Foundation Core Cymraeg
Entry Level Foundation Core Cymraeg is a two-year Welsh language course for learners aged 14 to 16 working towards Entry Level 1, 2 or 3, and it is almost entirely literacy, in Welsh. Learners read simple texts and answer multiple-choice questions (Unit 1, 25%), hold a role-play conversation about the world of work and present their local area orally (Unit 2, 40%), and write two short practical texts of up to 100 words, such as a CV or application form and information about local facilities (Unit 3, 35%). Everything is built on two themes, Yr Ardal (The Area) and Byd Gwaith (The World of Work). Numeracy is light: learners understand and use times, dates and costs in Welsh, for example the opening times and prices of local facilities.
- Awarding body
- WJEC
- Level
- Entry Level
- First taught
- September 2027
- Amount of literacy work
- High
- Amount of numeracy work
- Low
- Specification
- Open the specification
How this qualification is assessed
- Unit 1: Reading to understand and refer to familiar contexts: Two multiple-choice subject tests of 30 minutes each, taken on screen or on paper within a four-week summer window, 25%, 40 marks (20 per test), set and marked by WJEC
- Unit 2: Oracy for everyday life: Practical assessment of individual oral tasks lasting 4 to 6 minutes, with up to 2 hours of supervised preparation for Part 2 Task 1, 40%, 40 marks, set by WJEC, marked by the centre and moderated by WJEC
- Unit 3: Writing for practical purposes: Written assessment of two writing tasks of up to 100 words each, up to 45 minutes per task plus up to 30 minutes of supervised research, 35%, 20 marks, set by WJEC, marked by the centre and moderated by WJEC
Skills that use Reading strategies
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Reading simple texts for main points and detail
In Unit 1 learners read simple Welsh texts about personal details, the world of work and the local area and answer multiple-choice questions on them. They need the main points and specific details, such as a person's hobbies, work experience or the facilities in a town.
Literacy: Reading strategies, Understanding, response and analysis
Getting pupils ready
- Year 7
- Pupils read a short Welsh profile of a teenager and tick the correct name, age, town and two hobbies from a list.
- Year 8
- Pupils read a short Welsh text about a town's facilities and answer multiple-choice questions on what there is to do and what the writer likes.
- Year 9
- Pupils skim a short Welsh job advert and a work experience diary for gist, then scan them to answer timed multiple-choice questions on skills, times and opinions.
Show the specification wording and the LNF statements
Where it is in the specification: Unit 1, overview and Sections 1.1.1 to 1.1.3, pages 10 and 11
“understand the main points and specific details of simple reading texts”
Progression step 3
I can read words and sentences from different texts using a range of strategies to make meaning.
I can use a range of strategies for finding information, e.g. skimming for gist, scanning for detail.
I can show understanding of and use the main ideas and significant details in different texts on the same topic.
Progression step 4
I can use a range of strategies, e.g. speed reading, close reading, annotation, prediction, to skim texts for gist, key ideas and themes, and scan for detailed information.
I can read closely, follow up and use additional material in texts to extend my understanding.
Good to know
- Every unit uses the same two themes, "Yr Ardal (The Area)" and "Byd Gwaith (The World of Work)" (Summary of assessment, page 5).
- Unit 1 is reading only, with multiple-choice answers: learners "read simple texts and answer multiple-choice questions" in two 30 minute tests (Section 3.2, page 20).
- Unit 2 is short: "Candidates must be allowed 4-6 minutes to complete this assessment." Learners can have "up to 2 hours of additional time under formal supervision" to prepare for Part 2 Task 1 (Section 3.2, page 20).
- Both Unit 3 tasks are limited to "(up to 100 words)", with up to 45 minutes per task (Section 3.2, pages 20 and 21).
- Scenarios are set by WJEC, but "centres can adapt the context for their learners" (Unit 2, page 13; Unit 3, page 16).
- For Units 2 and 3 teachers "may allow a learner one opportunity to improve their evidence and resubmit it" before moderation (Section 3.4, page 22).
- The qualification "is reported on a three-point scale: Entry Level 1, Entry Level 2 and Entry Level 3" (Section 5.3, page 25).
- Appendix A (pages 27 and 28) ticks Listening, Reading and Speaking for all three units and Writing for Unit 3 only. For numeracy it ticks only the statistics strand, for Units 2 and 3, although the subject content itself has no data handling.
Links with other qualifications
The specification says the qualification "provides a broad foundation for progression to GCSE Core Cymraeg" (page 7). GCSE Core Cymraeg builds on the same speaking, listening, reading and writing in Welsh but asks for much more: spontaneous discussion and justified opinions, inference in longer texts, extended writing in different forms, accurate mutations, and reading and discussing charts and statistics. The practical writing here, such as job applications and information about the area, matches Foundation English, so the two departments can share models of forms, letters and leaflets.
Source: WJEC Entry Level Foundation Core Cymraeg specification, approved by Qualifications Wales, teaching from September 2027, for award from 2029 (© WJEC CBAC Ltd 2026).