1. Welcome to GCSE English language and English literature
Subject leader:
Mrs J Bree

2. Examination board: AQA 2 Qualifications: English language(8700) English literature (8702)

3. English Language (8700) Two examination papers worth 100% of Grade
(No Coursework)
Assessed numerically with grades 1-9
(9 is the highest grade)

4. Paper One: explorations in creative reading and writing
The aim of the paper is to engage students in a creative text and inspire them to write creatively themselves.
Written Exam: 1 hour 45 min (paper worth a total of 80 marks)
50% of GCSE split into section A and section B:
Section A assesses reading (25% of English language grade)
Section B assesses writing (25% of English language grade)

5. Paper One Part A: Reading Section (40 marks and 25% of GCSE)
Students will read one literary fiction text (20th or 21st century) in order to consider how established writers use narrative and descriptive techniques to capture the interest of readers, (critical reading and comprehension).
Students will answer four questions which will text their understanding of the text and their analysis of language and structure and will focus on AO1, AO2, AO4:
1 short form question (4 marks)
2 longer form questions (8 marks each)
1 extended question (20 marks)

6. Paper One Part B: Writing Section (40 marks and 25% of GCSE)
Students will write 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, (producing clear and coherent text and writing for impact). Descriptive or narrative writing Students will complete one prescribed extended writing question (24 marks for content and organisation, 16 marks for technical accuracy) and will be assessed for AO5 and AO6.

7. Paper Two: writer’s viewpoints and perspectives
The aim of this paper is to develop student’ 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.
Written Exam: 1 hour 45 minutes (paper worth a total of 80 marks)
50% of GCSE split into section A and section B:
Section A assesses reading (25% of English language grade)
Section B assesses writing (25% of English language grade)

8. Paper Two Part A: Reading Section (40 marks and 25% of GCSE)
Students will be given two linked sources of a non-fiction text and a literary non-fiction text, they will draw from the 19th century and either the 20th or 21st century to consider how the writer’s perspective or viewpoint will influence the reader.
Students will answer four questions from the two linked texts which will text their understanding of the text and their analysis of language and structure and will focus on AO1, AO2, AO4:
• 1 short form question (4 marks)
• 2 longer form questions (1 x 8, 1 x 12 marks)
• 1 extended question (1 x 16 marks)

9. Paper Two Part B: Writing Section (40 marks and 25% of GCSE)
Students will produce 1 extended writing question (24 marks for content and organisation, 16 marks for technical accuracy)
Writing to present a viewpoint
Students must produce a written task for a specified audience, purpose and form in which they must give their own perspective on a theme that has been introduced in section A of paper, students will be assessed for AO5 and AO6.

10. The reading sources for paper one and two
Content The sources for the reading questions will be non-fiction and literary non-fiction texts. They will be drawn from the 19th century, and either the 20th or 21st century depending on the time period assessed in Paper 1 in each particular series. The combination selected will always provide students with an opportunity to consider viewpoints and perspectives over time. Choice of genre will include: ‘high quality journalism, articles, reports, essays, travel writing, accounts, sketches, letters, diaries, autobiography and biographical passages or other appropriate non-fiction and literary non-fiction forms.’

11. English Literature (8702) Two examination papers worth 100% of Grade
(No Coursework)
Assessed numerically with grades 1-9
(9 is the highest grade)

12. Paper One: Shakespeare and the 19th –century novel
1 hour 45 minutes (64 raw marks 40% of GCSE)
One Shakespeare play – Macbeth
The 19th-century novel - The Sign of Four by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

13. Paper One Section A: Shakespeare
Students will answer one question on Macbeth. Students will be expected to write in detail about an extract from the play and then to write about the play as a whole.

14. Paper One Section B: 19th-century novel
Students will answer one question on The Sign of Four. They will be required to write in detail about an extract from the novel and then to write about the novel as a whole.

15. Paper Two: Modern texts and poetry
2 hours 15 minutes (96 raw marks 60% of GCSE)
Section A Modern Texts: Animal Farm George Orwell
Section B Poetry: Power and conflict
Section C Unseen poetry

16. Paper Two Section A: Modern texts
Students will answer one essay question from a choice of two on the novel Animal Farm by George Orwell.

17. Paper Two Section B and C: Poetry
Section B Poetry: Students will answer a comparative question on a named poem from the Power and Conflict anthology with one other poem from the same anthology cluster. Section C Unseen poetry: Students will answer one question on one unseen poem and one question comparing this poem with a second unseen poem.

18. Power and Conflict cluster
Conflict and power
Shelley Ozymandias
Blake London
Wordsworth The Prelude: stealing the boat
Robert Browning My Last Duchess
Alfred Lord Tennyson The Charge of the Light Brigade
Wilfred Owen Exposure
Seamus Heaney Storm on the Island
Ted Hughes Bayonet Charge
Simon Armitage Remains
Jane Weir Poppies
Carol Ann Duffy War Photographer
Imtiaz Dharker Tissue
Carol Rumens The Émigrée
Beatrice Garland Kamikaze
John Agard Checking Out Me History