A-Level

A-Level Online Classes

From September this year, I will be running two Japanese A-Level classes:

For students who have completed the Japanese GCSE this summer, there will be a new Japanese A-Level class starting in September. This class will sit their final A-Level exams in the summer of 2026. The course will cover advanced grammar, vocabulary and kanji, through studying a variety of texts, including a selection of short literary works. Students will develop independent research skills by investigating an area of Japanese culture of their choice, and will learn how to write well-structured essays on a variety of topics. This class will meet twice-weekly on Tuesdays from 6:00~7:00, and Thursdays from 5:00pm~6:00pm.

The continuing A-Level Japanese class meets on Tuesday evenings from 8:00~9:00pm and Thursday evenings from 7:00~8:00pm. This class will be taking their final exams in the summer of 2025. In the second year of the course we will be studying an animated film, expanding our vocabulary through reading a variety of texts, and focussing on exam technique.

If you would like more information on these courses, or to enquire about individual or small group tuition, please complete the form which you will find here. The classes are particularly suitable for students who are homeschooled, or whose school is not able to offer Japanese.

Click here to go to the Pearson Edexcel A-Level website, where you can download the full Japanese A-Level specification, past papers and other useful documents.

A-Level Resources

A-Level Content & Assessment Overview: Click here.

Exam Guides – Paper 1 Section C

Theme 1: Research topic – Family and personal relationships: traditional family structures; the nuclear family; relationships within the family. Click here for the guide.

Theme 2: Research topic – The changing nature of events in Japan: traditional festivals & modern events; influence of the tourist industry; import of Western events. Click here for the guide.

Theme 3: Research topic – Ageing society: loneliness & isolation of old people; support from families; support from society. Click here for the guide.

Theme 4: Research topic – Saving energy after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster: saving energy in daily life; debate over energy supply; old/traditional ideas about saving energy. Click here for the guide.

Exam Guides – Paper 2 Section C

Films: Spirited Away. Click here for the guide.

Literature: ‘Hana’ – click here for the guide. ‘I am a Cat’ – click here for the guide.

A-Level Kanji Book

This is a work in progress, but I have attached the A-Level Kanji book from 1-200.

5 thoughts on “A-Level”

Harry on 09/09/2024

Hi, for paper 2 part a, in the answer booklet the following kanjis 優秀賞 are shown which aren’t in the specification. Would we be able to write the Japanese translation in hiragana if we don’t know the kanji?

- admin on 10/09/2024
  
  Dear Harry,
  
  I hope your kanji practice is going well! Regarding your question about using kanji in the translation section (Section A) of the A-Level Paper 2 exam, there’s no need to worry. You are not required to use any kanji that aren’t listed in the specification. Additionally, even if difficult words appear in kanji in the mark scheme, you won’t be penalised for writing them in hiragana. While you are expected to use the A-Level kanji in general, writing the occasional word in hiragana instead of kanji won’t affect your grade.
  
  Best of luck with your studies!
  
  - Harry on 13/09/2024
    
    Thanks!
    
Harry on 08/09/2024

Hi,

For the kanji guide, are the list of words on the right hand side of the kanji the only words we’d be expected to learn to understand in kanji.

For example: 以, 以外 is not included. Would we be expected to learn more?

- admin on 10/09/2024
  
  Dear Harry,
  
  The words listed in the table next to each kanji are some of the most commonly used words that include that kanji and are likely to appear in A-Level exams. Since the A-Level specification provides a list of kanji but not specific words, the words I’ve selected are meant to serve as a guide. However, there may be other words using that kanji in the exam as well.

Japanese4Schools

Specialising in the GCSE, A-Level, IB ab initio and Lang B (SL) qualifications