1. AQA English Language (2015) AQA English Literature (2015)

2. New GCSEs for 2015-17: What’s changed?
No coursework or controlled assessment – all assessment is from exams in May/June 2017
A*-G grades are replaced by grades 1-9
Some changes to texts and unit topics
More freedom to teach reading and writing skills!

3. 100% Exam AQA GCSE English Language (2015)
AQA GCSE English Literature (2015)
Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing
Reading an ‘unseen’ fiction text
Descriptive or narrative writing
1 hour 45 minutes
Worth 50% of the GCSE
Shakespeare and the 19th Century Novel
One question on Macbeth
One question on A Christmas Carol
No copies of the texts
40% of GCSE
Writers’ Viewpoints and Perspectives
Comparing two non-fiction texts
Writing to present a viewpoint
Modern texts and Poetry
One question on Animal Farm
One comparative question on poems from the Poetry Anthology
One question on an ‘unseen’ poem
2 hours 15 minutes
Worth 60% of the GCSE
Spoken Language
Assessed by the teacher throughout
Marked by the teacher
0% of the GCSE

4. A*-G Grades Replaced by 1-9
For your child: 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Spread of top grades has been increased to avoid ‘bunching’ at the top
The rough equivalent of a C grade is the bottom of grade 4
A similar percentage of pupils nationally are expected to achieve grades 4-9 as have achieved grades A*-C in the past
In the past: A* A B C D E F G

5. Texts and Unit Topics A1 A2 Sp1 Sp2 Su1 Su2 Y10 Animal FarmA1 A2
Sp1
Sp2
Su1
Su2
Y10
Animal Farm
Poetry Anthology
Reading Literary Fiction
Descriptive/ Narrative Writing
Macbeth
Literature Paper 2 Mock
Lit Paper 2 Mock
Lang Paper 1 Mock
Macbeth Question
Y11
Reading non-Fiction
A Christmas Carol
Non-Fiction: Writing from a viewpoint
Unseen Poetry Skills / Anthology
Revision skills
and Exams
Lit Paper 1 Mock

6. More Freedom to Teach English Skills!
The new course creates more time for:
Looking at different perspectives on issues raised by a text
Understanding the history behind Animal Farm (Communism and the Russian revolution), Macbeth (Elizabethan England) and A Christmas Carol (Victorian England)
Reading and writing skills that will enhance your child’s life

7. What can you do to help?
Reasoning, forming arguments and thinking of different perspectives – talk to them and help them with these skills!
The Russian Revolution, and Elizabethan and Victorian England – test your knowledge and theirs!
Reading widely and regularly – make sure your child has a book on the go, and they have a varied diet of quality fiction and non-fiction.
Make sure they have a clear, calm space to do their homework.
BBC Bitesize is a good place to go for curriculum knowledge.