Greek A-Level (2028 exam) – Term 4 (Sept. 2027)

Course Overview

AS-Level Greek is a one-year course (Terms 1, 2, & 3a) comprising both literature and language components, which carry an equal number of marks in examination. The language paper tests understanding of the Greek language by means of translation and comprehension questions. For the literature paper, students study one prose set text and one verse set text.

A-Level Greek is a two-year course (Terms 1, 2, 3b, 4-6), in which students complete four separate components: Unseen Translation, a choice of Prose Composition or Comprehension, Prose Literature (two texts), and Verse Literature (two texts). For the literature component, students study two prose set texts and two verse set texts.

Students must have gained at least Grade 5 at GCSE level in Greek in order to undertake either of these courses.

Course Method

To prepare for the language component, students build on their knowledge and application of grammar, syntax, and vocabulary from GCSE during language lessons, and complete assignments of translation and comprehension between classes. These are reviewed and discussed during the lessons. There are few new areas of grammar and syntax introduced compared with GCSE; rather those areas of grammar already met are used in a more complex manner, closer to the style of original Greek authors.

Students must obtain a copy of Greek beyond GCSE by John Taylor before the course begins (Bloomsbury; ISBN 9781474299756).

To prepare for the literature component, students prepare separate sections of the prose and verse set texts in advance of lessons, analysing aspects of content and linguistic style, which are then discussed during the lessons. Students are required to read a small amount of literature in translation so that they understand the context from where the set texts have been taken. Prose texts typically include the works of Herodotus, Plato, Thucydides, or Aristotle, while verse texts are commonly taken from Homer, Sophocles, Euripides, or Aristophanes. The texts rotate every two years.

To prepare for the literature components, students must obtain the textbook recommended by OCR. There are very good workbooks available from Zig-Zag Education, which help students with translating the literature texts, but purchase of these is optional.

Lessons alternate on a weekly basis between language and literature. Throughout each term there are regular tests in both language and literature, some of which will be taken from past papers. Students also learn vocabulary from the AS/A-Level defined vocabulary list on a weekly basis, knowledge of which is tested informally during lessons.

Course Details

Term 4 comprises 14 weekly lessons. Each lesson lasts 90 minutes.

In Term 4 students continue their study of the new texts from Term 3b:

• Herodotus, Book 8, 6 (οὕτω δὴ κατέμεινάν) to 26 (περὶ ἀρετῆς); English: Herodotus, Book 7, 175-177, 201-239 & Book 8, 1-5.
• Sophocles, Electra, lines 516-763; English: rest of Sophocles, Electra.

This PX Classroom is held on Wednesdays at 4.30pm (London time zone) starting from Wednesday, TBC September 2027. There will be no lesson on TBC October due to half-term. The last lesson is due to be on TBC December 2027.