Which Board do we do? Edexcel Specification Code: 9RU0
Why study Russian?
Russian is offered by only a small number of schools in the UK, meaning a Russian A Level will give you a distinct edge and make you stand out. Russian is spoken by 300 million people around the world and remains a valued skill in the workplace. Beyond the purely practical, you will learn about Russia’s fascinating history and captivating culture with rich traditions in the arts, literature, music, and ballet.
Russian language skills are highly sought after by UK employers. Potential future careers for students studying Russian include academia, arts and culture, broadcasting and journalism, business and management, charity and development, defence, diplomacy and politics, education, finance and banking, law, the oil and gas industries and translation and interpreting.
Studying Russian also gives you greater opportunities to work and/or study abroad, or work for companies in the UK with international links.
What do I need to know, or be able to do, before taking this course?
You should ideally have passed Russian GCSE at a grade B or higher. If Russian is your first or second language, you will need to be able to speak and write the language proficiently. You will also need an interest in other cultures, and a logical mind will help in order to understand the grammar. If you do not have a GCSE certificate you may need to sit a diagnostic test to assess your level.
What subjects combine well with Russian?
There are no subjects that conflict with Russian, and it can be said that all subjects would actually benefit from the knowledge and skills acquired in studying Russian. Studying a language makes it easier to learn other languages – so studying Russian may assist other modern languages.
What University courses can Russian lead to?
Russian A Level leads to a variety of degree courses including Russian/Slavonic Studies, Politics, International Relations, English Literature, Economics, Philosophy, History of Art and History.
Subject components & assessment:
Paper 1: Listening, reading and translation (40%)
Paper 2: Written response to works and translation (30%)
Paper 3: Speaking (30%)
