GCSE Exam Board: AQA (8700) Who to Speak to: Mrs. Walker
GCSE English Language is designed to develop and enhance personal skills of self-expression, reading, writing, speaking and listening, and to encourage learners to be inspired, moved and changed by following a broad, coherent and worthwhile course of study.
English is an enjoyable and challenging subject that underpins all other subjects. It is a qualification enabling you to thrive both in school and in later life.
The ability to:
Read a variety of fiction and non-fiction extracts ranging from 19th – 21st century.
Identify and interpret explicit and implicit information and ideas.
Explain, comment on and analyse how writers use language and structure to achieve effects and influence readers, using relevant subject terminology to support their views.
Compare writers’ ideas and perspectives across two texts.
Communicate clearly, effectively and imaginatively, selecting and adapting tone, style and register for different purposes and audiences.
Produce a variety of written pieces, including creative writing and transactional writing.
Organise information and ideas, using structural and grammatical features to support coherence and cohesion of texts.
Use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures for clarity, purpose and effect, with accurate spelling and punctuation.
A selection of fiction and non-fiction extracts, ranging from 19th century – 21st century.
Reading comprehension activities
Creative writing
Narrative writing (writing a story)
Transactional writing: letters, newspaper articles and diaries.
The course is comprised of two exam papers: paper 1 and paper 2.
A course of study from which students achieve a GCSE qualification in English Language.
Exam paper 1: Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing. This exam is in two sections. Section A is a reading section and students are examined on one fiction text. Section B is a writing section and students are examined on descriptive or narrative writing. This exam is worth 50% of their GCSE.
Exam paper 2: Writers’ Viewpoints and Perspectives. This exam is in two sections. Section A is a reading section and students are examined on one non-fiction text and one literary non-fiction text. Section B is a writing section and students are examined on how they write to present a viewpoint. This exam is worth 50% of their GCSE.
Spoken Language Study is a compulsory requirement of the course. It will appear on all students’ certificates as a separately reported grade, alongside the overall grade issued.
There is no coursework.
A level in English Language or Literature, A level in humanities, Law, Journalism, Public relations, Marketing Media roles
Follow the link to the BBC bitesize website to see the subject content on more detail for English Language