English

Students will prepare for two GCSE qualifications: English Literature and English Language.  Both are two-year courses with AQA exam board and are assessed by 100% exam at the end of the course.  Learners are not permitted to take copies of the set texts into the examination.

English Literature

Paper 1: Shakespeare and Nineteenth Century Text 1 hour 45 minutes (40% of GCSE)

What is assessed?  Macbeth and A Christmas Carol

For each text students will answer one question. In response they will be required to write in detail about an extract from the text and to write about the text as a whole.

Paper 2: Post 1914 Text and Poetry 2 hours 15 minutes (60% of GCSE)

What is assessed? 

An Inspector Calls, The Power and Conflict poetry anthology and Unseen poetry.

Section A: An Inspector Calls.  Students will answer one essay question from a choice of two.

Section B: Poetry Anthology.  Students will answer one comparative question on one named poem printed on the paper and one other poem from their Power and Conflict anthology.

Section C: Unseen poetry.  Students will answer one question on one unseen poem and one question comparing this poem with a second unseen poem.

English Language

All texts in the examination will be unseen.

Paper 1: Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing 1 hour 45 mins (50% of GCSE)

What’s assessed?

Section A: Reading. Students will read an extract from a literary fiction text and answer a range of questions.

Section B: Writing.  Students will be required to write one piece of extended writing, narrative or descriptive, using an image as stimulus.

Paper 2: Writers’ Viewpoints and Perspectives 1 hour 45 mins (50% of GCSE)

What’s assessed?

Section A: Reading: Students will read two linked non-fiction texts (one of which will be a literary non-fiction text) and answer a range of questions.

Section B: Writing: Students will be required to write one piece of extended writing to present a viewpoint.

Non-examination Assessment: Spoken Language

What’s assessed?

Candidates will be required to complete one formal presentation or speech. They will also be assessed on their responses to questions and feedback following the presentation or speech. Standard English should be a feature of all parts of the candidates’ work in this component.   Achievement in Spoken Language will be reported as part of the qualification.  Whilst Spoken Language will not form part of the final mark and grade it is a compulsory component of the Language GCSE.