This update was first published on 25 June 2026. We have now published the updated specifications and assessment materials for GCSE, AS and A Level Classical Greek, and GCSE, AS and A Level Latin. See below for details.

We have made a number of changes and improvements to our Latin and Classical Greek qualifications.

GCSE Classical Greek J292

Update to the J292/01 Language requirements

In collaboration with the Classical Association, we have reduced the syntax and accidence requirements for the Language component J292/01 to make the qualification more manageable. We have also made a small number of changes to the Defined and restricted vocabulary list.

This change will apply for first teaching from September 2026. The first assessment opportunity based on the updated J292/01 Language requirements will be in summer 2028.

You can access the updated GCSE Classical Greek assessment materials as follows:

• the specification (version 2.0) is available from the qualification page on our website and Teach Cambridge.
• the J292/01 sample assessment material (version 2.0) is available from the Assessment > Sample Assessment Materials section of the qualification web page and Teach Cambridge. 
• the Defined and restricted vocabulary list for J292/01 (version 2.0), in PDF and spreadsheet format, is available from the Planning and teaching section of the qualification web page and the Teaching > Teaching delivery > Teaching and delivery guides section of Teach Cambridge.

Please make sure you're using the correct version of these materials with your students from September 2026.

Set texts and topics confirmed for J292/02–06

The GCSE Classical Greek specification also includes the sixth cycle of set texts and topics, which will be examined in 2029 and 2030.

GCSE Latin J282

For GCSE Latin, we have updated the specification (version 2.0) to include the sixth cycle of set texts and topics which will be examined in 2029 and 2030. This is available from the qualification page on our website and Teach Cambridge.

AS Level Latin H043 and Classical Greek H044 

Further to our announcement about extending the final assessment opportunity of AS Level Latin and AS Level Classical Greek, we can confirm the set texts to be examined in the final assessment opportunity in June 2028. To prevent teachers preparing candidates for just one year on new set texts, we have extended the fifth cycle of set texts to three years:

• the updated AS Level Latin specification (version 2.1) is available on our website and Teach Cambridge. 
• the updated AS Level Classical Greek specification (version 2.1) is available on our website and Teach Cambridge.

A Level Latin H443 and Classical Greek H444

For A Level Latin and Classical Greek, we have extended the fifth cycle of set texts to three years – it will now be examined in 2027, 2028 and 2029. We've also provided details of the sixth set text cycle:

• the updated A Level Latin specification (version 2.0) is available on our website and Teach Cambridge
• the updated A Level Classical Greek specification (version 2.0) is available on our website and Teach Cambridge.

Please note: For A Level Latin H443/01, Livy and Ovid remain the unseen authors. For A Level Classical Greek H444/01, the unseen prose author will be Xenophon and the unseen verse author will be Euripides (iambic trimeter).

If you have any queries about this update, please call our Customer Support Centre on 01223 553998 or email us at classics@ocr.org.uk.

Qualifications

• Latin (9-1) - J282 (from 2016)
• Classical Greek (9-1) - J292 (from 2016)
• Latin - H043, H443 (from 2016)
• Classical Greek - H044, H444 (from 2016)