Chinese (Native and Heritage)

Chinese – Native and Heritage

Exam board: Pearson Edexcel
Specification: A Level Chinese (9CN0)

Entry requirement: Native or heritage speaker of Chinese (or equivalent fluency)

Why study Chinese?

Our Chinese A Level pathway is designed specifically for native and heritage speakers who wish to formalise and deepen their linguistic and cultural knowledge.

The course is studied in Year 12 and examined at the end of the year. Lessons take place during Wednesday Period 5 enrichment, allowing students to take it alongside three or four A Levels.

In virtually all cases, this qualification counts as a full A Level in university applications. It provides a powerful academic complement to subjects such as Mathematics, Sciences, Economics, Politics, History and English.

Students refine their ability to write with precision, analyse complex texts and discuss social and cultural issues in depth. The course promotes intellectual rigour while celebrating home, native and heritage languages within our Sixth Form community.

Lessons are delivered in Mandarin and simplified characters. However, students may choose to sit the final examinations in Mandarin or Cantonese and may respond using either simplified or traditional characters, according to their linguistic background.

Non-native learners on our Mandarin (Language Acquisition) pathway are welcome to join for additional stretch and challenge where appropriate.

Studying Chinese at A Level strengthens applications to Oxbridge and Russell Group universities and demonstrates high levels of literacy, cultural awareness and analytical skill.

What will I study?

You will explore contemporary Chinese society and culture through four compulsory themes:

Theme 1: Changes in Contemporary Chinese Society
• Family structure, generational relationships and demographic change
• Education and student life
• Employment patterns and work–life balance

Theme 2: Chinese Culture
• Major traditional festivals and customs
• Film, television, music and reading culture

Theme 3: Evolving Chinese Society
• Communication, the internet and social media
• Economic development and environmental protection

Theme 4: The Impact of Reform and Opening Up (since 1978)
• Urbanisation, inequality and the growth of super-cities
• China’s relationship with the UK: trade, cultural and educational exchanges

Alongside these themes, students complete a depth study of:

• The literary text Hometown by Lu Xun
• The documentary film Please Vote for Me

Through these works, students examine questions of social change, democracy, identity, inequality and generational perspective.

You will:

• Develop advanced reading and listening skills using authentic materials
• Produce analytical essays in Chinese
• Conduct an Independent Research Project on a topic of personal interest
• Engage in structured debate and critical discussion
• Refine formal, academic written Chinese

How will I study?

You will work in a small seminar-style group focused on discussion, textual analysis and independent thinking.

The enrichment model enables students to:

• Maintain and extend their home or heritage language at an academic level
• Develop confidence in formal spoken and written Chinese
• Attend enrichment lectures linked to the works studied
• Contribute to Sixth Form initiatives celebrating linguistic and cultural diversity

Students are expected to complete independent reading, research and essay writing between sessions.

How will my work be assessed?

External assessment (end of Year 12):

• Paper 1: Listening, Reading and Translation
• Paper 2: Written response to works (literary text and film)
• Paper 3: Speaking (discussion of themes and Independent Research Project)

The speaking examination includes discussion of a self-selected research topic, enabling students to demonstrate intellectual curiosity and subject mastery.

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