Greek to GCSE: Part 2

A new edition of this widely used and much-loved textbook that incorporates the changes to the Cambridge OCR Classical Greek GCSE specification from September 2026.

First written in response to a survey of over 100 schools, and now endorsed by Cambridge OCR, this textbook has become a standard resource for students in the UK and for readers across the world who are looking for a clear and thorough introduction to the language of the ancient Greeks. Vocabulary is updated throughout to match the 2026 revision to the Cambridge OCR defined vocabulary list while material on the subjunctive and optative has been moved to Greek Beyond GCSE.

Part 1 covers the basics, whilst Part 2 introduces a wider range of grammatical forms and constructions, with a vocabulary of 427 words and reading material from Socrates and the Sophists to the world of myth, and finally to extended passages of lightly adapted Herodotus. Practice passages, exam papers and revision sentences for GCSE complete Part 2, which has a reference section covering the whole course.

Written by a long-time school teacher and examiner, this two-part course is based on experience of what pupils find difficult, concentrating on the essentials and on the understanding of principles in both accidence and syntax: minor irregularities are postponed and subordinated so that the need for rote learning is reduced. It aims to be user-friendly, but also to give pupils a firm foundation for further study.