Portuguese

    Pearson Edexcel
    GCSE

    Specification: 1PG0

    The PEARSON-EDEXCEL GCSE Portuguese specification covers 11 topics with 46 learning objectives (1PG0). Use the topic browser below to explore subtopics, exam tips, common mistakes, and key terminology for each area of the course.

    Starting Pearson Edexcel GCSE Portuguese this term? The whole specification is below, unit by unit.

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

    11

    Topics

    46

    Objectives

    0

    Exam Tips

    0

    Pitfalls

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    Key Features

    • Master key concepts
    • Develop exam technique
    • Apply knowledge effectively

    About Pearson Edexcel GCSE Portuguese

    The Pearson Edexcel GCSE Portuguese course develops your ability to communicate effectively in Portuguese across all four language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. You will study core vocabulary and grammar while exploring five engaging themes that connect to real-life contexts, from personal identity to global issues. The specification is designed to build confidence and fluency, with a strong emphasis on practical communication.

    The course is structured around five compulsory themes: Identity and Culture; Local Area, Holiday and Travel; School; Future Aspirations, Study and Work; and International and Global Dimension. Each theme is broken down into sub-topics, allowing you to deepen your understanding of Portuguese-speaking cultures while mastering the language. Assessment is linear, with all exams taken at the end of the course in Year 11.

    Assessment Structure

    Pearson Edexcel GCSE Portuguese is assessed through four externally examined papers, all taken at the end of the course. Listening and Understanding (25%) and Reading and Understanding (25%) are both tiered (Foundation and Higher) and include multiple-choice, short-answer, and extended-response questions based on authentic materials. Speaking (25%) is a non-tiered internally conducted but externally assessed test comprising a role-play, a picture-based task, and a conversation. Writing (25%) is tiered and requires responses to written prompts, including a translation task. Each paper is worth 60 marks (Foundation) or 70 marks (Higher), with a total of 240 marks across the qualification.

    Why Choose Pearson Edexcel?

    • Pearson Edexcel offers a clear and consistent assessment structure with familiar question types across all four skills, making it easier to prepare effectively with past papers and mark schemes.
    • The specification includes a dedicated translation task in both reading and writing papers, which helps develop precise grammatical understanding and is excellent preparation for A-level study.
    • Edexcel provides a wide range of support materials, including interactive vocab lists, grammar guides, and exemplar answers, tailored specifically to the Portuguese context and culture.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Specification Topics

    11 topics

    Theme 4: Future aspirations, study and work

    Ambitions: further study; volunteering; training, Using languages beyond the classroom: forming relationships; travel; employment, Work: jobs; careers and professions

    3 objectives3 subtopics

    Theme 2: Local area, holiday and travel

    Holidays: preferences; experiences; destinations, Town, region and country: weather; places to see; things to do, Travel and tourist transactions: travel and accommodation; asking for help and dealing with problems; directions; eating out; shopping

    3 objectives3 subtopics

    Paper 2: Speaking in Portuguese

    convey information and narrate events coherently and confidently, using and adapting language for different purposes, Students are assessed on their ability to communicate and interact effectively through speaking in Portuguese for different purposes., use a range of vocabulary and grammatical structures accurately, including some more complex forms, with reference to past, present and future events +3 more

    6 objectives6 subtopics

    Theme 5: International and global dimension

    Bringing the world together: sports events; music events; campaigns and good causes, Environmental issues: being ‘green’; access to natural resources

    2 objectives2 subtopics

    Paper 1: Listening and understanding in Portuguese

    be able to answer questions, extract information, evaluate and draw conclusions., recognise the relationship between past, present and future events, deduce meaning from a variety of spoken texts +3 more

    6 objectives6 subtopics

    Theme 1: Identity and culture

    Who am I?: relationships; when I was younger; what my friends and family are like; what makes a good friend; interests; socialising with friends and family; role models, Cultural life: celebrations and festivals; reading; music; sport; film and television, Daily life: customs and everyday life; food and drink; shopping; social media and technology (use of, advantages and disadvantages)

    3 objectives3 subtopics

    Paper 3: Reading and understanding in Portuguese

    translate a short passage of written Portuguese into English to demonstrate an ability to transfer meaning accurately into English., recognise the relationship between past, present and future events, identify the overall message, key points, details and opinions in texts +4 more

    7 objectives7 subtopics

    Assessment Objectives

    AO2: Speaking – communicate and interact effectively in speech (25%), AO3: Reading – understand and respond to different types of written language (25%), AO4: Writing – communicate in writing (25%) +1 more

    4 objectives4 subtopics

    Paper 4: Writing in Portuguese

    produce clear and coherent text of extended length to present facts and express ideas and opinions appropriately for different purposes and in different settings, make accurate use of a variety of vocabulary and grammatical structures, including some more complex forms, to describe and narrate with reference to past, present and future events, translate sentences and short texts from English into the assessed language to convey key messages accurately and to apply grammatical knowledge of language and structures in context. +5 more

    8 objectives8 subtopics

    Theme 3: School

    What school is like: school types; school day; subjects; rules and pressures; celebrating success, School activities: school trips; events and exchanges

    2 objectives2 subtopics

    Themes and topics

    All themes and topics must be studied in the context of both the students’ home country and that of countries and communities where Portuguese is spoken., Questions across all four language skills are set in common contexts, addressing a range of relevant contemporary and cultural themes. They are organised into five themes, each broken down into topics and sub-topics.

    2 objectives2 subtopics

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