Page 30 - Sixth Form Courses 2026-2028

A LEVEL
GERMAN

OVERVIEW German is the language of logic, music, philosophy and business. Its grammatical
structure appeals to those with a mathematical mind and a strong sense of order.
Germany lies at the heart of Europe and is the financial powerhouse of the
European Union. It is a major player in world-wide business and knowledge of its
language will give any job applicant the edge. Germany’s cultural influences
stretch far back. Germany has been the birthplace of major writers, poets, artists,
musicians, thinkers, scientists and innovators and today it is a vibrant, fun-loving
country, rich in modern culture and fashion, at the cutting edge of technology with
a diverse landscape and fascinating cities. Studying its language will open career
possibilities as well as an exciting world to discover through language exchanges.

APPROACH You will be expected to take a lot more responsibility for your progress,
particularly through regular listening and reading in German outside lessons. There
is a great deal of support available: classes are small and a German assistant
delivers weekly oral lessons on a one-to-one basis, an annual German trip, cinema
trips and many opportunities to mix socially with native German students in the
school.
German requires a sound understanding of grammar and the vocabulary areas
become more complex. Good listening and speaking skills are necessary, as is a
logical mind which copes well with learning grammar and vocabulary. At A level
the ability to write well-structured essays and an enjoyment of culture is an
advantage.

COURSE OUTLINE Progress towards the A level is tracked by formal assessments each half term, a
robust examination at the end of the Lower Sixth and a mock examination in the
Upper Sixth. The final external examinations at the end of the two-year course
consist of a combined listening, reading and writing paper, a separate writing
paper and a separate speaking exam.
In the Lower Sixth, students study nearly all the key grammar needed to speak the
language fluently. In addition, they will study a theme from Social Issues and
Trends, Aspects of German Speaking Society, one theme from Artistic Culture in
Artistic Culture in the Germanic World, and one film.
In the Upper Sixth, grammar covered in Lower Sixth is reinforced so that accuracy
and manipulation of the language improves. In addition, students will explore a
further theme from Social Issues and Trends, Multiculturalism in the German
Speaking World, in addition to a further theme from Political Culture, Aspects of
Political Life in the Germanic Speaking World, an additional literary text, as well as
an individual research project for speaking assessment.
FURTHER INFORMATION If you feel you would like to study language at university, it is often a good idea to
study two of them at A level. This is also helpful if you are planning on studying a
language at university that you have not studied before, as it will demonstrate
that you are a good linguist.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS It is essential that students have at least grade 6 (B) in GCSE German and grade 7
(A) or above is desirable.

EXAM BOARD AND 7662
SPECIFICATION https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/german/a-level/german-7662/specification

CONTACT Head of Languages
Mr M Nash
nash.ma@millfieldschool.com

MILLFIELD SIXTH FORM 2026-2028 28