English Language GCSE

Duration of course: 2 years

Course type: GCSE 

Examination Board: AQA

Overview: 

Students will draw upon a range of texts as reading stimulus and engage with creative as well as real and relevant contexts. Students will have opportunities to develop higher-order reading and critical thinking skills that encourage genuine enquiry into different topics and themes. 

This specification will ensure that students can read fluently and write effectively. Students will be able to demonstrate a confident control of Standard English and write grammatically correct sentences, deploying figurative language and analysing texts.

For GCSE English Language students should:

• read fluently, and with good understanding, a wide range of texts from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries, including literature and literary non-fiction as well as other writing such as reviews and journalism
• read and evaluate texts critically and make comparisons between texts
• summarise and synthesise information or ideas from texts
• use knowledge gained from wide reading to inform and improve their own writing
• write effectively and coherently using Standard English appropriately
• use grammar correctly and punctuate and spell accurately
• acquire and apply a wide vocabulary, alongside a knowledge and understanding of grammatical terminology, and linguistic conventions for reading, writing and spoken language
• listen to and understand spoken language and use spoken Standard English effectively

Assessment Method and Component Percentages: 

Paper 1: Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing

Section A: Reading (one literature fiction text) 

Section B: Writing (descriptive or narrative writing)

Assessed:

• written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes
• 80 marks
• 50% of GCSE 

Questions:

Reading (40 marks) (25%) – one single text

• 1 short form question (1 x 4 marks)
• 2 longer form questions (2 x 8 marks)
• 1 extended question (1 x 20 marks)

Writing (40 marks) (25%)

1 extended writing question (24 marks for content, 16 marks for technical accuracy

Paper 2: Writers’ Viewpoints and Perspectives

Section A: Reading (one non-fiction text and one literary non-fiction text)

Section B: Writing (writing to present a viewpoint)

Assessed:

• written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes
• 80 marks
• 50% of GCSE

Questions:

Reading (40 marks) (25%) – two linked texts

• 1 short form question (1 x 4 marks)
• 2 longer form questions (1 x 8, 1 x 12 marks)
• 1 extended question (1 x 16 marks)

Writing (40 marks) (25%)

1 extended writing question (24 marks for content, 16 marks for technical accuracy)

What will I learn? 

GCSE English Language is designed on the basis that students should read and be assessed on high-quality, challenging texts from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. Each text studied must represent a substantial piece of writing, making significant demands on students in terms of content, structure and the quality of language. The texts, across a range of genres and types, should support students in developing their own writing by providing effective models. The texts must include literature and extended literary non-fiction, and other writing such as essays, reviews and journalism (both printed and online). Texts that are essentially transient, such as instant news feeds, must not be included. The number and types of texts, and their length are not prescribed.

How will I learn? 

• You will learn by reading and analysing a wide variety of fiction and non-fiction texts. 
• Role play
• Video and DVD
• Revision Workbooks

Departmental Expectations: 

To support a climate of learning where each individual is given the opportunity to excel in their reading and writing.

Career Potential: 

English is a valuable subject for any career potential – Journalism, Law, Teaching, Writing Novels, Publishing.

Future Progression routes possible: 

A Level English Literature