Paper 3: Speaking — Edexcel A-Level Russian
Test yourself on Paper 3: Speaking with PEARSON EDEXCEL A-Level practice questions.
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Paper 3: Speaking explained
In Paper 3 Speaking you must show knowledge and understanding of the cultural context by giving ideas, examples and information on one of the themes and on a chosen subject of interest you have researched, linked to the social and cultural context of Russian.
Read the full explanation
This means you do not simply list facts: you select relevant material, explain it clearly and connect it to the wider society and culture. For the theme, prepare a small bank of concrete Russian examples, such as a recent education reform, a demographic trend or a well-known cultural figure, and be ready to describe what it is, why it matters and how it links to the theme.
Your focus
- Present ideas, examples and information on one prescribed theme with accurate Russian.
- Present a researched subject of interest linked to the social and cultural context of Russian.
- Respond to questions by developing points and explaining links to the cultural context.
Paper 3: Speaking exam tips
Marking Points
- Shows secure knowledge and understanding of the cultural context of the Russian-speaking world, not just isolated facts.
- Gives relevant ideas, examples and information on one of the prescribed themes, with accurate Russian vocabulary and structures.
- Presents a researched subject of interest that is clearly linked to the social and cultural context of Russian.
- Explains how the chosen subject connects to wider social and cultural issues, using specific detail.
- Responds to questions with developed answers rather than one-word or memorised responses.
- Uses appropriate register and accurate language to communicate ideas and information.
Examiner Tips
- 💡Build a bank of five or six concrete Russian examples for your theme, each with a short explanation of its significance.
- 💡For your subject of interest, prepare a clear structure: what you researched, why, what you found and how it links to the social and cultural context.
- 💡Practise answering follow-up questions aloud so you can develop your points rather than just repeating prepared material.
- 💡Use accurate Russian and appropriate register; check key vocabulary and grammar in advance.
Common Mistakes
- Misunderstanding: the task is a general conversation about anything. Correction: you must cover one of the prescribed themes and a researched subject of interest linked to the social and cultural context of Russian.
- Misunderstanding: a long list of facts is enough. Correction: you need to explain the significance of the facts and link them to the cultural context.
- Misunderstanding: you can prepare a script and read it out. Correction: the assessment is a discussion, so you must respond flexibly to questions and develop points.
- Misunderstanding: any topic is acceptable for the subject of interest. Correction: it must be researched and clearly linked to the social and cultural context of the language studied.