Description
The Online GCSE Classical Greek course at our institution is aligned with the OCR GCSE (9–1) framework and aims to enrich learners with a deep understanding of the Classical Greek language, ancient literature, societal norms, and values. This Classical Greek GCSE Online Course is engineered to advance learners’ grasp of Classical Greek vocabulary, morphology, and syntax, enabling them to interpret unseen confected or adapted passages of Classical Greek with ease.
Our GCSE Classical Greek Online Course goes beyond language proficiency; it imbues students with insights into the relevance of Classical Greek and ancient literature to our contemporary world of diverse cultures. The curriculum helps students apply their knowledge of Classical Greek to deepen their understanding of English and other languages, connect their knowledge of the ancient world to other disciplines, and foster research and analytical skills. These skills turn them into independent learners and inquisitive scholars, making it a quintessential preparatory stage for A-Level studies in arts, humanities, and sciences
Homework, Assessment and Reporting
For students enrolled in our GCSE Classical Greek Online Course, the expectations remain consistent with our general Upper School policies. Students are required to complete at least one assignment per subject every fortnight in Level 3 and on a weekly basis in Level 4. Success is not just exam-oriented but involves a rigorous regimen of revising notes to strengthen learning post-lesson. Creating detailed revision cards and notes on each topic as they are studied ensures that students are robustly prepared well in advance of their final exams concluding the two-year Online GCSE Classical Greek programme.
Internal assessments for Level 3 are held in June, while Level 4 students undergo internal mock assessments in November and March. Level 3 reports are disseminated at the end of the Autumn and Summer terms, whereas Level 4 reports are distributed following the mock assessments in the Autumn and Spring terms. These reports consist of grades reflecting both attainment and effort in each subject, accompanied by written commentary from Success Coaches and the Head Teacher.
Parents are actively encouraged to maintain an open dialogue with teachers via their family Teams account. This approach enables a more nuanced and detailed tracking of each student’s academic journey throughout the year, a significant advantage over traditional annual parent consultation evenings.
Click here to see this year’s Assessment and Reporting schedule
Learners are required to study a compulsory Language component together with either two Literature components, or one Literature component and the Literature and Culture component.
The Language component (01) requires learners to translate a passage of Classical Greek, answer comprehension questions, and either answer questions on syntax and accidence within the context of a narrative passage, or translate short English sentences into Classical Greek. The vocabulary, accidence and syntax required for the composition of the Classical Greek sentences and the questions focusing on syntax and accidence will be taken from restricted lists.
The Literature components (02–05) will require the study of between 110 and 120 lines of material in Classical Greek. These set texts will change every two years. The set texts to be studied for the first seven years of assessment of the specification are listed in the specification.
The Literature and Culture component (06) will require the study of two different topics through the exploration of the prescribed sources listed in the Prescribed Sources Booklet, which is available on the OCR website, and other sources which cover the same topic areas. The material for the Literature and Culture component will remain for the lifetime of the specification. The set texts and topics will be reviewed after three years and may be subject to change. Each set text and topic will remain on the list for the lifetime of the qualification, unless the review process identifies a necessary change. If a text is to be removed from the list and replaced with another text, centres will be notified a year in advance.
In the course of this component, learners will develop their knowledge of Classical Greek vocabulary and linguistic structures through reading and studying texts and stories in Classical Greek. They will then demonstrate their linguistic competence through the translation and comprehension of unseen Classical Greek passages. Learners will also be able to demonstrate their linguistic ability by either recognising, analysing and explaining accidence and syntax within the context of a narrative passage, or by translating short sentences from English into Classical Greek.
These components are designed to develop learners’ knowledge and understanding of ancient literature through studying the set texts listed below. These components assess learners’ ability to analyse, evaluate and respond to the ancient literature they have studied. Learners will study the set texts listed below. Each set text or group of texts will be between 110 and 120 lines in length.
Summary of the Greek set texts for examination between 2023 and 2024:
J292/02 Prose Literature A:
Tales from Herodotus, Sections II (Psammetichus), III (Crocodiles), IV (Mycerinus), XVa (Pygmies)
J292/03 Prose Literature B:
Plato, The Martyrdom of Socrates, ed. F Doherty
Plato, Phaedo (The death of Socrates), Section 59c10 to Section 118, line 19
J292/04 Verse Literature A:
Homer, Odyssey, Book 7 lines 184–297
J292/05 Verse Literature B:
Euripides, Bacchae, lines 434–508 & 800–838
This component is designed to develop learners’ knowledge and understanding of Greek civilisation and culture, through the study of ancient literature and other ancient source material. Learners should study the prescribed ancient source material in the ‘Prescribed Sources Booklet’ for both of the topic areas set in any given year. Learners should also study additional ancient sources covering similar content to help illustrate the topics they are studying and provide opportunities for comparison. The topic areas and the Prescribed Sources Booklet will remain the same for the whole life of the specification.
The set topics for examination in 2023 and 2024 for this component will be:
The Olympic Games
- Preparation and Organisation
Layout of Olympia, Olympic truce, selection and role of officials. - Competing in the Olympics
Selection of competitors, training of athletes, prizes, the glory of winning, cheating. - Events
Running races, chariot races, pankration, wrestling, boxing, pentathlon. - Religious Aspects
Importance of Zeus, temple to Zeus, Pheidias’ statue of Zeus, sacrifices and rituals during the games.
Women in Ancient Greece
- The Status of Women in Athens
Status of women both within the oikos and outside. - Marriage in Athens
Marriage ceremony, when and who to marry, expectations and role of a wife. - Women’s Household Duties in Athens
Motherhood, weaving, supervision of slaves. - Women in Sparta
Education of girls, marriage, status of women.
OCR’s GCSE (9–1) in Classical Greek consists of three components that are externally assessed. Learners must sit J292/01 and then any two from J292/02, J292/03, J292/04, J292/05 and J292/06.
J292/01 Language
This is a compulsory component. It is worth 100 marks, representing 50% of the total marks for the GCSE (9–1). Classical Greek Language is an externally assessed written examination testing AO1. The examination lasts 1 hour 30 minutes and is divided into two sections:
Section A consists of 30 marks. In Section A, the unseen passage will recount a story drawn from mythology or Greek domestic life. 20 marks are available for answering comprehension questions in English, including questions about the derivation of English words from Classical Greek. 10 marks (10% of AO1 overall) are available for learners to choose between either answering questions on accidence and syntax or translating three basic English sentences into Classical Greek. The restricted vocabulary, accidence and syntax list applies to both the translation into Classical Greek and the syntax and accidence questions.
Section B consists of 70 marks. In Section B, the unseen passages will recount a story or stories drawn from history. 20 marks will be available for answering comprehension questions in English. 50 marks will be available for translating a passage of unseen Classical Greek of at least 90 words into English.
J292/02, J292/03, J292/04, J292/05 Literature
These are optional components. Each component is worth 50 marks, representing 25% of the total marks for the GCSE (9–1). These components are externally assessed written examinations testing AO2 and AO3. Each examination lasts 1 hour. Each component tests understanding and appreciation of a prescribed set text which is between 110 and 120 lines in length.
Learners will be asked to translate a short passage of the set text from Classical Greek into English and answer comprehension questions. They will also be required to answer analysis questions which will be marked on a point by point basis and an 8-mark analysis question which is marked using a level of response grid. Learners will also be required to write an extended response, which draws upon material from the set text.
J292/06 Literature and Culture
This is an optional component. It is worth 50 marks, representing 25% of the total marks for the GCSE (9–1). Literature and Culture is an externally assessed written examination testing AO2 and AO3. The examination lasts 1 hour. Questions will require learners to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the materials in the ‘Prescribed Sources Booklet’ and their own study, as well as use the unseen sources provided in the insert booklet for the assessment. Questions will also require learners to analyse the sources provided in the assessment, provide a personal response to the material studied, and answer extended response questions.
Miss. Petito has selected Prose Literature A J292/02, Tales from Herodotus Sections II (Psammetichus), III (Crocodiles), IV (Mycerinus), XVa (Pygmies) and Literature and Culture J292/06, The Olympic Games and Women in Ancient Greece.
There are three Assessment Objectives in OCR GCSE (9–1) in Classical Greek:
AO1 Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the language.
AO2 Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of literature and/or other ancient sources.
AO3 Analyse, evaluate and respond to literature and/or other ancient sources.
All learners taking a GCSE (9–1) in Classical Greek must be entered for one of the following entry options. Miss. Petito would like to recommend the following entry option:
ENTRY OPTION:
Entry code: J292 D
Title: Classical Greek Option D
COMPONENTS:
Code: 01, Title: Language
Code: 02, Title: Prose Literature A
Code: 06, Title: Literature and Culture
Parents are responsible for arranging their child’s examinations at their local registered examination centre. Cambridge Home School students study from every part of the globe and so it is not practical for the school to offer a single venue to sit examinations. Consequently, Cambridge Home School is not registered with Cambridge International Examinations but has partnerships with examination centres registered with Cambridge International Examinations, Edexcel, OCR and AQA, and will support students in locating a suitable venue for sitting their written and practical examinations.
What is the purpose of the online IGCSE Classical Greek course?
The online IGCSE Classical Greek course aims to deepen learners’ understanding of the Classical Greek language, as well as ancient literature, values, and society. The course covers vocabulary, morphology, and syntax, enabling students to read and comprehend unseen passages in Classical Greek.
What are the expectations for homework and study in the online IGCSE Classical Greek class?
In the online IGCSE Classical Greek class, students in the Upper School are required to complete a minimum of one homework assignment for each subject every fortnight in Level 3, and weekly in Level 4. It’s crucial for success to revise notes and prepare revision cards after each lesson to be well-prepared for the final exams.
How are students assessed in the online IGCSE Classical Greek course?
In this course, Level 3 internal assessments occur in June, while Level 4 mock assessments are scheduled for November and March. Students receive reports with grades for effort and attainment, accompanied by comments from Success Coaches and the Head Teacher, at designated times during the academic year.
What components are part of the Classical Greek IGCSE online examination?
The examination for the Classical Greek IGCSE online course consists of a mandatory Language component, and students have the option to choose either two Literature components or one Literature component along with a Literature and Culture component. These components involve various tasks such as translation, comprehension questions, and studying prescribed texts.
How can parents stay involved in their child’s progress in the online IGCSE Classical Greek class?
Parents are urged to use their family Teams account to regularly communicate with teachers about their child’s progress. This enables a more detailed tracking of the student’s performance throughout the year, offering greater insights than a singular annual consultation evening would provide.
The Teacher
Classical Greek at Cambridge Home School Online is taught by Miss Petito. Click on the name below to find out more about our Classical Greek teacher.