Free resources · GCSE Mandarin topics
GCSE Mandarin: Education post-16
Free vocabulary, grammar and Higher model answers with exam tips for the GCSE Mandarin topic “Education post-16” (sixth form, college, university and other options). Click a section to open it.
Key vocabulary
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| After GCSEs | ||
| 大学 | dàxué | university |
| 大学生 | dàxuéshēng | university student |
| 毕业 | bìyè | to graduate |
| 工作 | gōngzuò | to work; job |
| 社会实践 | shèhuì shíjiàn | work experience |
| 申请 | shēnqǐng | to apply for, application |
| 信 | xìn | letter |
| 学期 | xuéqī | term |
| 高考 | gāokǎo | university entrance exam (in China) |
| 计划 | jìhuà | plan; to plan |
| 打算 | dǎsuàn | to plan; plan |
| 将来 | jiānglái | future/in the future |
| Work and pressure | ||
| 压力 | yālì | pressure |
| 兼职 | jiānzhí | part-time job |
| 义工 | yìgōng | volunteer; voluntary work |
| 挣钱 / 赚钱 | zhèngqián / zhuànqián | to earn money |
Grammar and complex structures
Use these in your speaking and writing.
| Structure | Meaning | Example for this topic |
|---|---|---|
| ……以后，我打算…… | after …, I plan to … | GCSE考试以后，我打算学数学和中文。 After my GCSEs I plan to study maths and Chinese. |
| 与其……不如…… | rather than … it is better to … | 与其马上上大学，不如先工作一年。 Rather than going straight to university, it’s better to work for a year first. |
| 一方面……另一方面…… | on the one hand … on the other hand … | 一方面上大学很贵，另一方面可以找到好工作。 On the one hand university is expensive; on the other hand you can find a good job. |
| 为了…… | in order to … | 为了挣钱，暑假的时候我找了一个兼职。 To earn money, I found a part-time job in the summer holidays. |
| 虽然……但是…… | although … | 虽然有点儿累，但是我学到了很多东西。 Although it was a bit tiring, I learned a lot. |
Speaking questions and model answers
Try answering each question yourself first, then click it to see a Higher model answer and an exam tip.
Photo card
The photo card task follows the AQA format, but the same skills are useful for the picture-based task in the Pearson Edexcel GCSE Chinese speaking exam.
A photo of a family having their photo taken at a graduation, with many graduates behind them.
Photo card照片里有什么？What is in the photo? Show model answer
照片里有很多人。前边有四个人在照相，他们看起来都很高兴，因为他们都在笑。我觉得他们今天大学毕业了，因为后边很多人都穿着一样的毕业服。
In the photo there are lots of people. At the front, four people are having their photo taken; they all look very happy, because they are all smiling. I think they graduated from university today, because lots of people at the back are all wearing the same graduation gowns.
Exam tip: Describe only what you can see. Use position words (前边 / 后边) to organise your description. Complex structures: 在 + verb (四个人在照相), 看起来…… (他们看起来都很高兴), verb + 着 (穿着一样的毕业服), and 我觉得……，因为…… to give a reason for each guess.
Edexcel tip: Describe what you can see in the picture first, and read each question carefully for key words.
General conversation
Questions your teacher may ask about this topic.
General conversationGCSE考试以后你打算做什么？What do you plan to do after your GCSEs? Show model answer
上个月我参观了一个学校，那里的老师很友好。GCSE考试以后，我打算在那个学校学数学、化学和中文，因为我将来想做医生。暑假的时候，我也打算找一个兼职，因为我想挣钱。
Last month I visited a school, and the teachers there were very friendly. After my GCSEs, I plan to study maths, chemistry and Chinese at that school, because I want to be a doctor. In the summer holidays I also plan to find a part-time job, because I want to earn money.
Exam tip: Complex structures: ……以后 (GCSE考试以后), ……的时候 (暑假的时候), ……，因为…… to give a reason. Time frames: past (上个月我参观了……) and future (我打算……). Vocabulary: 兼职, 挣钱 / 赚钱.
General conversation你想上大学吗？为什么？Do you want to go to university? Why? Show model answer
我想上大学，因为上大学以后可以找到更好的工作。我哥哥去年上了大学，他说大学生活又忙又有意思。不过上大学很贵，所以我可能先工作一年。
I want to go to university, because after university you can find a better job. My brother started university last year, and he says university life is both busy and interesting. But university is expensive, so I might work for a year first.
Exam tip: Complex structures: 又……又……, ……，所以……, ……以后. Time frames: past (我哥哥去年上了大学) and future (我可能先工作一年).
General conversation你做过社会实践吗？Have you done work experience? Show model answer
我做过社会实践。去年夏天我在一个公司工作了两个星期。我每天帮助同事，还给别人打电话。虽然有点儿累，但是我学到了很多东西。将来我也想在公司工作。
Yes, I have. Last summer I worked at a company for two weeks. Every day I helped my colleagues and made phone calls to other people. Although it was a bit tiring, I learned a lot. In the future I would also like to work for a company.
Exam tip: Complex structures: 虽然……但是……, verb + 过 (做过), duration (工作了两个星期). Time frames: past (去年夏天……) and future (将来我想……).
General conversation你觉得考试的压力大吗？Do you think exam pressure is high? Show model answer
我觉得考试的压力很大。上次考试以前，我每天学习到晚上十一点，睡觉睡得很少。因为压力很大，所以现在每个周末我都去跑步。考试以后，我打算和朋友去海边玩。
I think exam pressure is very high. Before the last exams I studied until 11pm every day and slept very little. Because the pressure is so high, I now go running every weekend. After the exams I plan to go to the seaside with my friends.
Exam tip: Complex structures: 因为……，所以…… (因为压力很大，所以……), ……以前 / ……以后, verb + 得 (睡觉睡得很少), 每……都…… (每个周末我都去跑步). Time frames: past (上次考试以前……) and future (考试以后，我打算……).
More general conversation questions to practise
- 你想去中国上大学吗？ (Would you like to go to university in China?)
- 你想有间隔年吗？为什么？ (Would you like a gap year? Why?)
- 如果你有间隔年，你会做什么？ (If you had a gap year, what would you do?)
- 去年暑假你做了什么？明年暑假你想做什么？ (What did you do last summer holiday? What would you like to do next summer holiday?)
- 你参观过大学吗？你觉得怎么样？ (Have you visited a university? What did you think?)
- 你觉得中国的高考和英国的考试一样吗？ (Is China’s university entrance exam the same as British exams?)
Questions about this topic
What does the topic “Education post-16” cover in GCSE Mandarin?
It covers sixth form, college, university and other options. The topic can come up in speaking, writing, reading and listening, so learn the vocabulary and practise the speaking questions out loud.
What is the difference between the photo card and the general conversation?
In the photo card task you describe a photo and answer questions about it. In the general conversation your teacher asks questions about the topic, and you should give opinions, reasons and use past, present and future time frames. This page has model answers for both.
How can I make my answers sound more advanced?
Give opinions with reasons, use past, present and future time frames, join ideas with connectives such as 虽然……但是……, and add specific details or examples.