1. Welcome to English at
Lowton CE High School

2. Qualifications
Coursework / controlled assessments no longer exist – all
Examination is done through exams at the end of the course.
Students will study English Language and English Literature
(2 GCSEs)

3. revision day c/d top tips
Grades
Tiering has been removed. This means that all students will
sit the same paper.
Grades are no longer letters: they have been replaced by
numbers 1-9 (9 is the highest).
Grade 5 is considered a good pass (top of old grade C)

4. English GCSEs EDUQAS Exam Board
revision day c/d top tips
English GCSEs EDUQAS Exam Board
English Language
2 exam papers
Paper 1: Fiction – 20th Century reading and creative writing
Paper 2: Non-fiction – 19th & 21st century reading and non-fiction writing
Spoken Language – one presentation/speech. Separately awarded.
English Literature
2 exam papers
Paper 1 – Shakespeare (Macbeth) & Poetry anthology
Paper 2 – Modern Play, A Christmas Carol & unseen poetry

5. External Examinations
All examinations are now terminal: this means they will be taken at the end of the course and externally marked.
English / English Language: June 2019/20
Paper 1 Fiction-based reading and writing – 40% - 1hr 45 mins
Paper 2 Non-fiction – based reading and writing – 60% - 2hrs
English Literature: June 2019/20
Paper 1 Shakespeare & anthology poetry – 40% - 2hrs
Paper 2 Modern Play, A Christmas Carol & unseen poetry – 60% - 2hrs 30 mins

6. Year 9 GCSE Topics When Topic Autumn Term 1 Short story writing
‘A Christmas Carol’
Autumn Term 2
Spring Term 1
Fiction reading skills
Revision of short story writing
Spring Term 2
Modern play
Summer Term 1
Revision of modern play and fiction reading and writing skills in preparation for summer exams
Summer Term 2
Nature poetry from the anthology
Speaking and listening presentation

7. Year 10 GCSE Topics
When
Topic
Autumn Term 1
Macbeth & war poetry from the anthology
Autumn Term 2
Revision of previously studied poems from the anthology
Spring Term 1
Fiction reading skills
Unseen poetry
Spring Term 2
Summer Term 1
Modern Play
Revision of covered texts and skills
Summer Term 2
Love poetry from the anthology
Revision of ‘A Christmas Carol’
Please note: your child began studying some of their GCSE topics at the end of Y9: ‘A Christmas Carol’ and a selection of nature poems from their anthology.

8. revision day c/d top tips
Homework
Students should receive two homeworks per week. They should spend a minimum of 30 mins on each homework.
Tasks mainly fall into one of these categories:
Recall
Creative tasks to aid revision
Exam style questions
Background research

9. revision day c/d top tips
What can you do to help?
Check students are up to date with all areas of the course. If your child is absent, they will be able to collect missed work from their teacher.
Encourage students to read a wide range of texts (Use library)
Monitor internet usage to ensure that homework is not plagiarised
Offer support and encouragement but get students to check their own work
Check homework on ‘Show my Homework’

10. revision day c/d top tips
What can you do to help?
Encourage students to use a dictionary and thesaurus
(Students are encouraged to buy their own)
Check that homework is done to the best of the student’s ability
Provide a quiet place to study

11. revision day c/d top tips
Revision Guides
There are many revision guides on the market but not all are aimed at the correct exam board.
Ensure that WJEC/EDUQAS examination board is mentioned before you buy.
Students can buy any appropriate study guide or notes for literature texts
E.g.
There are also some useful websites for revision particularly for the Literature texts.
In house revision guides are available from school.

12. revision day c/d top tips
Reading Texts
All students will study three ‘books’: Macbeth, Blood Brothers/An Inspector Calls and A Christmas Carol. Free copies of the older texts are available online.
In addition, they will have a poetry anthology of poems that they will study throughout the course.
Specific reading texts will be set in relation to work on these texts. This maybe reading/re- reading of sections of the text or background reading/research.
It is better for students if they have their own copy of these texts so that they can write notes.

13. revision day c/d top tips
Marking
Most marking at GCSE is concentrated on exam skills / knowledge.
Homeworks will be given an attitude to learning grade and comments / targets where necessary.
Students will be given both areas of strength and targets for improvement based on the mark schemes
Students may take part in peer and self assessment in order to develop their work

14. Speaking and Listening Graded separately
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Speaking and Listening Graded separately
Students are required to complete one piece of assessed speaking
and listening work.
This will be a formal presentation and questions.
The presentation and questions must be recorded and submitted
to the exam board.

15. Useful Websites