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GCSE English Language & Literature
GCSE English Language & Literature
AQA (Language 8700 Literature 8702)
GCSE English Language and Literature involves students analysing and responding to a range of texts and producing their own creative and non-fiction writing. Students will also develop their skills in speaking and listening in a range of situations. Areas covered include:
19th Century Novel Shakespeare Play Modern Drama
Non-Fiction Texts Modern Prose Poetry from 1789 to the present day
From 2017, English will be assessed solely through examination. At the end of Years 9 and 10, students will sit formal mock examinations. Final examinations in Literature and Language will take place at the end of Year 10 and Year 11 respectively. Please note that speaking and listening grades will now be reported separately and will not count towards the overall GCSE grade.
GCSE English Language (all students will take GCSE English Language)
GCSE English Language (all students will take GCSE English Language)
Assessment objectives:
Reading
AO1: i) Identify and interpret explicit and implicit information and ideas.
AO1: ii) Select and synthesise evidence from different texts.
AO2: 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.
AO3: Compare writers’ ideas and perspectives, as well as how these are conveyed, across two or more texts.
AO4: Evaluate texts critically and support this with appropriate textual references.
Writing
AO5: Communicate clearly, effectively and imaginatively, selecting and adapting tone, style and register for different forms, purposes and audiences. Organise information and ideas, using structural and grammatical features to support coherence and cohesion of texts.
AO6: Candidates must use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures for clarity, purpose and effect, with accurate spelling and punctuation. (This requirement must constitute 20% of the marks for each specification as a whole.)
Spoken Language
AO7: Demonstrate presentation skills in a formal setting.
AO8: Listen and respond appropriately to spoken language, including to questions and feedback on presentations.
AO9: Use spoken Standard English effectively in speeches and presentations.
End of Year 11 examinations for GCSE English Language
Paper 1: Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing.
Paper 2: Writers’ Viewpoints and Perspectives
GCSE English Literature (all students will take GCSE English Literature)
GCSE English Literature (all students will take GCSE English Literature)
Assessment objectives:
Reading
AO1: Read, understand and respond to texts. Students should be able to:
maintain a critical style and develop an informed personal response;
use textual references, including quotations, to support and illustrate interpretations.
AO2: Analyse the language, form and structure used by a writer to create meanings and effects, using relevant subject terminology where appropriate.
AO3: Show understanding of the relationships between texts and the contexts in which they were written.
Writing
AO4: Use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures for clarity, purpose and effect, with accurate spelling and punctuation.
End of Year 11 examinations for GCSE English Literature
Paper 1: Shakespeare and the 19th century novel
Paper 2: Modern texts, Power & Conflict poetry and unseen poetry
5 Frequently Asked Questions
5 Frequently Asked Questions
Does my child have to take both English Language and English Literature?
Yes - all students in Years 10 and 11 will take both GCSEs and equal amounts of time are dedicated within the English timetable.
Are they a combined GCSE and is there Higher and Foundation?
They are not a combined GCSE; students will leave with two GCSEs in English, totally stand alone. However, both GCSEs do need to be sat for each one to count. English is a non-tiered subject at GCSE level so no Higher or Foundation papers.
Does English Language count more than English Literature?
No, and this has been the case for the last four years now. Unless a student is going on to study English in Further Education, they need a 5 in either Language OR Literature for a good pass in English.
Can my child drop one of the English GCSEs in Year 11?
No - English is a core subject and both Literature and Language are of equal importance. The study of English Literature really supports the skills needed for Language as well as helping to develop reading and analysis skills and providing knowledge of the world around them.
How are the courses broken down and should I buy copies of texts now?
Our exam board is AQA.
Literature texts:
Shakespeare – Romeo and Juliet
Modern text – An Inspector Calls
20th Century novel – A Christmas Carol
Poetry anthology – Power and Conflict
Unseen poetry
The literature GCSE comprises of two papers:
Paper 1 – Shakespeare and 19th century novel (A Christmas Carol)
Paper 2 – Modern text (An Inspector Calls), poetry anthology (Power & Conflict poetry) and unseen poetry
The language GCSE comprises of two papers:
Paper 1 – Explorations in creative reading and writing (fiction)
Paper 2 – Writers’ viewpoints and perspectives (non-fiction)
Non-examination assessment – Spoken language
We recommend that students purchase a copy of the text. We do have copies available in school but if students have their own copies, they can annotate and keep tabs in the books to help with revision in Year 11. At the start of Year 10, we suggest the best publication of each text so that we are all reading from the same copy.
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