Hi Kyriaki, unfortunately there isn't much we can say at this point - it is really for the SEC to decide the exam (in discussion with the NCCA).
As far as we are aware, sample questions and papers will be forthcoming soon. But, things may have been delayed due to the pandemic.
What we can probably say at this point is that there is a single exam - Classics. Meaning there will be options for those who studied Strand 2 and for those who studied Strand 3, meaning there will be questions that are particular to Strand 1 (which of course doesn't mean Strand 1 questions cannot be combined with Strand 2 or 3 to form questions).
As you are doing Strand 3, I would recommend using Ordinary past papers for Reading Comprehensions and Unseen translations - these are about the level a common level student would be expected to be able to translate or comprehend in an exam. I know of another teacher who is creating questions by using the French/German/Spanish exam questions as a base.
As for the number of questions and layout of the paper, this we cannot know for certain at this point. Just remember that the questions can only be based on the Learning Outcomes - so they cannot be prescriptive or they cannot ask a student something along the lines of "Describe the life of Hercules", "Describe the architectural features of the Colosseum" (for these they would have to provide the evidence. And for languages they aren't likely to ask "translate this complex Latin Unseen" or "Translate this passage of Ovid" etc. There will likely be a lot of help for the language translations and as said they're unlikely to much more complex than the ordinary past papers which are of course on examinations.ie.
These 'unofficial' language guides are also vital when considering the level of text to give students. Note: some are more in relation to the portfolio (CBA 2) rather than passages a common level student my have on the exam.
But again this is only advice, we will all just have to wait and see what the sample exam is like when it's released.
Hi Kyriaki, unfortunately there isn't much we can say at this point - it is really for the SEC to decide the exam (in discussion with the NCCA).
As far as we are aware, sample questions and papers will be forthcoming soon. But, things may have been delayed due to the pandemic.
What we can probably say at this point is that there is a single exam - Classics. Meaning there will be options for those who studied Strand 2 and for those who studied Strand 3, meaning there will be questions that are particular to Strand 1 (which of course doesn't mean Strand 1 questions cannot be combined with Strand 2 or 3 to form questions).
As you are doing Strand 3, I would recommend using Ordinary past papers for Reading Comprehensions and Unseen translations - these are about the level a common level student would be expected to be able to translate or comprehend in an exam. I know of another teacher who is creating questions by using the French/German/Spanish exam questions as a base.
As for the number of questions and layout of the paper, this we cannot know for certain at this point. Just remember that the questions can only be based on the Learning Outcomes - so they cannot be prescriptive or they cannot ask a student something along the lines of "Describe the life of Hercules", "Describe the architectural features of the Colosseum" (for these they would have to provide the evidence. And for languages they aren't likely to ask "translate this complex Latin Unseen" or "Translate this passage of Ovid" etc. There will likely be a lot of help for the language translations and as said they're unlikely to much more complex than the ordinary past papers which are of course on examinations.ie.
These 'unofficial' language guides are also vital when considering the level of text to give students. Note: some are more in relation to the portfolio (CBA 2) rather than passages a common level student my have on the exam.
But again this is only advice, we will all just have to wait and see what the sample exam is like when it's released.