Latin A Level

*IMPORTANT INFORMATION FROM THE JUDD SCHOOL FOR SEPTEMBER 2024 APPLICATIONS*

Applications open: - awaiting information from school

Applications close: - awaiting information from school

Entry Requirements: - 6.5 average point score, minimum of 4 in English Language and Maths GCSE. Entry grade criteria for A Level subjects chosen.

How to Apply: - We are not taking applications via KentChoices

Open Event: - To be confirmed, please check our school website for updates

Why choose this subject?

"To study Latin is to encounter face to face the smartest, funniest, most beautiful minds that have ever lived." R. J. Teller

Latin is a highly regarded academic discipline and a good grade in the subject will impress universities and future employers. It enables you to acquire a wide range of valued skills. Latin requires students not only to read difficult texts and think about them critically but also to communicate these thoughts persuasively on paper. These skills are highly valued in a wide range of fields including advertising, marketing and journalism, and the highly trained minds that Classicists possess are also valued in banking, accountancy, law, politics, the civil service, medicine and computer programming.

In recent years Classics graduates have become, the Prime Minister, the Head of the British Intelligence Service and best-selling authors.

The knowledge and skills required have some overlap with English and Modern Foreign Languages and the literature content is likely to be relevant to anyone contemplating a degree in those subjects. History students have also found Latin to be an asset at degree level.

Why study it at The Judd School?

You will be taught by specialist teachers with a wealth of experience.

In the lessons, students are encouraged to participate in lively discussion, show curiosity and push themselves to the limit. Individual sessions are arranged to support candidates who either need help or who are applying to University to read a Classics related degree: for example, the Department is able and willing to offer twilight sessions so that candidates can sample Classical Greek.

An extra-curricular programme is run for Latinists, which includes for example theatre trips, trips to the British Museum and opportunities to hear specialist academics lecture.

The Department has a record of achieving good results.

What you will be learning (course outline):

The course is designed to enable students to:

• develop an appropriate level of linguistic competence,

• acquire the language skills to enable them to read literary texts, both prose and verse, which have had a huge influence on western thought, in the original language,

• develop an interest in, and enthusiasm for, the literary, historical and cultural features of the ancient world,

• acquire the literary skills to enable them to read ancient literature, both prose and verse, in its original language with appropriate attention to literary techniques, styles and genres.

How it will be assessed:

The course is wholly examined so there is no controlled assessment. There are 4 modules:

Module 1: 33% of the A Level: Unseen Translation

This paper (1hr45min) consists of one passage each of Latin prose and verse for translation.

Module 2: 17% of the A Level: Prose Composition or Comprehension

This paper (1hr15min) provides a choice between translation of an English prose passage into Latin and comprehension questions on a Latin passage.

Module 3: 25% of the A Level: Prose Literature

This paper (2hr) consists of a variety of questions on the prose set texts authors which will most likely be Cicero and Tacitus: translation, short questions on the content, stylistic analysis and a broader essay question.

Module 4: 25% of the A Level: Verse Literature

This paper (2hr) follows the same pattern as module 3 with the set authors most probably being Catullus and Virgil (Aeneid).

The normal entrance requirement is a level 7 at GCSE Latin.