Pearson Edexcel A-Level Italian Past Papers & Mark Schemes

Pearson Edexcel A-Level Italian (specification 9IT0) is a smaller-entry subject that rewards students with Italy's exceptionally rich literary and cinematic traditions. While Italian grammar is more phonetically regular than French or English, the subjunctive mood is used far more extensively in Italian than in any other A-Level language — it appears in everyday conversation, not just formal writing — making it a central grammatical challenge. Paper 1 (Listening, Reading and Translation — 2 hours, 80 marks, 40%) features recordings from across Italy, exposing students to regional accent variations that go well beyond the textbook Tuscan standard. Reading texts draw on Italian journalism (La Repubblica, Corriere della Sera) and cultural commentary. The translation sections test the congiuntivo (subjunctive) in its many guises, the passato remoto vs passato prossimo distinction (which varies by region — northern Italians barely use the remoto, while southern Italians and literary texts use it extensively), and the complex pronoun system including combined pronouns ('glielo', 'ce ne'). Paper 2 (Written Response to Works and Translation — 2 hours 40 minutes, 120 marks, 30%) draws on Italy's towering cultural heritage. Set texts may include Primo Levi's 'Se questo è un uomo', Calvino's 'Il sentiero dei nidi di ragno', or Moravia's works; films frequently include neorealist classics or contemporary Italian cinema exploring themes of immigration, family, and social inequality. Students write critical essays entirely in Italian, demonstrating analytical maturity and cultural understanding. Paper 3 (Speaking — approximately 30 minutes, 72 marks, 30%) covers themes including the Mezzogiorno divide, Italian emigration and immigration, political culture from post-war DC dominance to contemporary populism, and Italy's relationship with the EU. With 71 resources, this focused archive covers the key exam papers and mark schemes across both current and legacy specifications.