Apologies for the length, but context is required for this for it to make sense.
DD, current Y12, has decided A level German is too easy. We did live in Germany for 10 years. DD was aged 3-13 and went to the German equivalent of a state school so can actually speak German well. She got a 9 in GCSE German in Year 9 and an A* in IGCSE First Language German in Y11. The IGCSE was supported by the school who regularly allow pupils to enter for GCSEs or IGCSEs in their first/home languages. The native speaking German teacher supported and prepared DD for the IGCSE German. She went to the German GCSE classes but worked on work set for the IGCSE then had an hour per week with the German teacher after school to work on the content.
DD has chosen German, French and History for A Level plus an EPQ. She chose German because she though she would enjoy it and it would be an easier one so she could concentrate on getting high grades in the others. She's since changed her mind. Apparently the A Level German is easier than the IGCSE First Language German and she's bored. She's already read the book and watched the film and has attempted some A Level papers to see where she is. The teacher marked them and said they were definitely A Grade, borderline A* , and with some polish they would be easily A. Her speaking is already at A level. DD mentioned to her teacher that she is getting bored and she is not finding German at all interesting because it is too easy. Cutting the story short a bit, the teacher has suggested DD could take a look at International A Level German Language and Literature. The school has never entered anyone for this before (but they had also never entered anyone for IGCSE German either) so they have no experience of it. It's a risk, but they think she is capable. The teacher is happy to help her prepare for it but it would require a lot of outside work on DDs part and she has been told she does have to treat it more like an A Level than she is treating A Level German at the minute.
The options DD has are as follows:
- Keep going as she is with German, French and History.
- Drop the A Level German lessons and pick up another A Level subject. She can then sit A Level German a year early after doing a few 'polishing' lessons towards the end of the year with the rest of the class. (DD doesn't seem to have an interest in anything she would be able to swap to except perhaps English Literature).
- Remain in her A Level German lessons but the time would be spent working towards the International A Level German. She would then, just like with the IGCSE, have one lesson after school every week with the German teacher working on the International A Level content and would be able to ask questions in the German class during the time the teacher has set the rest of the class to do a task. She would also still have to go to the A Level German speaking group. She would have the option of sitting A Level German at the end of Y12 if she wanted to and school have advised that this is possibly a good idea because of the level of risk involved with the International A Level.
DD is leaning towards option 3. Advice required. I've attached the syllabi below for anyone who can interpret which would be best for DD and which is going to stretch her. I can read them and get the sense the International A Level will provide more stretch, but I am no language teacher with the knowledge of what language level is really required for them.
Syllabi
International A Level
https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/programmes-and-qualifications/cambridge-international-as-and-a-level-german-9717/
A Level
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/german/a-level/german-7662/specification