinese. Your work should be around 180 characters.

A2 - Unit 2: Reading and Writing; Topics and Texts (3 hours)

Section 1 (20%) You will be required to read a text in Chinese and answer questions in Chinese. You will also have to translate a piece of contemporary text from English into Chinese.

Section 2 (30%) 1000 words research based essay. Choose 1 from four main topics.

Research and Analyse
Outline
Report

Scopes of study

1. DAY-TO-DAY MATTERS

• Food, diet, health

• Transport, travel and tourism

• Current affairs and media

2. SOCIETY

• Relationships, family, the generations, youth concerns

• Social issues, law, justice

• Leisure and the arts

3. THE WORKING WORLD

• Education, training and employment

• Business and industry

• Information technology

4. THE ENVIRONMENT AND CITIZENSHIP

• Energy, pollution and the environment

• Politics and citizenship

• Campaigning organisations and charities

5. THE INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT

• Customs, traditions, beliefs, religions

• World-wide problems

Exam materials will be drawn from contemporary sources such as magazines, books, newspaper and reports and can be drawn from the topics above.