Japanese classes South London and Online
34 Sunderland Road, Forest Hill SE23 2QA
GCSE Japanese Information
Overview and Exam Preparation
GCSE Japanese Overview
What is GCSE?
General Certificate of Secondary Education, the qualifications that 15 and 16 year olds in the UK take at the end of Year 11. GCSE Japanese is roughly the same level as JLPT N5.
When is the exam?
Summer every year
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The speaking exam period: 15 April –17 May 2024. The date will be decided by the school.
GCSE Key information
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Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing tests
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The level and topics are the same as other MFLs taught in schools
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Foundation Tier (1-5) and Higher Tier (1-9)
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120 guided lesson hours + Revision
Administrative details
How to communicate with your school about the exam, a rough timeline for the administrative procedures, how to find a speaking examiner so on.
Study plan examples
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2 hrs/week x 3 years - Foundation Tier
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3 hrs/week x 3-4 years - Higher Tier
It includes lesson time for those taking private tuition. If you are taught at school, you have roughly 300 study hours including lessons, homework and revision time.
Is it worth taking GCSE Japanese?
It really just depends on whether you want to have the exam on your record. GCSE Japanese can be a great goal, but studying without taking the exam is also totally fine! You can focus on what you want to learn. Whichever path you choose, your passion for learning Japanese will lead you to a great future.
GCSE vs JLPT
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JLPT does not require output skills such as speaking and writing.
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JLPT is useful if you want to work using Japanese language skills or study in Japan.
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JLPT N5 requires more grammar than GCSE.
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GCSE Foundation is the halfway point of JLPT N5 and those who reach GCSE Higher can progress immediately to JLPT N5 or N4.
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GCSE listening test is easier than JLPT N5.
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Kanji for GCSE Higher is 200, Foundation is 76. Kanji for N5 is around 100 and N4 is 350.
Normally I wouldn't recommend the JLPT to teenagers because the vocabulary is more for 18+. Learning general Japanese is more beneficial than preparing for the JLPT exam until then, in my opinion. JLPT is flexible in terms of the timing. You can try whenever you are fully ready in the future.
GCSE Exam Preparation
When should I start?
After about two years of studying the basics and grammar, you can start preparing for GCSE exams.
How is GCSE Japanese different from general Japanese study?
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Vocabulary based on the five GCSE themes
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Speaking and Writing tests require specific preparations
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Range of Kanji - 76 kanji for Foundation Tier and 200 kanji for Higher Tier
Textbook
Sample Papers
GCSE Themes and sub-topics
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Theme 1: Identity and Culture
Family, daily life, hobby, celebration...
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Theme 2: Local area and trip
Town, shopping, holiday, transport...
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Theme 3: School
Description, school subject, club, event, school trip...
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Theme 4: Future aspiration
Work experience, part-time job, learning languages, plans for your future...
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Theme 5: International and global dimensions
International events, environmental issues...
GCSE Kanji List
Foundation Tier - Green (76)
Higher Tier - Black and Green (200)
Number 一二三四五六七八九十百千万
Counter 何才円年時分間半番
Position 上下中右左外前後
Day&week 日月火水木金土今来曜毎週
People 私人女男子母父
School 先生友学校庭教室
Daily life 朝昼夜晩午
Meal 牛肉魚事飯茶
Adj 1 大小高元気安古新
Adj 2 少多有名長近好同
Colour 白黒青赤銀
Verb 1 行言見食入出
Verb 2 帰聞書飲話読買会休住
Verb 3 知作使売働思泳持待終
Home 家族犬姉妹兄弟部屋
Body 口目手耳体心
Study 本漢字英語地理物音楽勉強料
Transport 電車駅鉄道自動
Town 店映画館図病院公園社場所
Nature 山川田花海
Weather 天雨雪空風春夏秋冬
Japan 国県市町村東西南北京州都
Trip 旅写真寺神祭切紙和文化式
Candidates' voice
The structure of the exam and study tips are well explained.
When the student took GCSE, using a dictionary was allowed for the writing test which is no longer possible.
My students achieved from a 5 to a 9 and they were all happy with their results. GCSE Japanese was a milestone for these students and they are still studying Japanese!