A Level Chinese - Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Advanced GCE in Chinese (spoken Mandarin/spoken Cantonese) (9CN0) - Issue 5 changes

Oct 20, 2026

Uploaded by Noah

Specification outlining Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Advanced GCE in Chinese (spoken Mandarin/spoken Cantonese) with code 9CN0, teaching starting September 2017 and first certification in 2019. Includes Issue 5 overview and a detailed change log updating references, planning guidance, assessment overview and optionality for Paper 2, marking guidance wording, and additions to Appendix 2 prescribed literary texts and films with traditional/simplified/English titles. Provides qualification rationale, themes, and links to papers 1–3 assessment components.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages67

Reading Time2 h 49 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Why choose the Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Advanced GCE in Chinese (spoken Mandarin/ spoken Cantonese)?

Subject content and assessment information

Themes and sub-themes

Paper 1: Listening, reading and translation

Paper 2: Written response to works and translation

Paper 3: Speaking Assessment Objectives

Administration and general information

Entries

Access arrangements, reasonable adjustments, special consideration and malpractice

Student recruitment and progression

Appendix

Appendix 1: Independent research project form (RP3)

Appendix 2: Prescribed literary texts and films

Appendix 3: Grammar list

Appendix 4: The context for the development of this qualification

Appendix 5: Transferable skills

Appendix 6: Level 3 Extended Project qualification

Appendix 7: Codes

A Level Chinese | Specification | | --- | | Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Advanced GCE in Chinese
(spoken Mandarin/spoken Cantonese) (9CN0) | | First teaching from September 2017 | First certification from 2019 Issue 5 Summary of Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Advanced GCEin Chinese (spoken Mandarin/spoken Cantonese) specification Issue 5 changes | Summary of changes made between previous issue and this current issue | Page
number | | --- | --- | | References to ‘Chinese speaking countries’ has been updated to ‘Chinese speaking countries/communities’ for consistency across the specification. | 2, 5, 8,
11, 46 | | The Getting Started Guide in the Planning section has been updated. The text has been rephrased from:
“Our mapping documents highlight key differences between the new and 2008 qualification.”
to
“Our mapping documents highlight key differences between the new and previous assessments.” | 4 | | The text in the Assessment overview for Paper 2 has been updated to reflect the increased optionality of questions for the set works questions. The following text was added:
“Students select one question from a choice of two for each of their chosen literary text(s).”
“Students select one question from a choice of two for their chosen film.” | 6 | | The Assessment information for Paper 2 has been updated for Sections B and C, to reflect the increased optionality of questions for the set works questions. The following text was added:
“there will be a choice of two questions for each literary text and film.” | 13 | | The following wording was added to the Marking guidance for Paper 2: Written response to works to clarify that indicative content is not intended as a model response:
" but is not intended as a model response. " | 16 | | The following set works were added to Appendix 2: Prescribed literary texts, along with the English titles for existing set works:
Literary texts
• 《北京折疊》 (郝景芳), 2016 (novelette) -traditional characters
• 《北京折叠》 (郝景芳), 2016 (novelette) -simplified characters
• Folding Beijing (Hao Jingfang), 2016 (novelette) -English
Films
• 《一個都不能少》 (張藝謀), 1999-traditional characters
• 《一个都不能少》 (张艺谋), 1999-simplified characters
• Not One Less (Zhang Yimou), 1999-English | 49 | If you need further information on these changes or what they mean, contact us via our website at: [qualifications.pearson.com/en/support/contact-us.html](qualifications.pearson.com/en/support/contact-us.html). Contents 1 Introduction Why choose the Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Advanced GCE in Chinese (spoken Mandarin/ spoken Cantonese)? Supporting you in planning and implementing this qualification Qualification at a glance 2 Subject content and assessment information Themes and sub-themes Paper 1 : Listening, reading and translation Paper 2 : Written response to works and translation Paper 3: Speaking Assessment Objectives 3 Administration and general information Entries Access arrangements, reasonable adjustments, special consideration and malpractice Student recruitment and progression Appendix 1: Independent research project form (RP3) Appendix 2: Prescribed literary texts and films Appendix 3: Grammar list Appendix 4: The context for the development of this qualification Appendix 5: Transferable skills Appendix 6: Level 3 Extended Project qualification Appendix 7: Codes 2 2 4 5 8 9 11 13 21 42 43 43 43 46 48 49 51 59 61 62 64 1 Introduction Why choose the Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Advanced GCE in Chinese (spoken Mandarin/ spoken Cantonese)? We believe languages should appeal to all students. The Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Advanced GCE in Chinese (spoken Mandarin/spoken Cantonese) has been developed to inspire all students who have an appreciation of the language, literature, film and culture of the Chinese-speaking world. We’ve listened to feedback from the languages community – subject associations, acade

FAQs

What are the key dates and identifiers for this qualification?

First teaching is from September 2017, with first certification from 2019. The specification references Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Advanced GCE in Chinese (spoken Mandarin/spoken Cantonese) with code 9CN0.

What changes were introduced in Issue 5 compared with the previous issue?

Issue 5 updates consistency wording (e.g., references to “Chinese speaking countries/communities”), revises Planning section guidance wording, expands Paper 2 assessment overview and information to reflect increased optionality, clarifies marking guidance for indicative content, and adds prescribed works in Appendix 2.

How are the four themes assessed across the papers?

The four themes are studied alongside two works (either two literary texts or one literary text and one film). Assessment is delivered through two externally-examined papers (Papers 1 and 2) and one speaking assessment conducted by a teacher-examiner (Paper 3).

Oct 20, 2026

Uploaded by Noah