English Language

Exam Board: AQA

The GCSE English Language course encourages students to read a great range of high quality, challenging literature and non-fiction texts from a range of genres and types (from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries) as well as to write clearly, coherently and accurately using a range of vocabulary and sentence structures.

Each examination paper has a distinct identity on the course:

• Paper 1, Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing, looks at how writers use narrative and descriptive techniques to engage the interest of readers.
• Paper 2, Writers' Viewpoints and Perspectives, looks at how different writers present a similar topic over time.

Each paper is split into two sections:

Reading:

• Students will analyse a range of Literary, unseen modern and pre 20th century non-fiction and extracts for the reading sections of the exams.

Writing:

• On English Language Paper 1 students will write one creative text, either a description or narrative.
• On English Language Paper 2 students will be required to write one non-fiction text such as an article, letter, discursive essay or a speech for a specified audience and purpose.

The GCSE English Language course also emphasises the importance of the wider benefits that speaking and listening skills have for students. Students will undertake a formal speaking and listening assessment to complete their qualification.

Assessment

100% examination. Each examination is equally weighted.

The specification offers a skills-based approach to the study of English Language in an untiered context. Questions are designed to take students on an assessment journey through lower tariff tasks to more extended responses.

• English Language Paper 1   80 Marks   50% of GCSE  (1 hour 45 mins) 
• English Language Paper 2   80 Marks   50% of GCSE  (1 hour 45 mins)
• Non- examination Assessment on Spoken Language: Formal presentation set by the class teacher

Throughout the course students will complete assessments linked to exam questions and criteria.

Requirements

There are no set texts for this part of the course although students should read a variety of non-fiction and literary texts to prepare them for the demands of the course.

Where can it lead?

English qualifications open doors to sixth form courses, college courses and are highly regarded by UCAS and employers. Some careers involving English skills include journalism, publishing, law and marketing.