Edexcel A-Level Turkish
Explore your course, one topic at a time.
Explore your topics
6 topics
Assessment Objectives1 topic
Themes, sub-themes and research subjects1 topic
Translation into English, reading comprehension and writing (research question) in Turkish1 topic
Translation into Turkish and written response to works1 topic
Listening, reading and writing in Turkish1 topic
Prescribed literary texts and films1 topic
About this course
About Pearson Edexcel A-Level Turkish
The Pearson Edexcel A-Level Turkish course offers students the opportunity to develop advanced language skills while exploring the culture, society, and contemporary issues of Turkey and the Turkish-speaking world. The specification is structured around four engaging themes: 'Changes in Turkish Society', 'Political and Artistic Culture in the Turkish-Speaking World', 'Immigration and the Turkish-Speaking World', and 'The Making of Modern Turkey'. These themes allow students to build linguistic competence alongside a deep understanding of historical and current affairs.
Throughout the course, students will enhance their listening, reading, writing, and speaking abilities, with a strong focus on grammar, vocabulary, and independent research. The qualification is linear, meaning all assessments take place at the end of the second year of study. Students will also complete an independent research project on a topic of their choice related to the Turkish-speaking world, which is assessed as part of the speaking exam.
Assessment Structure
The Pearson Edexcel A-Level Turkish qualification is assessed through three externally examined papers and one internally conducted speaking assessment. Paper 1 (Listening, Reading and Translation) is worth 40% of the final grade and lasts 2 hours. Paper 2 (Written Response to Works and Translation) is worth 30% and lasts 2 hours and 40 minutes. Paper 3 (Speaking) is worth 30% and consists of a 21-23 minute oral exam, which includes a discussion of a research project. There is no coursework component. Total marks for the qualification are 300.
Why Choose Pearson Edexcel?
- Pearson Edexcel offers a clear and well-structured specification with a strong focus on cultural and historical context, making it ideal for students who wish to combine language learning with an understanding of Turkey's role in Europe and the world.
- The board provides a wide range of support materials, including past papers, mark schemes, and exemplar answers, which are easily accessible and help students prepare effectively for exams.
- Edexcel's assessment includes a research project as part of the speaking exam, allowing students to explore a personal area of interest and demonstrate independent research skills, which can be advantageous for university applications.
Frequently Asked Questions
What themes are covered in Edexcel A-Level Turkish?
How is the speaking exam structured for Edexcel A-Level Turkish?
Is there coursework in Edexcel A-Level Turkish?
What support materials are available for Edexcel A-Level Turkish?
Can I take Edexcel A-Level Turkish if I haven't studied it at GCSE?
Assessment and exam guidance
What Gets Top Grades
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
Give a single fact or term
Name, select, or recognise
Set out main features briefly
Give an account of what something is like or what happens
Give reasons with developed cause→effect chains
State similarities AND differences (both required)
Examine in detail showing cause→effect→consequence chains
Weigh up BOTH sides, reach JUSTIFIED conclusion
Make judgments about importance with justification
Show formula→substitution→calculation→answer with units
Tips and common mistakes
Common Exam Mistakes
Pitfalls to avoid in your exams
- •Treating AO1 as a listening-only skill and never writing full responses. Correction: the objective requires a written response, so every listening task should end with you producing written Turkish that answers the question.
- •Assuming all spoken sources sound the same. Correction: the objective says a variety of sources, so train with interviews, announcements, conversations and reports, and note how register and speed change.
- •Writing down everything you hear instead of answering the question. Correction: select the details that the task asks for and shape them into a direct written answer.
- •Reading only for individual words and missing the overall argument. Correction: skim the whole text first to establish gist, then return for detail.
- •Copying long chunks of the source text instead of answering. Correction: select the relevant information and express your answer in your own words where the task requires it.
- •Ignoring the type of source and reading every text the same way. Correction: adjust your approach to the genre, since a blog post, a report and a story signal meaning differently.
- •Treating AO3 as a memory test for isolated grammar rules. Correction: AO3 is demonstrated in continuous writing, so practise applying grammar inside full sentences and paragraphs.
- •Believing that long, complicated sentences automatically earn range. Correction: range means appropriate variety and precise choice; an accurate short sentence can be stronger than a tangled long one.
Top Examiner Tips
Expert advice for exam success
- •Listen once for gist, once for detail, then write; do not try to transcribe while the audio is still playing.
- •Underline the key words in the question before listening so you know which details to capture.
- •After writing, check that your response is in the required language and directly answers the question asked.
- •Skim the text once for gist before reading the questions, then scan back to locate the relevant lines.
- •Highlight or note the key words in each question so you know exactly what information to find.
- •Check that your written answer is in the required language and uses evidence from the text where the task asks for it.
- •Keep a checklist of your five most frequent Turkish errors and read your draft once for each category.
- •Deliberately include a small set of varied structures you can control, such as a relative clause, a conditional and a passive, rather than experimenting with untested grammar under time pressure.
Ready for a little practice?
Create your account to start practising Turkish.
7 days Premium · Then the free plan continues · No card, no charge