What should I focus on for AQA GCSE Italian?

When describing a person, systematically cover name, age, physical features, and personality, using a mix of adjectives and ensuring agreement.

What should I focus on for AQA GCSE Italian? (2)

In the speaking assessment, prepare a structured monologue on ‘My family and friends’ that includes a variety of verbs beyond just essere and avere.

What should I focus on for AQA GCSE Italian? (3)

For the writing exam, check every adjective and past participle for correct gender and number agreement to avoid common errors.

What should I focus on for AQA GCSE Italian? (4)

Learn the specific vocabulary provided in the specification for customs and festivals.

What should I focus on for AQA GCSE Italian? (5)

Practice expressing and justifying opinions using phrases like 'secondo me' or 'penso che'.

What are common mistakes in AQA GCSE Italian?

Incorrect gender and number agreement between nouns and adjectives (e.g., *mia padre è alto* instead of *mio padre è alto*).

What are common mistakes in AQA GCSE Italian? (2)

Misusing possessive adjectives by directly translating from English (e.g., *il mio madre* instead of *mia madre*).

What are common mistakes in AQA GCSE Italian? (3)

Forgetting to conjugate the verb after modal verbs or in compound sentences (e.g., *posso andare* but then using an infinitive incorrectly).

Italian

AQA

GCSE

Specification: AQA-GCSE-Italian

This subject will help you develop key knowledge and skills required for exam success.

Topics

Objectives

145

Exam Tips

142

Pitfalls

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Key Features

Master key concepts
Develop exam technique
Apply knowledge effectively

What Gets Top Grades

A*/Grade 9

Knowledge & Understanding

Demonstrates comprehensive and accurate knowledge

Uses correct subject-specific terminology
Shows detailed understanding of concepts
Makes accurate connections between topics
Demonstrates depth beyond surface-level knowledge

Application

Applies knowledge effectively to new contexts

Selects relevant knowledge for the question
Adapts understanding to unfamiliar scenarios
Uses examples appropriately
Shows awareness of context

Analysis & Evaluation

Develops sophisticated analytical arguments

Constructs logical chains of reasoning
Considers multiple perspectives
Weighs evidence to reach justified conclusions
Acknowledges limitations and nuances

Key Command Words

AQA

State

1 mark

Give a single fact or term

Identify

1 mark

Name, select, or recognise

Outline

2 marks

Set out main features briefly

Describe

2-4 marks

Give an account of what something is like or what happens

Explain

3-6 marks

Give reasons with developed cause→effect chains

Compare

2-4 marks

State similarities AND differences (both required)

Analyse

6-9 marks

Examine in detail showing cause→effect→consequence chains

Evaluate

6-12 marks

Weigh up BOTH sides, reach JUSTIFIED conclusion

Assess

6-12 marks

Make judgments about importance with justification

Calculate

2-4 marks

Show formula→substitution→calculation→answer with units

Common Exam Mistakes

Pitfalls to avoid in your exams

•Incorrect gender and number agreement between nouns and adjectives (e.g., *mia padre è alto* instead of *mio padre è alto*).
•Misusing possessive adjectives by directly translating from English (e.g., *il mio madre* instead of *mia madre*).
•Forgetting to conjugate the verb after modal verbs or in compound sentences (e.g., *posso andare* but then using an infinitive incorrectly).
•Confusing the names of festivals or their dates.
•Over-reliance on English-based word coinage when the Italian term is unknown.
•Failure to express and justify an opinion, which is a requirement for higher marks in speaking tasks.
•Inconsistent use of tenses when narrating past festival experiences.
•Topic avoidance when unable to recall specific vocabulary.

Top Examiner Tips

Expert advice for exam success

•When describing a person, systematically cover name, age, physical features, and personality, using a mix of adjectives and ensuring agreement.
•In the speaking assessment, prepare a structured monologue on ‘My family and friends’ that includes a variety of verbs beyond just essere and avere.
•For the writing exam, check every adjective and past participle for correct gender and number agreement to avoid common errors.
•Learn the specific vocabulary provided in the specification for customs and festivals.
•Practice expressing and justifying opinions using phrases like 'secondo me' or 'penso che'.
•Prepare to use repair strategies if you forget a specific word during the speaking test.
•Ensure you can use past, present, and future tenses to describe festival experiences.
•Use the provided vocabulary lists to expand your repertoire beyond basic terms.

Specification Topics

8 topics

E2E stub topic

This subtopic equips students with the foundational Italian vocabulary and grammar needed to describe personal identity, including physical appearance, character traits, family relationships, and daily routines. Mastery of these language elements is essential for achieving basic communicative competence in the GCSE Italian exam, enabling learners to introduce themselves, talk about their families, and engage in simple social interactions confidently and accurately.

E2E stub subtopic

0 objectives3 tips3 pitfalls

Theme 1: Identity and culture

This topic covers the customs and festivals celebrated in Italian-speaking countries and communities, requiring students to understand and communicate about cultural traditions, celebrations, and the significance of these events.

Topic 4: Customs and festivals in Italian-speaking countries/communities, Topic 3: Free-time activities, Topic 2: Technology in everyday life +1 more

0 objectives18 tips18 pitfalls4 subtopics

Theme 2: Local, national, international and global areas of interest

This topic covers the description and discussion of one's home, town, neighbourhood, and region, including facilities, services, and geographical features.

Topic 1: Home, town, neighbourhood and region, Topic 4: Travel and tourism, Topic 3: Global issues +1 more

0 objectives20 tips20 pitfalls4 subtopics

Theme 3: Current and future study and employment

This topic covers the vocabulary and language structures required to discuss future career ambitions, job choices, and the world of work within the context of Theme 3: Current and future study and employment.

Topic 4: Jobs, career choices and ambitions, Topic 1: My studies, Topic 2: Life at school/college +1 more

0 objectives19 tips19 pitfalls4 subtopics

Scope of study

The scope of study for GCSE Italian (8633) defines the four key language skills (Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing) that students must develop to communicate effectively and coherently in Italian. It emphasizes the ability to understand and respond to various types of spoken and written language, interact in speech, and produce written text across specified themes.

0 objectives6 tips5 pitfalls

Grammar

The study of conjunctions in Italian, covering both coordinating and subordinating types to link clauses and ideas.

Conjunctions, Prepositions, Pronouns +8 more

0 objectives42 tips44 pitfalls11 subtopics

Communication strategies

This subtopic focuses on developing strategies for understanding and producing Italian by recognizing common linguistic patterns, specifically cognates and near-cognates, to decode meaning and improve communication effectiveness.

Using common patterns within Italian, Using cognates and near-cognates, Verbal strategies +4 more

0 objectives32 tips28 pitfalls7 subtopics

Vocabulary

The vocabulary section provides a comprehensive guide to the core language required for the GCSE Italian specification, covering general vocabulary, theme-based vocabulary, and strategies for understanding and production. It includes lists for numbers, time, locations, common verbs, and specific thematic vocabulary related to identity, culture, local/global areas, and study/employment.

0 objectives5 tips5 pitfalls

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