English Language and English Literature

The new skills that you will learn and those that you will re-visit are skills for life: the ability to communicate effectively on paper, electronically and through speech, and to read and interpret a wide range of written material, both fiction and non-fiction, in order to develop your own thoughts and opinions.

You will build on the skills of speaking and listening, reading and writing practised in the Lower School. You will learn to become increasingly confident in selecting and using a written style appropriate to the writing you undertake: from business letter to poetry, from persuasive writing to autobiography, from literary criticism to short story writing. You will also be taught to use a range of writing styles and how to improve your literacy skills.

You will become progressively more adept at reading and analysing a wide range of written material from the past and the present. You will be expected to learn how to make individual, paired and group oral contributions appropriate to your ability.

At the end of the two-year course the majority of pupils will be entered for both English Language and Literature, thus gaining two IGCSEs with the speaking and listening component recorded separately on a scale of one (excellent) to five (poor). For pupils identified as benefiting from a less literature intensive course Media Studies will be the alternative option to English Literature. In Year 10 we aim to complete the coursework requirements and practise responding to short fiction and non-fiction pieces, both orally and through writing analytically. In Year 11 we will study literature examination texts and practise responding to examination style questions. All written work, whether examination preparation or coursework, will be assessed using the board’s criteria.

In English Literature you will take two papers: Paper 1 (1 hour 30 minutes) will feature questions on prose and poetry; Paper 2 (45 minutes) will have questions on a drama text. Paper 1 is closed, Paper 2 is open text. In English Language you will take one 2 hour paper. You will answer questions on two thematically linked passages, testing your reading and writing skills.

Coursework is ongoing throughout Years 10 and 11, and the board advises that pupils should undertake a wide range of tasks from which the coursework pieces are selected. Your folder will contain a maximum of five pieces, likely to be finished by the end of Year 10. It is vital to appreciate that work from any time within the course may be entered; thus written pieces must always be done to the best of your ability. A rushed or superficial piece is a wasted opportunity. Each folder must include creative and non-fiction writing, as well as responses to literature texts. Within this format there is often room for your own personal preferences. Your oral contributions are also assessed and recorded throughout the course. Do not underestimate the importance of your efforts here.

Universities expect applicants to have achieved at least a grade 4 in English before consideration for any of their degree courses.

We aim to teach you to structure and express your ideas clearly and lucidly. We encourage you to think creatively and analyse carefully, and we foster an open-minded approach to that which is new and thought provoking.

Most candidates achieved excellent grades last year. Pupils at Wells consistently gain IGCSE English and English Literature results commensurate with, or well above, their potential. Last year 72% achieved grade 9-7 in Literature and 69% achieved grades 9-7 in English Language. English with Media Studies is also thriving with very strong results now stretching back over a number of years.