GCSE English Language

The course aims to give students opportunities to develop their skills in reading, understanding and responding to a wide range of literary and non-literary texts; to appreciate the ways in which authors create their texts, and to understand the ways in which language and structure are used in the creation of the texts. Students will also learn how to respond to unseen texts, applying analytical skill to texts which they have not previously encountered, requiring students to draw upon their own knowledge and insight.

SPECIFICATION LINK: 8700

COURSE INFORMATION: AQA GCSE English Language (601/4292/3)

All students are entered for GCSE English Language. The course covers a wide variety of skills in writing and reading both fiction and non-fiction texts. Exam preparation includes language work, analysis of fiction and non-fiction texts, and students’ own writing including accuracy in spelling, grammar and punctuation. Students will also complete an assessment in spoken language which is endorsed as part of their GCSE requirement but which is assessed separately.

ASSESSMENT STRUCTURE

Students are assessed in two separate areas and the combined marks from each unit give them their final GCSE grade.

Unit 1: Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing

This is an examination unit and requires students to answer questions on an unseen fiction source from 19^th, 20^th or 21^st century and then to complete a compulsory writing task. The exam is worth 50% of total marks.

Unit 2: Writers’ Viewpoints and Perspectives

This is also an examination unit and requires students to answer questions on two unseen non-fiction sources from 19^th, 20^th or 21^st century and then to complete a compulsory writing task. The exam is worth 50% of total marks.

Spoken Language Endorsement

Students will also have to complete a formal presentation which is assessed for their speaking and listening skills including their use of accurate standard English. This will be assessed as pass, merit or distinction and a recording of this presentation may be required by the exam board as part of the moderation process.

GCSE English Literature

The course aims to give students opportunities to develop their skills in reading, understanding and responding to a wide range of literary texts, including fiction, poetry, prose and drama. Students will appreciate the ways in which authors create their texts and understand the social, historical and cultural contexts of the texts. Students will also learn how to respond to unseen texts and extracts from the texts they have studied, applying analytical skill to texts which they have not previously encountered, requiring students to draw upon their own knowledge and insight. Assessment of spelling, punctuation and grammar is included in the assessment of writing.

SPECIFICATION LINK: 8702

COURSE INFORMATION: AQA GCSE English Literature (601/4447/6)

Students are entered for a separate GCSE in English Literature. This course focuses on a wide range of literary texts including modern prose and drama, Shakespeare, poetry (both in collections and unseen), and a 19th century literary prose text.

ASSESSMENT STRUCTURE

Students are assessed in two exams and the combined marks from each unit give them their final GCSE grade.

Unit 1: Shakespeare and c19th Novel

 This is the examination unit and requires students to answer a question on their Shakespeare text where they will be required to write in detail about an extract from the play and then about the play as a whole. They will then answer one question on their c19th novel where they will be required to write in detail about an extract from the novel and then to about the novel as a whole. The exam is worth 40% of the total marks.

Unit 2: Modern Texts and Poetry

This is an examination unit and students will answer on three sections in total. They will answer one essay question from a choice of two on their studied modern prose or drama text. Then students will answer one comparative question on one named poem printed on the paper and one other poem from their chosen anthology cluster. Finally, students will answer one question on one unseen poem and one question comparing this poem with a second unseen poem. The exam is worth 60% of total marks.