Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency

ACCAC
CCEA
QCA

GCE ADVANCED SUBSIDIARY (AS) AND ADVANCED (A) LEVEL SPECIFICATIONS

SUBJECT CRITERIA FOR CLASSICAL CIVILISATION

1. Introduction

1.1 AS and A level subject criteria set out the knowledge, understanding, skills and assessment objectives common to all AS and A level specifications in a given subject. They provide the framework within which the awarding body creates the detail of the specification.

Subject criteria are intended to:

• help ensure consistent and comparable standards in the same subject across the awarding bodies;
• define the relationship between the AS and A level specifications, with the AS as a subset of the A level;
• ensure that the rigour of A level is maintained;
• help higher education institutions and employers know what has been studied and assessed.

Any specification which contains significant elements of the subject Classical Civilisation must be consistent with the relevant parts of these subject criteria.

2. Aims

2.1 AS and A level specifications in Classical Civilisation should encourage students to:

• acquire, through studying texts in translation, history and physical evidence, knowledge and understanding of selected aspects of Classical Greek and/or Roman civilisation;
• develop awareness of the similarities and differences between the classical world and later times;
• apply critical and evaluative skills at an appropriate level to evidence of different kinds from the materials studied.

2.2 In addition, A level specifications in Classical Civilisation should encourage students to:

• acquire, through studying texts in translation, history and physical evidence, knowledge and understanding of selected aspects of both Classical Greek and Roman civilisation.

3. Specification Content

3.1 AS and A level specifications in Classical Civilisation should build on the knowledge, understanding and skills specified for GCSE in this subject but also accommodate the needs of students who may not have studied a classical subject at this level.

Knowledge, Understanding and Skills

3.2 AS specifications should require candidates to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the Greeks and/or Romans in two or more of the following areas:

• architecture: to include aspects such as techniques of construction, different styles and types of buildings, functions, chronological development;
• art: to include different media such as sculpture, vase painting, mosaic, wall painting; different styles, techniques, purposes; chronological development;
• archaeology: to include aspects such as important Greek/Roman sites, archaeological techniques, the use of archaeological evidence;
• history, politics and society: to include topics such as slavery, city states, economics and agriculture;
• literature: to include specific authors, different genres such as epic, tragic and comic drama, satire, oratory, historical writing;
• philosophy and values: to include ways of thought such as Stoicism, Epicureanism, Greek and Roman religions, modes of philosophic argument, concepts of society.

AS specifications should require candidates to:

• study the material through primary classical sources, including texts in translation;

• understand classical values and concepts including those which have been of fundamental importance for the subsequent development of European civilisation;

• understand, interpret, analyse, evaluate and use a range of evidence from primary classical sources, and set the material selected in its context;

• present relevant information in a clear, concise and logical manner.

3.3 A level specifications should require candidates to:

• study the Greeks and Romans in an overall total of three or more of the above areas (this may include those areas studied at AS level).

4. Key Skills

4.1 AS and A level specifications in Classical Civilisation should provide opportunities for developing and generating evidence for assessing the Key Skills listed below. Where appropriate, these opportunities should be directly cross-referenced, at specified level(s), to the criteria listed in Part B of the Key Skills Specifications.

• Communication

• Information Technology

• Improving Own Learning and Performance

• Working with Others

• Problem Solving.

5. Assessment Objectives

5.1 All candidates must be required to meet the following assessment objectives. The assessment objectives are to be weighted in all specifications as indicated.

Assessment Objectives		Weighting
		AS	A2	A level
AO1	Recall, select and understand primary classical sources and use relevant knowledge specified for the course of study.	45–55%	35–45%	40-50%
AO2	Evaluate, analyse and respond to primary classical sources, including classical Greek/Latin authors in translation, in their Greek/Roman context.	35–45%	45–55%	40-50%
AO3	Select, organise and present relevant information in a clear, logical and appropriate form, taking into account the use of specialist vocabulary, grammar, punctuation and spelling.	10%	10%	10%

At A level candidates will have studied a wider range of topics and should be able to answer broader and more complex questions and to demonstrate a higher level of critical awareness.

The assessment objectives apply to the whole specification.

6. Scheme of Assessment

Internal Assessment

6.1 A level specifications in Classical Civilisation may have a maximum internal assessment weighting of 30%.

Synoptic Assessment

6.2 All A level specifications should include a minimum of 20% synoptic assessment. All synoptic assessment units should be taken at the end of the course and be externally assessed. Synoptic assessment should draw on assessment objectives 1 and 2. Synoptic assessment in Classical Civilisation is an understanding, critical analysis and evaluation of primary classical sources and of the links between them in their Classical contexts.

Examples of synoptic assessment in Classical Civilisation might be a study and evaluation of a Homeric epic poem or Roman town planning in their historical, religious, cultural and social contexts.

Key Skills Assessment

6.3 The Key Skill of Communication must contribute to the assessment of Classical Civilisation at A and AS level as stated in paragraph 13 of the Advanced Subsidiary and Advanced level qualification-specific criteria.

The requirement for all AS and A level specifications to assess candidates' quality of written communication will be met through assessment objective 3.

7. Grade Descriptions

7.1 The following grade descriptions indicate the level of attainment characteristic of the given grade at A level. They give a general indication of the required learning outcomes at each specified grade. The descriptions should be interpreted in relation to the content outlined in the specification; they are not designed to define that content. The grade awarded will depend in practice upon the extent to which the candidate has met the assessment objectives overall. Shortcomings in some aspects of the examination may be balanced by better performances in others.

7.2 Grade A

In relation to specified works of literature and other kinds of specified source material, candidates display an excellent range of accurate and relevant knowledge and understanding, enabling logical and sensitive evaluation and analysis.

Candidates construct persuasive and coherent arguments which focus on the tasks set in external or internal assessment. Prescribed primary materials are very well understood in their contemporary artistic, literary, social and historical contexts. Candidates offer informed comment and evaluation of prescribed authors and materials. They display excellent understanding of concepts specific to the classical world. They produce excellent personal responses which show clear insight into the author's meaning.

They write in a clear, concise and logical manner. Their spelling, punctuation and grammar are accurate. Classical names and technical terms are properly rendered.

7.3 Grade C

In relation to specified works of literature and other kinds of specified source material, candidates display a good range of accurate and relevant knowledge and understanding, enabling sensible and straightforward evaluation and analysis.

Candidates construct arguments which generally focus on the tasks set in external or internal assessment. Understanding of prescribed primary materials is on the whole rooted in their contemporary artistic, literary, social and historical contexts. Candidates are generally able to offer informed comment and evaluation of prescribed authors and materials. They display good understanding of concepts specific to the classical world. They produce personal responses which demonstrate understanding of the author's meaning.

Their written work demonstrates some clarity and evidence of planning. Their spelling, punctuation and grammar are generally accurate. Classical names and technical terms are generally properly rendered.

7.4 Grade E

In relation to specified works of literature and other kinds of specified source material, candidates display a basic range of accurate and relevant knowledge and understanding, enabling basic evaluation and analysis.

Candidates deploy arguments which show some relevance to the tasks set in external or internal assessment. There is some attempt to set prescribed primary materials in their contemporary artistic, literary, social and historical contexts. Candidates offer relevant or generalised comment and evaluation of prescribed authors and materials. They display some understanding of concepts specific to the classical world. They produce some attempt at a personal response which demonstrates a basic understanding of the author's meaning.

Their written work demonstrates evidence of basic planning. Their spelling, punctuation and grammar are adequate to express basic arguments. Classical names and technical terms are recognisable.