1. WJEC Eduqas GCSE in ENGLISH LANGUAGE
A Guide to the new GCSE
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2. A guide to the new English Language GCSE
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3. Teacher-of-English.com
In this guide we will take a look at the new WJEC Eduqas GCSE English Language qualification.
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4. Teacher-of-English.com
The WJEC Eduqas new GCSE English Language qualification is an untiered qualification.
The assessment consists of two externally examined papers, plus a separate endorsement of Spoken Language which is internally assessed.
It is a linear qualification so
all examination papers will be taken at the end of the course.
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5. GCSE English Language
The qualification will be graded and certificated
on a nine grade scale from 9 to 1, where 9 is the highest grade.
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6. WJEC Eduqas GCSE English Language
Subject Content
To gain a GCSE English Language qualification students must provide assessments in the following 3 areas
1. 20th Century Literature Reading and Creative Prose Writing.
2. 19th and 21st Century Non-fiction Reading and Transactional/Persuasive Writing.
3. Non-exam assessment – Spoken Language.
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7. Let’s look in more detail at the first area of assessment:
‘20th Century Literature Reading and Creative Prose Writing’
This is assessed in Paper 1 or Component 1 of the GCSE English Language exam.
Let’s take a closer look at the exam.
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8. How is Paper One assessed? Section A: Reading
one literature fiction text
Section B: Writing
descriptive and narrative writing
Assessment Breakdown
A written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes
80 marks available
Worth 40% of the GCSE
In Section A you will be given an extract from a C20th novel or short story. This extract will be from an unseen text (one you haven’t previously studied). This is a test of your fiction reading skills.
In Section B you will be asked to produce a piece of creative writing such as a short story. This is a test of your fiction writing skills.
The exam will last 1 hour and 45 minutes. It is worth 80 marks and makes up 40% of the English Language GCSE.
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9. Reading (40 marks) (20%) – one single text, 4 or 5 questions.
Paper One Questions
Reading (40 marks) (20%) – one single text, 4 or 5 questions.
This section will test the reading of an unseen extract from one 20th century literary prose text (about lines). This section assesses AO1, AO2 and AO4.
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10. Writing (40 marks) (20%)
This section will test creative writing through one 40-mark task. You will be offered a choice of four titles giving opportunities for writing to describe and narrate, and imaginative and creative use of language. This response should be a narrative / recount.
This section assesses AO5 and AO6.
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11. Now let’s look at the second area of assessment :–
‘19th and 21st Century Non-fiction Reading and Transactional/Persuasive Writing’
This is assessed in Paper 2 or Component 2 of the GCSE English Language exam.
Let’s take a closer look at Paper 2.
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12. How is Paper Two assessed? Section A: Reading
One C19th non-fiction text and one C21st non-fiction text
Section B: Writing
Transactional, persuasive and/or discursive writing
Assessment Breakdown
A written exam: 2 hours
80 marks available
Worth 60% of the GCSE
In Section A you will be given two non-fiction texts. These extracts will be from an unseen text (one you haven’t previously studied). This is a test of your non-fiction reading skills.
In Section B you will be asked to produce two pieces of non-fiction writing in which you present a point of view (20 marks each). This is a test of your non-fiction writing skills.
Unlike Paper 1, the Paper 2 exam will last 2 hours. It is also worth 80 marks and makes up more of the English Language GCSE – 60%.
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13. Paper 2 Section A Reading (40 marks) (30%)
This section will test through structured questions the reading of two unseen non-fiction texts (about words in total), one from the 19th century, the other from the 21st century. Non-fiction texts may include, but will not be limited to: letters, extracts from autobiographies or biographies, diaries, reports, articles and digital and multi-modal texts of various kinds from newspapers and magazines, and the internet.
This section assesses AO1 (and 2), AO2, AO3 and AO4.
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14. Paper 2 Section B Writing (40 marks) (30%)
This section will test transactional, persuasive and/or discursive writing through two equally
weighted tasks (20 marks each). Across the two tasks you will be required to write for a range of audiences and purposes, adapting style to form and to real-life contexts in, for example, letters, articles, reviews, speeches, etc.
This section assesses AO5 and AO6.
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15. The final area of assessment is:–
‘Non-exam assessment – Spoken Language’
This is assessed by the teacher and takes place during the course.
Let’s take a closer look.
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16. How is Spoken Language assessed?
You will be required to complete one formal presentation or speech. You will also be assessed on your responses to questions and feedback following the presentation or speech. Standard English should be a feature of all parts of your work in this component.
This component assesses AO7, AO8 and AO9.
Spoken Language is assessed by your teacher during the course of the GCSE. This is a test of your English speaking skills.
Tasks will include giving a presentation or speech, responding to questions and using Standard English.
You will be awarded a separate grade for Spoken Language. Achievement in Spoken Language will be reported as part of the qualification, but it
will not form part of the final mark and grade.
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17. Gf
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18. How to revise: *Eduqas website – www.eduqas.co.uk *Past Papers
*CGP revision guides – little and often
*Lots of reading – 30 mins
a day is the absolute
minimum.
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