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Explains listening skill similarities and differences such as rubric language, answer format, dictation play counts, and exam timing.",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/exam/","Exam",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/making-the-switch-to-aqa-key-similarities-and-differences-between-the-exam-boards/622929/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/making-the-switch-to-aqa-key-similarities-and-differences-between-the-exam-boards/622929.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":42,"@type":43},"jay","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-11-04","2026-10-20",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",9,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"What are the overall assessment objective weightings for AQA GCSE?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"AQA allocates AO1 35%, AO2 45%, and AO3 20% across speaking and writing (for AO1 and AO2) and grammar and vocabulary application (for AO3).","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"How does AQA allocate AO3 marks compared with Pearson Edexcel?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"AQA assigns more AO3 marks across components, including 12.5% to the writing exam and 5% to speaking. 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All rights reserved.  \nContents  \nAssessment objective weighting .....................................................................3  \nSubject content ..................................................................................................5  \nListening ..............................................................................................................6  \nSpeaking ..............................................................................................................8  \nReading .............................................................................................................. 1 1  \nWriting ............................................................................................................... 12  \nVocabulary requirements ...............................................................................15  \nAQA Practical Vocabulary Guide ....................................................................16  \nResources .......................................................................................................... 18  \nWe have outlined the key differences and similarities you will need to make a  \nseamless switch from Pearson Edexcel to AQA for GCSE French, German, and Spanish.  \n© 2026 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. 2 of 22  \nAssessment Objective weighting  \n\n| Assessment Objectives | % in GCSE |\n| --- | --- |\n| AO1: understand and respond to spoken language in speaking and in writing | 35% |\n| AO2: understand and respond to written language in speaking and in writing | 45% |\n| AO3: demonstrate understanding and accurate application of the grammar and vocabulary prescribed in the specification | 20% |\n| Total | 100% |\n\n* Figures highlighted below represent differences across boards.  \n\n| AQA AO | Component weightings |  |  |  | Overall weighting % |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n|  | Paper 1:\u003Cbr>Listening | Paper 2:\u003Cbr>Speaking | Paper 3:\u003Cbr>Reading | Paper 4:\u003Cbr>Writing |  |\n| AO1 | 22.5 | 12.5 |  |  | 35 |\n| AO2 |  | 7.5 | 25 | 12.5 | 45 |\n| AO3 | 2.5 | 5 |  | 12.5 | 20 |\n| Overall weighting of components | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 100 |\n\n© 2026 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. 3 of 22  \n| Pearson Edexcel AO | Component weightings |  |  |  | Overall weighting % |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n|  | Paper 1:\u003Cbr>Speaking | Paper 2: Listening and understanding | Paper 3: Reading and understanding | Paper 4:\u003Cbr>Writing |  |\n| AO1 | 15 | 20 |  |  | 35 |\n| AO2 | 2 |  | 25 | 18 | 45 |\n| AO3 | 8 | 5 |  | 7 | 20 |\n| Overall weighting of components | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 100 |\n\nThe overall weighting of each Assessment object is the same across AQA and Pearson Edexcel papers.  \n AQA allocate 12.5% of AO3 marks to the writing exam and 5% to the speaking exam.  \n Pearson Edexcel allocates 7% of AO3 marks to the writing exams and 8% to the speaking exam.  \n We’ve allocated the largest proportion of AO3 marks to Paper 4 (Writing), where learners can reflect on and check the accuracy of their language.  \n© 2026 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. 4 of 22  \nSubject content  \nPearson Edexcel has a structure which hinges on thematic contexts rather than clear topic areas, whereas the AQA specification is structured around three main themes, each with three clearly defined topic areas. Our schemes of work mirror this structure for ease of planning and teaching.  \nWhen switching from Pearson Edexcel to AQA, you will notice some overlap in content; we have organised our specification into clear themes and topics to help you adapt your existing planning with minimal effort.  \nThe vocabulary and grammar required is an exhaustive list, which can transfer across topics and themes.  \nThe crossover in content, vocabulary and grammar supports a spiral curriculum in which knowledge is revisited to strengthen schema and long-term memory.  \nWe also","cbCail8LqlKDY9VJ","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCail8LqlKDY9VJ","pdf",17278067,22,"English","# Assessment objective weighting\n## Subject content\n## Skill: Listening\n## Similarities\n## Differences","[{\"question\":\"What are the overall assessment objective weightings for AQA GCSE?\",\"answer\":\"AQA allocates AO1 35%, AO2 45%, and AO3 20% across speaking and writing (for AO1 and AO2) and grammar and vocabulary application (for AO3).\"},{\"question\":\"How does AQA allocate AO3 marks compared with Pearson Edexcel?\",\"answer\":\"AQA assigns more AO3 marks across components, including 12.5% to the writing exam and 5% to speaking. Pearson Edexcel allocates 7% of AO3 marks to writing exams and 8% to speaking exams.\"},{\"question\":\"What are key differences in the listening exam format between AQA and Pearson Edexcel?\",\"answer\":\"AQA Paper 1 Listening plays Section A passages twice and uses dictation played three times with built-in pauses on the second play. Pearson Edexcel plays passages three times and plays each dictation sentence in full three times, with different overall exam duration.\"}]","Making the switch to AQA - Key similarities and differences between the exam boards | PDF",1792467384,55]