Exams

This is for guidance only. The JFLLC cannot take any responsibility for the changes to the information below. Please contact the exam board directly for the latest information.

GCSE Japanese - Edexcel

The Student GCSE Guide provides a straightforward explanation of the GCSE system

Please click here for general advice for teachers starting GCSE Japanese for the first time.

Private Candidates
If you are not registered at a school or college but wish to sit GCSE Japanese, please check the link below for more information or contact Edexcel directly on 0844 576 0027.
http://www.edexcel.com/iwantto/Pages/private.aspx

Exam Specification

Please note that the specification for the GCSE exam is currently changing. Please contact Edexcel directly for more information about the exam schedule, and follow the links below for official information from the Edexcel website:

Download current specification, examiners’ reports, etc

Download new draft specification, papers, mark schemes, etc

First examination 2010
Final Specification (Pre-Published)

Suitable for:
Secondary school pupils, adults

Recommended number of contact hours:
Not stipulated. Depends on the pupils and their starting point.

Resources:
Please click here to see recommended resources for teaching GCSE Japanese. Please note that most resources are still based on the 2003 exam specification.

Dates:
Check the dates of upcoming Edexcel exams:

Search for Edexcel Training Days:
Next to “subject”, select “Japanese”, and click “search”

Exam board contact details:
Edexcel
http://www.edexcel.com/Aboutus/contact-us/Pages/home.aspx

Back to top

GCE (AS and A2) Japanese - Edexcel

Private Candidates
If you are not registered at a school or college but wish to sit for AS or A2 Japanese, please check the link below for more information or contact Edexcel directly on 0844 576 0025.
http://www.edexcel.com/iwantto/Pages/private.aspx

Please note that the specification for both the AS and A2 exams has changed. Please be sure to use the correct specification. Follow the links below for official information from the Edexcel website:

Click here to see a schedule showing when exams based on the current and new specification will be held. (In the search field, select Japanese.)

Download current specification, examiners’ reports, etc:

Download new specification and sample materials:

AS first examination 2009
A2 first examination 2010

Suitable for:
post 16 students

Recommended number of contact hours:
Not stipulated. Depends on the pupils and their starting point.

Resources:
Please see page 61 of the new specification for resources suggested as bibliographies to support study of the prescribed topic or text in Unit 2. Click here for other recommended resources for teaching AS and A2 Japanese. Please note that most resources are still based on the old exam specification.

Dates:
Check the dates of upcoming Edexcel exams:
http://www.edexcel.com/iwantto/Pages/ExamDatesSearch.aspx

Search for Edexcel Training Days:
Next to “subject”, select “Japanese”, and click “search”

Exam board contact details:
Edexcel
http://www.edexcel.com/Aboutus/contact-us/Pages/home.aspx

Back to top

IB – AB initio, Language B - International Baccalaureate

Features:
The AB initio course is for beginners and is designed to be taken over two years by students who have no previous knowledge of learning the target language.

IB exams are for registered schools only. Please contact the exam board for more information.

Exam Board contact details:
International Baccalaureate Organization
Peterson House, Malthouse Avenue, Cardiff Gate, Cardiff, CF23 8GL, Wales, UK
Tel: 02920 54 7777
Fax: 02920 54 7778
Web: http://www.ibo.org/
E-mail: ibca@ibo.org

Back to top

Practical Languages - ABC Awards

Features:
Entry 2 Award in Speaking and Listening in Japanese
Entry 2 Award in Reading and Writing in Japanese
Entry 3 Award in Speaking and Listening in Japanese
Entry 3 Award in Reading and Writing in Japanese
Entry 3 Certificate* in Practical Japanese
Level 1 Award in Speaking and Listening in Japanese
Level 1 Award in Reading and Writing in Japanese
Level 1 Certificate* in Practical Japanese
Level 2 Award in Speaking and Listening in Japanese
Level 2 Award in Reading and Writing in Japanese
Level 2 Certificate* in Practical Japanese
Level 3 Award in Speaking and Listening in Japanese
Level 3 Award in Reading and Writing in Japanese
Level 3 Certificate* in Practical Japanese

* The certificate covers all four skills

Assessment:
Providers can choose the topics they want to cover and will be free to develop assessment activities, which meet the qualification criteria, to suit individual circumstances and learners. Assessments are internally set and marked as well as internally and externally moderated.

Entry requirements:
Minimum entry age is 14. (This includes Year 9 pupils.)
Suitable for:
Any learner from age 14 to adult
Recommended number of contact hours:

	Award in Speaking & Listening	Award in Reading and Writing	Certificate in Practical Japanese
Entry 2	20	30	N/A
Entry 3 to Level 2	70	90	160
Level 3	75	100	175

NB: The GLH given above is an estimated time but could vary depending on the centre and learners (e.g. it could be less than that stated).

Recommended coursebook:
No specific resources are recommended, however, exemplar materials and further supporting information are available from the awarding body on request.

Grades awarded:
Pass / Fail. Achievement is based on sufficient evidence meeting the qualification assessment criteria.

Exam Board contact details:
Daniel Moult
Qualification Administrator
ABC Awards
Robins Wood House
Robins Wood Road
Aspley
Nottingham
Tel: 01158541672
Email: danielm@abcawards.co.uk
Website: www.abcawards.co.uk

 

Back to top

Certificate in Business Language Competence (CBLC) - OCR

Examination code: L76

Features:
The assessment takes the form of an oral test offering a choice from the following
4 “elements” or topic areas:

Dealing with visitors to the company; arriving at a hotel; dealing with directions and signs; travelling on business.

The full certificate consists of all 4 of any of the above elements of certification. Any number of elements may be attempted at any one time and in any order. Achievement in fewer than four elements of certification is recognised by a profile certificate.

Aims:
To assess communicative skills in Japanese at a basic level within a business context.

Suitable for:
Post 16 students, or those who wish, for any purpose, to demonstrate that they have acquired basic communicative skills in Japanese. The syllabus has been designed to provide progression towards NVQ Language Units at Level 1.
This qualification has no links to the National Curriculum and may not be offered to students under 16 in place of a National Curriculum qualification.

Recommended number of contact hours :
About 100 hours

Kanji requirement:
About 35

Recommended coursebook:
Syllabus and sample assessment materials are available from OCR Publications.

Japanese Entry Level "Teacher’s Packs" and activity books are available in romaji and kana versions from Language Networks for Excellence (http://languagenetworksforexcellence.co.uk).

Method of Assessment:
Terminal assessment by oral test for each of the 4 elements (which last 5 minutes each). The test is conducted by an external oral examiner appointed by the Board. The test is carried out entirely in Japanese apart from when the candidate is occasionally required to demonstrate understanding by making a written note in EnglishGrades awarded:

Results for each element will be graded Pass or Fail. Candidates who achieve all 4 elements will be awarded an Entry Level Certificate in Business Language Competence in Japanese. Candidates who do not achieve all four elements of certification will receive a profile certificate for the successful elements.

Documents to request from the Board:
Copies of the syllabus, the list of centres offering OCR assessment in Japanese and sample Assessment are available from OCR Publications, OCR Examinations Board, Westwood Way, Coventry CV4 8JQ.
Switchboard: 02476 47 0033 Fax: 02476 42 1944
Email: cib@ocr.org.uk
Website: www.ocr.org.uk

Exam Board contact details:
OCR Examinations Board, Westwood Way, Coventry, CV4 8JQ
OCR switchboard (Coventry section): 02476 47 0033
OCR Customer Information Bureau: 0870 870 6622
Fax (OCR, Coventry): 02476 42 1944

Back to top

Asset Languages

Features:

• Based on the DCSF Languages Ladder of Can Do statements
• Each skill is assessed separately: reading, writing, listening, speaking
• Choice of assessment options: more informal assessments by teachers or external assessments leading to qualifications
• Frequent testing opportunities for external exams - not just at the end of the year
• Designed to work with existing teaching programmes

The Languages Ladder is a scale of measurement. It has six stages – from Breakthrough to Mastery. Each stage is further broken down into three small steps or grades and four skills.

External Assessment:
External assessment covers the Can Do statements for the whole of a stage (all three 'grades'). All four skills are assessed separately and each external test successfully completed is a nationally recognised qualification in its own right – e.g. Breakthrough Japanese Reading.

The learner can be entered for an Asset Languages qualification when they are ready. There are 4 external assessment testing series throughout the year.

Asset Languages externally assessed qualifications attract Achievement and Attainment Table points. The points are per skill, by grade. It is possible to combine points from different languages and different skills.

Teacher Assessment:
Teacher assessment is carried out using tasks and mark schemes supplied by OCR in a Teacher Assessment Pack. The content of the tasks can be adapted and integrated into current programmes of work.

Teacher assessment complements external assessment but can be used on its own to provide evidence of achievement. Grade award certificates can be awarded to successful learners if accredited teacher training has been completed.

Suitable for:
Asset Languages is available for all students - from primary to adult learners.

Recommended number of contact hours:
Breakthrough: 30 guided learning hours per qualification
Preliminary: 40 guided learning hours per qualification
Intermediate: 40 guided learning hours per qualification
Advanced: 50 guided learning hours per qualification

Kanji requirement:
By the end of the stage, learners are expected to be able to recognise all kanji listed in the specifications for the stage in question, and those included in previous stages.

Breakthrough: 10 kanji
Preliminary: 90 kanji
Intermediate: 120 kanji
Advanced: 280 kanji

For more information please see the language specifications

Recommended course book:
none

Method of assessment:
See above – External Assessment = single paper per skill, between 20-60 minutes in length depending on stage and skill.

For more information please see the Introductory Guide

Grades awarded:

Stages NQF General Quals National Curriculum Mastery: Grades 16 & 17 Level 6     Proficiency: Grades 13-15 Level 4     Advanced: Grades 10-12 Level 3 AS / A Level    Intermediate: Grades 7-9 Level 2 GCSE A* - C 7-EP Preliminary: Grades 4-6 Level 1 GCSE D - G 4-6 Breakthrough: Grades 1-3 Entry Level Entry 1-3 1-3

Useful documents:
Can Do Statements

Case study of John Leggott Sixth Form College

Request information Pack
or assetlanguages@ocr.org.uk

To register as a centre

Exam board contact details:
Asset Languages
1 Hills Road
Cambridge
CB1 2EU
01223 553998 - OCR Customer Contact Centre
assetlanguages@ocr.org.uk
http://www.assetlanguages.org.uk/

Back to top

Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) - Japan Foundation

JLPT 2010

Applications are now open for the 2010 JLPT, which will be held on Sunday 5th December. The deadline for applications is Thursday 7th October.

For further information about the test in the UK and to apply please contact the JLPT office at SOAS:

Email: jlpt@soas.ac.uk Tel (JLPT direct line): 020 7898 4555
Click here to visit the website.

For further infomation about the test in the Republic of Ireland please contact the JLPT office at Dublin City University:

Click here to visit the website.

Information on Previous Format

The following information refers to the previous format of the JLPT:

Features:
4 different levels each consisting of 3 sections: Writing and Vocabulary; Listening; Reading and Grammar.

Aims:
Carried out both in Japan and abroad for the measurement and certification of Japanese proficiency for non-native speakers.

Suitable for:
Non-native speakers of Japanese.

Recommended number of contact hours:
Level 1- 900 hours; Level 2 - 600 hours; Level 3 - 300 hours; Level 4 - 150 hours.

Kanji requirement:
Level 1 - 2000, Level 2 - 1000, Level 3 - 300, Level 4 - 100. The JLPT does not test candidates' written skills in Japanese, but candidates are expected to be able to recognise and read the kanji required at their level.

Recommended coursebook:
Past papers from previous years (including listening comprehension cassette) are published by Bonjinsha. An ever-increasing variety of practice question books and grammar guides targeting the JLPT are also available (publishers include: Bonjinsha, ALC Press Japanese Textbook Series, Unicom Inc.).

See the Links page for useful websites to help prepare for the JLPT.

Method of Assessment:
Examination (Vocabulary, Listening, Reading-Grammar) held annually in December.

Grades awarded:
Pass/Fail. All examinees are informed of their scores.

Documents to request from the Board:
The Japanese-Language Proficiency Test Guide (including Application Forms and sample questions).

Cost:
£70 in 2009

Application Period:
The application period is usually from early August to early October each year. The exam takes place each December.

Exam Board contact details:

Requests for application forms should be made in writing or e-mail to;
SOAS Language Centre, University of London,
Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, London WC1H 0XG
E-mail: jlpt@soas.ac.uk
Tel (JLPT direct line): 020 7898 4555
Fax: 020 7898 4889
For further details, visit the website

Changes to Format

The JLPT is held currently once a year in December. Please note that the format of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test is changing. The draft schedule for the JLPT during this period is:

December 2009 - Existing format (4 levels)
December 2010 - New format (5 levels)

Some of the main practical changes are planned as follows:

- There will be five levels under the new format (N1 to N5), compared to four levels (1-kyu to 4-kyu) under the existing format.
- In the new format, level N3 will bridge the existing 2-kyu and 3-kyu levels.
- The new format will consist of a reading section and a listening section.
- With the new format JLPT, past exam questions will not be made public. Sample questions and profiles of the new levels will be published instead.
- The new format JLPT will be held twice a year. (Please note, this will not happen immediately in all countries and some will continue to hold the test once a year for the time being).

Please read the official JLPT progress reports for more detailed information:

Click here for Japanese.
Click here for English.

A guide in English and Japanese, together with sample tests, are also available for the new format.

Back to top

Kanji Aptitude Test - Nihon Kanji Nooryoku Kentee Kyookai

SOAS in London is one of 19 sites worldwide for this exam which was taken by over 1,700,000 candidates this year. Contact Yoshiko Jones on tel. 020-7898-4876, email: yj1@soas.ac.uk for details of requirements and fees.

Back to top