ENGLISH LANGUAGE & ENGLISH LITERATURE GCSE

Exam Board: AQA

Specification Code: 8700 & 8702

Course Overview

Pursuing a study of English Language and English Literature at GCSE is an opportunity for pupils to enhance the most universal of all academic skills in a dynamic and inspiring context. Their endeavours across these two challenging and engaging GCSE subjects will also allow pupils to develop their capacity to be analytical in their approach to the social and political challenges faced by our world and will furnish them with the skills needed to express their opinions effectively.

These important objectives will be achieved through:

• Learning to approach both fiction and nonfiction texts critically, gaining insight into the structural and linguistic techniques commonly employed by journalists and authors across the full range of non-fiction and literary forms

• Thinking critically about the world and society and how it is reflected through literature and the media

• Developing the capability to express thoughts and ideas with originality and imagination across a range of different writing styles both in fiction and non-fiction

• Empowering pupils through their ability to communicate ideas orally with confidence and conviction while ensuring that their listening skills are discerning and perceptive

Course Content

• A range of English literature from Shakespeare to more contemporary writing

• Poetry from contemporary writers as well as those from within the English literary tradition

• A range of non-fiction writing

• An opportunity to engage in the creation of a diverse range of well-crafted fiction and nonfiction writing

Examination

Exams are at the end of Year 11.

English Language – 100% Final Written Examination.

• Paper 1: Explorations in Creative Reading & Writing (50%)

• Paper 2: Writer’s Viewpoints & Perspectives (50%)

• Spoken Language – 0% (Unweighted)

English Literature – 100% Final Written Examination.

• Paper 1: Shakespeare and the 19th Century Novel (Closed Book Examination) - 40%

• Paper 2: Post-1914 Prose/Drama and Poetry (Closed Book Examination) - 60%