Expands students’ cultural knowledge whilst developing their language skills
- The modular qualification structure ensures a flexible approach to assessment, with literature split across two papers so students have ample opportunity to demonstrate the best of their abilities.
- Students will study texts by familiar authors, with minimal changes to the set texts list each year.
- Listening is covered at AS to provide a more rounded Chinese language and literature assessment, rather than placing sole emphasis on reading and writing.
Register to watch the recording of our online training session to hear more about this new qualification from Lead Developer, Yuwen Fortune.
Register your interest to receive email updates containing resources and support to help you teach this new qualification, including access to digital inspection copies of the Student Books from Oxford University Press.
International AS and A-level Chinese – First Language (9680)
Students study all of the following themes on which the assessments are based.
- Theme 1: Society
- Theme 2: Education and work
- Theme 3: Culture
- Theme 4: Science and technology
- Theme 5: Global dimension
OxfordAQA provides resources and advice you need to teach the International AS/A-level Chinese specification effectively.
- Download the specification.
- The switching guide will be available before the end of 2025.
- View our training courses to help you deliver OxfordAQA International AS/A-level Chinese
- From Oxford University Press: fully-matched Student Books and digital teaching resources available in 2026 – register your interest to request a digital inspection copy.
First exams in May/June 2027
AS Unit 1 – Listening and Writing
• Understanding and responding to different types of spoken language
• Communicating effectively in writing for a variety of purposes
• Written exam
• 1 hour 15 minutes
• 50 marks
• 50% of AS-level
• 20% of A-level
AS Unit 2 – Reading
• Understanding and responding to different types of written language
• Written exam
• 1 hour 45 minutes
• 50 marks
• 50% of AS-level
• 20% of A-level
A-level Unit 3 – Short-form Literature and Writing
• One question from each section:
• Section A: Choice between a poem or a short story question
• Section B: Communicating effectively in writing to produce an open letter
• Written exam
• 2 hours
• 60 marks
• 30% of A-level
A-level Unit 4 – The Novel and Writing
• One question from each section:
• Section A: Choice of one of three specified novels
• Section B: Communicating effectively in writing to produce a narrative
• Written exam
• 2 hours
• 60 marks
• 30% of A-level
Take a look at:
- Example specimen exam paper and mark scheme for Paper 1.
- The OxfordAQA International AS/A-level Chinese switching guide will be available soon.
You must be an approved OxfordAQA centre to enter students for our exams. Make sure you become an OxfordAQA centre before you start teaching a course.
