English Language

TEACHER IN CHARGE: Ms R Clarke EXAMINATION BOARD: EDEXCEL WEBSITE ADDRESS: www.edexcel.org.uk

What will I study?

In English you will study an extremely wide variety of texts. You will need to demonstrate your ability in functional English; to investigate, analyse and evaluate the use of language and to experiment and use language creatively. The course is all about developing the skills that you already have so that you become independent and confident communicators.

How many examinations will be taken?

The examination consists of two papers which will be taken in the summer of Year 11. This examination is responsible for 100% of the assessed grade.

Paper 1- 1 hr 45mins (40%)

Section A (15%) Unseen 19th Century Fiction: extract will be approximately 650 words. Shorter response questions will focus on close analysis of the text; longer response questions will ask students to show their understanding of the whole text.

Section B (25%) Creative Writing: choice of two tasks linked to the theme of the 19th century fiction. One task will include images to help students address the task. This section will assess how well students adapt their writing for audience and purpose, as well as spelling, punctuation and grammar.

Paper 2- 2 hrs 5mins (60%)

Section A (30%) Comparison of two unseen texts from the 20th and 21st Century - one non-fiction, one literary non-fiction. Extracts will be approximately 1000 words in total. Shorter response questions will focus on close reading of the texts; longer response questions will ask students to compare the texts.

Section B (30%) Transactional Writing. Choice of two tasks linked to the theme of the texts. The brief will be to write a non-fiction piece like a newspaper article, letter, speech or review. This section will assess how well students adapt their writing for audience and purpose, as well as spelling, punctuation and grammar.