ENGLISH

LANGUAGE & LITERATURE

GCSE English 

Language & Literature

Examination Board: AQA


Watch the video to the right to find out about the English Language and English Literature GCSEs!


GCSE English LANGUAGE 

Examination Board: AQA

Why should STUDENTS study GCSE English Language?

English is compulsory at GCSE.  The ability to communicate clearly and to understand and interpret the language of printed, visual and aural material competing for our attention in 21st century society are fundamental to success, not only across the curriculum but also in life generally.

 

What will STUDENTS need to be successful in this course? 

Students will need to infer and deduce information from a range of unseen texts.  They will also need to analyse the purpose and effect of specific language choices, using direct references to the text to support their point and viewpoint.  These skills will need to be further demonstrated in creative writing, which will also be marked for spelling, punctuation and grammar.  In this section of their examination, students will be required to show that they can themselves infer, using language imaginatively. 


support for students

This course is compulsory for all students. Students with aspirations of Grade 7 and above can expect to be challenged with rigorous attention to detail and exemplars that enable students to go beyond what is expected at Grade 9. Unseen text choices will be challenging but stimulating. There may also be extra-curricular opportunities available to extend their learning. 

Students aiming for Grade 3 and higher will: be well supported with specific approaches to write effectively; have texts and tasks broken down and structured in a way that allows for a clear understanding; have a variety of approaches and examples to support their learning.

As they approach their examinations students can expect the lessons to become focused on revision and helping them address parts of the course that they feel less confident about. Students will also be given opportunities to revise and get support with their own independent learning/revision.


Course Description

The course consists of two terminal examinations, both of which examine analysis skills as well as writing skills.  Both papers will also present the students with unseen texts, which will assess their ability to retrieve information and analyse its purpose and effect.  One of these papers will require the students to compare two unseen texts.  You can view a student's work sample to the right. 

Course Content

Paper 1: Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing

Paper 2: Writers’ Viewpoints and Perspectives

Non-examination Assessment: Spoken Language

 

Assessment

Paper 1: 50%

Paper 2: 50% 

Further Education and Career Pathways

English opens the door to most career pathways and is a prerequisite of most university courses.  The A-levels that are directly supported by GCSE English Language are:

·         English Language

·         English Literature

·         English Language with Literature

·         Creative Writing

·         Media Studies 


GCSE English Literature

Examination Board: AQA

Why should you study GCSE English Literature?

English Literature is also compulsory at GCSE.  The ability to communicate clearly and to understand and interpret the language of printed, visual and aural material competing for our attention in 21st century society are fundamental to success, not only across the curriculum but also in life generally.

 

What will I need to be successful in this course? 

Students will need to explore and discuss a range of literary texts, analysing the language, form and structure used by the author.  The students will be asked to interpret the meaning of texts, whilst simultaneously understanding and evaluating the interpretations of others. 


support for students

This course is compulsory for all students. Students with aspirations of Grade 7 and above can expect to be given opportunities to apply various critical approaches to texts, receive support through challenging questions and extra recommended reading materials. There will also be extra-curricular opportunities to extend their learning.

Students aiming for Grade 3 and higher will: be well supported with specific approaches to write effectively; have texts and tasks broken down and structured in a way that allows for a clear understanding; have a variety of approaches and examples to support their learning.

As they approach their examinations students can expect the lessons to become focused on revision and helping them address parts of the course that they feel less confident about. Students will also be given opportunities to revise and get support with their own independent learning/revision.


Course Description

The course consists of two terminal examinations, both of which examine analysis skills and are closed book examinations.  Both papers will also present the students with extracts from texts that have been studied as part of their curriculum time.  Students will be required to explore how a text creates tone and atmosphere, whilst making links to contextual factors where appropriate.

 

Course Content

Paper 1: Shakespeare and a 19th Century novel

Paper 2: Modern texts and poetry

Assessment

Paper 1: A 19th Century novel & A Shakespeare play (40%). See below for a short synopsis of these set texts. 

 Paper 2: 60%

Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson is a narrative about the complexities of science and the duplicity of human nature. Dr Jekyll is a kind, well-respected and intelligent scientist who meddles with the darker side of science, as he wants to bring out his 'second' nature.

He does this through transforming himself into Mr Hyde - his evil alter ego who doesn't repent or accept responsibility for his evil crimes and ways. Jekyll tries to control his alter ego, Hyde, and for a while, Jekyll has the power. However, towards the end of the novel, Hyde takes over and this results in their deaths.

macbeth

The play opens as three witches plan a meeting with the Scottish nobleman Macbeth, who at that moment is fighting in a great battle. When the battle is over, Macbeth and his friend Banquo come across the witches who offer them three predictions: that Macbeth will become Thane of Cawdor and King of Scotland, and that Banquo's descendants will become kings.

Further Education and Career Pathways

English opens the door to most career pathways.  The A-levels that are directly supported by GCSE English Literature are:

·           English Language

·           English Literature

·           English Language with Literature

·           Creative Writing

·           Media Studies