GCSE English Language
Exam Board: AQA | Spec No.: 8700Course Leader: Miss L Burden | Email Miss L Burden
Course Overview
Students will draw upon a range of texts as reading stimulus and engage with creative as well as real and relevant contexts. Students will have opportunities to develop higher-order reading and critical thinking skills that encourage genuine enquiry into different topics and themes.
This specification will ensure that students can read fluently and write effectively. Students will be able to demonstrate a confident control of Standard English and write grammatically correct sentences, deploying figurative language and analysing texts.
For GCSE English Language students should:
- read fluently, and with good understanding, a wide range of texts from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries, including literature and literary non-fiction as well as other writing such as reviews and journalism
- read and evaluate texts critically and make comparisons between texts
- summarise and synthesise information or ideas from texts
- use knowledge gained from wide reading to inform and improve their own writing
- write effectively and coherently using Standard English appropriately
- use grammar correctly and punctuate and spell accurately
- acquire and apply a wide vocabulary, alongside a knowledge and understanding of grammatical terminology, and linguistic conventions for reading, writing and spoken language
- listen to and understand spoken language and use spoken Standard English effectively.
GCSE English Language is designed on the basis that students should read and be assessed on high-quality, challenging texts from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. Each text studied must represent a substantial piece of writing, making significant demands on students in terms of content, structure and the quality of language. The texts, across a range of genres and types, should support students in developing their own writing by providing effective models. The texts must include literature and extended literary non-fiction, and other writing such as essays, reviews and journalism (both printed and online). Texts that are essentially transient, such as instant news feeds, must not be included. The number and types of texts, and their length, are not prescribed.
Assessment
Exam Information
Paper 1: Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing
What is assessed
Section A: Reading
- one literature fiction text
Section B: Writing
- descriptive or narrative writing
Assessed
- written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes
- 80 marks
- 50% of GCSE
Questions
Reading (40 marks) (25%) – one single text
- 1 short form question (1 x 4 marks)
- 2 longer form questions (2 x 8 marks)
- 1 extended question (1 x 20 marks)
Writing (40 marks) (25%)
- 1 extended writing question (24 marks for content, 16 marks for technical accuracy)
Paper 2: Writers’ Viewpoints and Perspectives
What is assessed
Section A: Reading
- one non-fiction text and one literary non-fiction text
Section B: Writing
- writing to present a viewpoint
Assessed
- written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes
- 80 marks
- 50% of GCSE
Questions
Reading (40 marks) (25%) – two linked texts
- 1 short form question (1 x 4 marks)
- 2 longer form questions (1 x 8, 1 x 12 marks)
- 1 extended question (1 x 16 marks)
Writing (40 marks) (25%)
- 1 extended writing question (24 marks for content, 16 marks for technical accuracy)
What is assessed (AO7–AO9)
- presenting
- responding to questions and feedback
- use of Standard English
Assessed
- teacher set throughout course
- marked by teacher
- separate endorsement (0% weighting of GCSE)
Year Plan
Year 10 Schedule
| Term | What is being studied | Assessment | Assessment Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUT 1 | An Inspector Calls | How is Mr Birling presented? Or How is the theme of responsibility presented? |
w/c 22nd October 2018 |
| AUT 2 | English Language Paper 2: Comprehension Skills | Q1 and 2
Q3 and 4
|
w/c 26th November 2018
w/c 17th December 2018 |
| SPR 1 | English Language Paper 1: creative writing
|
Homework assessments | |
| SPR 2 | Conflict Poetry
|
How is the power of nature presented in Storm on the island and Exposure? | w/c 11th February 2019 |
| SMR 1 | Jekyll and Hyde
|
||
| SMR 2 | Creative Writing and English Language Paper 1 re cap | ||
| End of Year Mocks
Post Mocks until Investigations Week |
English Language: Paper 1
English Literature: Jekyll and Hyde
English Language Paper 2: Section B/Persuasive Writing. |
Section A (Comprehension/fiction text)
Section B (creative writing)
Full extract analysis and linked essay |
21st-28th June |
Year 11 Schedule
| Term | What is being studied | Assessment | Assessment Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUT1 | English Language Paper 2, Section A | Q1 and 2
Q3 and 4 |
w/c 17th September 2018
w/c 22nd October 2018
|
| AUT2 | English Language Paper 2, Section B (Persuasive writing)
Conflict Poetry and Unseen Poetry |
Homework assessments
Homework assessments |
|
| SPR1 | English Language Paper 2, Sections A and B
English Literature: Conflict poetry and unseen poetry |
Section A (Comprehension-non fiction texts)
Section B Persuasive Writing
Conflict poetry and unseen poetry questions |
Mocks: 7th-18th January 2019 tbc |
| SPR2 |
Macbeth
|
How is Lady Macbeth presented as a powerful character in this extract and in the play as a whole? |
w/c: 1st April 2019 |
| SMR 1 | Complete Macbeth
Revision |
GCSE English Language Assessments 2017-18
Year 10
W/c 9th October – Paper 1 Explorations in creative reading and writing –Questions 1 and 2
W/c 13th November – Paper 1 Explorations in creative reading and writing –Question 3
W/c 12th February – Paper 1 Explorations in creative reading and writing –Question 4
W/c 5th March – Spoken Language Endorsement
W/c 22nd June – End of Year exam- Paper 1 Explorations in creative reading and writing
Year 11
W/c 9th October – Paper 2 Writers’ viewpoints and perspectives- Questions 1 and 2
14th 15th December – Paper 2 Writers’ viewpoints and perspectives- Questions 3 and 4
8-17th January – Year 11 Mock Exams Paper 1 Explorations in creative reading and writing
W/c 22nd January – Spoken Language Endorsement