GCSE Chinese speaking test
GCSE Chinese speaking examiners
Many schools have no Chinese teacher. When a student sits GCSE Chinese as a private candidate, the exam centre may ask the family or school to arrange a suitable Mandarin speaking examiner (teacher-examiner). We match parents, schools and exam centres with checked speaking examiners who know the test format.
- For
- Private candidates, schools, exam centres
- Exam boards
- AQA (8673), Pearson Edexcel (1CN0)
- Examiner
- Professional or native-level Mandarin, familiar with the GCSE speaking test
- Checks
- Identity, DBS and qualifications
Why a speaking examiner is needed
GCSE Chinese includes a speaking test, usually conducted and recorded by a teacher at the exam centre. Many schools do not teach Chinese, so when a private candidate enters, the centre may have nobody suitable to conduct a Mandarin speaking test and asks the candidate or school to arrange one.
Pearson Edexcel’s guidance, for example, says the speaking assessment for a non-taught language can be conducted by a teacher or tutor with a degree, advanced-level knowledge or native-speaker competence, and that centres do not need individual approval from Pearson to engage a suitable external person.
Examiner requirements
- Fluent Mandarin, with a relevant degree, advanced-level knowledge or native-speaker competence.
- Familiar with the exam board’s speaking test format, tasks and timings.
- Not a family member of the candidate and with no conflict of interest; if they know the candidate, the centre must declare it under exam board rules.
- The test takes place at the exam centre, supervised by the centre throughout.
- Passed our identity, DBS and qualification checks.
How we match
- Send a request with the exam board, exam centre, test date or window and number of candidates.
- We find a checked speaking examiner and confirm their availability.
- The examiner confirms arrangements, paperwork and fees with the centre.
- The test takes place at the centre, and recordings are handled under the centre’s and exam board’s procedures.
For parents
Dates, procedures and fees for the speaking test are set by the exam centre. Before entering, check with the centre whether you need to arrange an examiner and what paperwork the examiner must provide. For speaking practice, we can also match a GCSE Chinese tutor for mock speaking tests.
Want to be a speaking examiner?
Teachers and tutors with Mandarin teaching experience who know the GCSE Chinese speaking test can apply to become a tutor and tick “Available as a GCSE Chinese speaking examiner” on the form.
Exam boards and centres can change their arrangements. Always check the latest requirements. Reference: Pearson guidance on arranging speaking assessments for non-taught languages.
Need a GCSE Chinese tutor or mock speaking tests?
Tell us what your child needs and we will find an approved tutor.