Welcome to the English GCSE information page. Here you will find a video that runs through the core elements of the GCSE. Click on the link to find out more. You will also see further information listed below.
Please feel free to get in contact if you have any further questions.
We will be following the AQA specifications for English Language and English Literature. Click on the link below to see further information from the AQA website.
English Language
Paper 1: Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing
Section A: Reading - one literature fiction text
Section B: Writing - descriptive or narrative writing
Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes
80 marks 50% of GCSE
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
Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes
80 marks 50% of GCSE
English Literature
Paper 1: Shakespeare and the 19th-century novel
Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes
64 marks 40% of GCSE
Section A Shakespeare: students will answer one question on their play of choice. They will be required to write in detail about an extract from the play and then to write about the play as a whole.
Section B The 19th-century novel: students will answer one question on their novel of choice. They will be required to write in detail about an extract from the novel and then to write about the novel as a whole.
Paper 2: Modern texts and poetry
Written exam: 2 hour 15 minutes
96 marks 60% of GCSE
Section A Modern texts: students will answer one essay question from a choice of two on their studied modern prose or drama text.
Section B Poetry: students will answer one comparative question on one named poem printed on the paper and one other poem from their chosen anthology cluster.
Section C Unseen poetry: Students will answer one question on one unseen poem and one question comparing this poem with a second unseen poem.
1. Will I be entered for both GCSEs? Yes. All students will be entered for English Language AND English Literature.
2. How many papers will I sit? There are 4 papers in total across English Language and English Literature
3. Will there be core texts that I will be expected to buy? Yes. A letter will go out to parents with recommended versions of any core set texts.
4. What equipment will I need to be successful? All students need to have a lever arch ring binder, plastic wallets and dividers to store your notes and handouts from lessons. This ring binder will be essential to keep you organised as we cover a lot of material across the two years!
5. How can I revise for English? There are lots of ways to revise - whether it is completing exam style questions, memorising key quotations or creating a quiz to use with friends - you can absolutely revise for English! If you would like further help in this area - we recommend:
You can't revise for GCSE 9-1 English!
Mr Bruff has kindly recorded videos for each section of the AQA course. These videos will be useful to aid revision but also can help you find out more about the examinations and what to expect. Click on the link here to find out more and explore his YouTube channel!
Strong results in English can open doors to several A-level, BTEC and vocational courses. Your school or college will also have a minimum requirement for you to enter their sixth form and it is important that you have achieved a 'standard pass' (Grade 4) or even better a 'strong pass' (Grade 5) and beyond. Some subjects will require a minimum grade in English to be allowed on to the course so it is important that you spend time ensuring your English result is the best it can be so that you can access the course you want for further study.
Further study of English Language or English Literature at A-Level and beyond can lead to many further education or career opportunities as English contains several marketable skills. For example:
Lecturer
Lawyer