KS 4 English

Aims of the Course

The English Language GCSE offered by AQA enables students to:

• read a wide range of texts, fluently and with good understanding

• read critically, and use knowledge gained from wide reading to inform and improve their own writing

• write effectively and coherently using Standard English appropriately

• use grammar correctly, 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

General Description

AQA offers a GCSE English Language course that enables students of all abilities to develop the skills they need to read, understand and analyse a wide range of different texts covering the 19th, 20th and 21st century time periods as well as to write clearly, coherently and accurately using a range of vocabulary and sentence structures.

ASSESSMENT

Examination

This 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. This means that all pupils will sit the same two examinations that make up 100% of their final result. Paper 1 examines the pupils’ ability to explore creative reading and writing, and Paper 2 examines pupils’ ability to examine writers’ viewpoints and perspectives. Each paper is equally weighted at 50% of the final GCSE grade. Reading skill and writing skills are also equally weighted at 50% each.

Non-examination Assessment

Spoken Language: To be awarded their final grade, pupils are also required to undertake the study of spoken language which will enable pupils to learn how to listen to and understand spoken language and use spoken Standard English effectively. The Spoken Language endorsement will be reported on as part of the qualification but it will not form part of the final mark and grade.