English Language and English Literature GCSEs AQA Specification A http://www.aqa.org.uk/qualifications/gcse/english-and-media/english/english-a.php Higher tier – A* - D Foundation tier C - G

Paper 1 – Monday 16th May (9 am) English Language Paper 1 – Monday 16th May (9 am) 30% of total marks Section A – Reading Media and Non-fiction texts (1 hour) – 15% Section B - Writing to argue, persuade, advise (45 mins) - 15%

Paper 1 Section A – 27 marks Reading -Media and Non-fiction Skills need for this section of the exam: Read with understanding and develop interpretations (pages 8-27) Explain how facts and opinions are used (pages 8-9) Explain how arguments or ideas are presented (pages 10-13) Explain how the writers use language and structural devices (pages 14-17) Explain how presentational devices are used (pages 18-21) Select appropriate evidence and compare how writers use devices (pages 22-27) Practise in the workbook (pages 100 – 123), using websites like BBC Bitesize, or using any junk mail, newspaper and magazine articles, holiday brochures, etc. Revision sessions in school on Thursdays at 3.45 – 5.00 pm

Writing Section B - Papers 1 and 2 Skills needed for this exam: Clear communication appropriate for the audience and purpose of the task (pages 62-73) Ideas organised into effective paragraphs (pages 52-53) Ideas organised into effective sentence structures (pages 54-55) Use a range of punctuation effectively and accurately (pages 58-60) Use a variety of language features and a wide vocabulary (pages 56-57) Use accurate spelling (page 61) Practise using the workbook (pages 162-189) or by using newspapers, magazines, web pages as a model. Revision sessions in school on Thursdays 3.45 – 5.00 pm

Paper 1 Section B – 27 marks Writing to argue, persuade or advise One question of a choice of four: Write to argue (pages 62-5) Write to persuade (pages 66-69) Write to advise (pages 70-73) Write for a blend of two of the above purposes 45 minutes can be divided as follows: 5 minutes – Read questions, choose one, highlight key words, and plan for an introduction, four paragraphs and a conclusion. 2 minutes – Write a short introduction outlining the purpose of the writing (link to the key words of the question). 8 minutes each – Follow the plan and write four paragraphs. 2 minutes – Draw ideas together in a short conclusion outlining the overall point 4 minutes – Edit and proof read for accuracy.

Paper 2 – Wednesday 18th May English Language Paper 2 – Wednesday 18th May (1.30 pm) 30% of total marks Section A – Reading Poems from Different Cultures (45 minutes) – 15% Section B - Writing to inform, explain, describe (45 minutes) - 15%

Reading Poems from Different Cultures Content for this section of the exam: Students have an anthology in which they are making notes. They will receive a clean copy of the anthology in the exam. There will be a named poem which must be compared with one other poem in the Different Cultures section (pages 5-18 in the Anthology) They must know ALL the poems in at least one of the two clusters (8 poems) Skills needed for this section of the exam: Read with insight and engagement, develop and sustain interpretations (pages 30-47) Understand and analyse how writers use devices to achieve effects (pages 36-47) Select appropriate, short quotations to support points made . Integrate comparisons. (pages 32-47) Practise: Workbook pages 126-141 for Cluster 1, pages 142-159 for Cluster 2, or by using BBC Bitesize or by making up questions, or by looking at past papers on: http://www.aqa.org.uk/qualifications/gcse/english-and-media/english/english-a.php

Paper 2 Section B – 27 marks Writing to inform, explain, describe One question from a choice of four: Write to inform Write to explain Write to advise Write for a specified audience using a blend of two of the above purposes Skills as for Paper 1 Section B (slide 5) Time management (see slide 6) Practise: Revision Guide (pages 74-87 and Workbook (pages 182-189) or by making up questions, or by looking at past papers on http://www.aqa.org.uk/qualifications/gcse/english-and-media/english/english-a.php

English Literature 24th May (9 am) Section A - 45 minutes (27 marks) Students are studying EITHER: To Kill A Mockingbird (NCH group) OR Of Mice and Men (JLW, JEH-A, LSL, CVP groups) Lord of the Flies (RJS group) and should answer one question on the book they are studying Section B – 1 hour (36 marks) Students are studying poems in the Anthology: EITHER Seamus Heaney and Gillian Clarke (pages 19-31) – RJS group Carol Ann Duffy and Simon Armitage (pages 32-45) AND From the Pre-1914 Poetry Bank (page 46-58) and should answer one question using four of the poems they have studied

Revising for English Literature KNOW texts well: share reading them at home, talk about them; UNDERSTAND texts: explain to each other what the main ideas and characters are all about; PRACTISE exam answers; ATTEND after school exam preparation sessions; To help: useful websites, study guides, teachers (!!), and AQA past papers available online.

Advice for English Literature exam Find the pages for the texts studied Read the questions for your texts BEFORE planning answers Answer section B FIRST. It is worth 36 marks (9 more than Section A). Spend one hour on Section B before moving on to Section A. Put the number of the question answered in the box provided

The English Department Good Luck in your exams With best wishes from The English Department English exams: Language Paper 1: Monday 16th May (am) Revise Reading Media and non-fiction texts Revise/practise writing—to discuss, argue, persuade Language Paper 2: Wednesday 18th May (pm) Revise Poems from Different Cultures (Cluster 1 and/or Cluster 2 in Anthology) Revise/practise writing—to inform, explain, describe Literature: Tuesday, 24th May (am) Revise and bring To Kill a Mockingbird orOf Mice and Men or Lord of the Flies Revise Duffy/Armitage OR Heaney/Clarke poems and pre-1914 poems