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Original poster

Italian A level from scratch?

32 replies

Completelyforgot · 23/05/2023 18:32

DD is considering this as it’s offered at the local sixth form college. She’d like to take a language and is attracted by Italian and the joys of all things Italy! They study and take the GCSE in lower sixth and have to get at least a 6 to proceed to the A level in the upper sixth.

I’m hoping she could stay with a friend’s family next summer to really get to grips with it.

The results are very good - possibly because of the students it attracts - and the class is small so more opportunities for speaking and general learning.

Interested to hear if anyone’s DC has done this and how they found it.

OP posts:
Chchchanges23 · 23/05/2023 18:58

I did a scratch RSA exam in Italian in lower 6th, which was probably similar to GCSE. I was already very proficient in French and Latin, so that made Italian very easy to pick up. There wasn’t an option to do A level, so I can’t comment on that but if your DD has French or Spanish and a strong understanding of grammar, she’ll be fine 👍

Original poster
Completelyforgot · 23/05/2023 18:57

TeenDivided · 23/05/2023 18:43

https://www.psc.ac.uk/courses/2023/abinitio/

My local 6th form college still does this - requires a 7 at existing language.

You run the risk of not being allowed to proceed to A level, and then being an A level short.

This - being an A level short - is what I’m worried about!

OP posts:
Gingerwriggle · 23/05/2023 18:50

Slightly different, but I did a Higher in a new language in one year. Scottish Highers are between AS Level and A Level.
I already had a Higher in a different modern language though, so I knew how to pass language Highers iyswim? Just a case of replacing the actual words! I think it would be much harder if your dd doesn't already have skills in another language. For info, I was good at languages, but not by any means a genius 😆 It wasn't considered weird that I asked to do this, so I imagine quite a few people do crash Highers in certain subjects.
You are talking about two years for A Level. I did one year for 'nearly' A Level. So yes, if your dd is good at languages generally and prepared to work hard, it's definitely doable.

Dontsaymyname · 23/05/2023 18:47

As an adult, i did GCSE Spanish in a year, the the A level but that was over 2 years IIRC. However that was on just 1 x 2 hour lesson/week.

Does she have any experience of learning any of the other Romance languages?

TeenDivided · 23/05/2023 18:43

https://www.psc.ac.uk/courses/2023/abinitio/

My local 6th form college still does this - requires a 7 at existing language.

You run the risk of not being allowed to proceed to A level, and then being an A level short.

Leggingslife · 23/05/2023 18:39

A whole GCSE from scratch in lower 6th, then a whole Alevel in upper 6th? Gosh. I don't know for sure but doesn't sound doable.

TeenDivided · 23/05/2023 18:37

What is the entry requirement?
When we were looking for DD1 a few years back you had to have a high grade in your GCSE language to be allowed to do Italian ab initio.

There will be a lot of grammar & vocab, but also literature etc, it is quite different from GCSE I believe.

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