Award: GCSE
Awarding Body: AQA
Specification Code: 8700
Specification Website: AQA GCSE English Language
The specification will enable students of all abilities to develop the skills they need to read, understand and analyse a wide range of different texts covering the 19th, 20th and 21st century time periods as well as to write clearly, coherently and accurately using a range of vocabulary and sentence structures. Each paper has a distinct identity to better support high quality provision and engaging teaching and learning.
There is only one tier of entry with a range of grades from 9-1.
Explorations in creative reading and writing
The aim is to engage students in creative texts & inspire them to write creatively themselves in the following ways:
in Section A, students read a literary fiction extract in order to consider how established writers use narrative and descriptive techniques to capture the interest of readers.
in Section B, writing their own creative text, inspired by the topic that they have responded to in section A to demonstrate their narrative and descriptive skills in response to a written prompt, scenario or visual image.
Writers’ viewpoints and perspectives
The aim is to develop students’ insights into how writers have particular viewpoints and perspectives on issues or themes that are important to the way we think and live our lives. It will encourage students to demonstrate their skills in the following ways:
in Section A, students read two linked sources from different time periods and genres in order to consider how each presents a perspective or viewpoint to influence the reader.
In Section B, students produce a written text to a specified audience, purpose and form in which they give their own perspective on the theme that has been introduced to them in section A.
Non-exam spoken assessment
The aim of is to allow students to demonstrate their speaking and listening skills by:
giving a presentation in a formal context,
responding appropriately to questions and to feedback, asking questions themselves to elicit clarification,
using spoken Standard English.
In Year 10 students focus on the skills necessary for Paper 1, Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing, which looks at how writers use narrative and descriptive techniques to engage the interest of readers. They will also complete the Spoken Language Endorsement which develops skills in presenting, responding to questions and feedback and the use of Standard English.
In Year 11 students focus on the skills necessary for Paper 2, Writers' Viewpoints and Perspectives, which looks at how different writers present a similar topic over time.
Year 10 and 11 Mocks
Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes
80 marks
50% of GCSE
in Section A, students read a literary fiction extract in order to consider how established writers use narrative and descriptive techniques to capture the interest of readers.
in Section B, writing their own creative text, inspired by the topic that they have responded to in section A to demonstrate their narrative and descriptive skills in response to a written prompt, scenario or visual image.
Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes
80 marks
50% of GCSE
in Section A, students read two linked sources from different time periods and genres in order to consider how each presents a perspective or viewpoint to influence the reader.
In Section B, students produce a written text to a specified audience, purpose and form in which they give their own perspective on the theme that has been introduced to them in section A.
The assessment will be separately endorsed and will be reported as a separate grade:
Not Classified
Pass
Merit
Distinction
It will not contribute to the result of the GCSE English Language qualification.