1. Raising the GCSE Bar Intervention Parents’ Evening March 2017
Lord Williams’s School

2. GCSE English Language and English Literature
Everyone will complete TWO GCSEs: English Language and English Literature
Unlike in previous years, all students will be sitting the AQA course for both Language and Literature
Students achieving a '4' in either course will be considered to have passed (‘C’ grade equivalent)
However, students who don't pass either will need to continue to study English until they pass in a re-sit or they're 18

3. English GCSE Papers in a nutshell
Language Paper 1 A) Reading Fiction B) Writing to Describe Language Paper 2 A) Reading Non-fiction B) Writing to argue
Literature Paper 1
A) Romeo & Juliet
B) Jekyll and Hyde
Literature Paper 2
A) An Inspector Calls
B) Poetry (anthology & unseen)

4. ENGLISH LANGUAGE EXAM DETAILS (AQA):
There are TWO papers for this subject and they are worth 50% of the final GCSE grade each.
Paper 1 (Fiction) takes place on Tuesday 6th June (AM).
Paper 2 (Non-fiction) takes place on Monday 12th June (AM).

5. What do you need to know for English Language Paper 1?
The paper is 1h 45m long (including 15m reading time) Section A (25%): Questions on a short passage from a novel from the C19th, C20th or C21st. These questions are weighted so spend more time on those that are worth more marks. Section B (25%): Writing to describe or narrate.

6. Section A: READING – literary fiction
Read novels, short stories, and other creative writing from a wide range of sources
The texts may be older and challenging, but will be generally suitable for GCSE students
Revise the question types carefully – try writing your own paper, or applying questions to texts of your choice

7. Section A: READING – literary fiction
Read novels, short stories, and other creative writing from a wide range of sources
The texts may be older and challenging, but will be generally suitable for GCSE students
Revise the question types carefully – try writing your own paper, or applying questions to texts of your choice
Plan your time: spend just over a minute per mark in this section

8. Section B: WRITING – describe or narrate
Plan your work
Revise connectives and punctuation
Revise descriptive techniques and structural devices
Content, organisation and SP&G are all assessed

9. What do you need to know for English Language Paper 2?
The paper is 1h 45m long (including 15m reading time) Section A (25%): Questions on letters, autobiographies, journals, travel diaries, websites, magazines and/or newspaper articles. These questions are weighted so spend more time on those that are worth more marks. Section B (25%): Writing to argue or persuade,.

10. Section A: READING – literary non-fiction and media texts
Read autobiographies, blogs, magazines and newspaper articles – particularly on their websites. Think about PALL:
Purpose
Audience
Language 
Layout
One of your texts is likely to be C19th so ensure your read a range of texts in your revision!

11. Section A: READING – literary non-fiction and media texts
Read autobiographies, blogs, magazines and newspaper articles – particularly on their websites. Think about PALL:
Purpose
Audience
Language 
Layout
One of your texts is likely to be C19th so ensure your read a range of texts in your revision!
Plan your time: spend just over a minute per mark in this section

12. Section B WRITING – argue or persuade
Plan your work
Revise connectives and punctuation
Revise persuasive techniques and rhetorical devices
Practise writing a number of persuasive articles, blogs, speeches, etc.
Content, organisation and SP&G are all assessed

13. ENGLISH LITERATURE EXAM DETAILS (AQA):
There are TWO papers for this subject and they are worth 100% of the final GCSE grade.
The first exam takes place on Monday 22nd MAY (AM) – this is on Romeo & Juliet and Jekyll and Hyde (40%). It is 1hr 45m long.
The second exam takes place on Friday 26th MAY (AM) – this is on An Inspector Calls and Poetry (60%). It is 2hrs 15m long.

14. What do you need to know for the first English Literature paper on Romeo & Juliet and Jekyll & Hyde?
The paper is 1h 45m long Section A (20%): Answer ONE question on Romeo & Juliet – it will give you an extract but you must also refer to the rest of the play (30 marks + 4 SP&G) Section B (20%): Answer ONE question on Jekyll & Hyde – it will give you an extract but you must also refer to the rest of the novel (30 marks)

15. Shakespeare - ‘Romeo & Juliet’
Re-read the key scenes
Note key plot points
List key quotes and apply terminology to them
Make revision cards about contextual ideas
Brainstorm characters, themes, structure and language
The question will be about the presentation of a character or theme in the novel
You will get an extract and also need to refer to the play beyond the extract
You need to include the audience’s response
Practise answering exam questions within the time limit of 55 minutes

16. The Novel – ‘Jekyll & Hyde’
Re-read the text
Note key points
List key quotes and apply terminology to them
Make revision cards about contextual ideas
Brainstorm characters, themes, structure and language
The question will be about the presentation of a character or theme in the novel
You will get an extract and also need to refer to the novel beyond the extract
You need to include the reader’s response
Practise answering exam questions within the time limit of 45 minutes

17. What do you need to know for the second English Literature paper on An Inspector Calls and Poetry?
The paper is 2h 15m long Section A (20%): Answer ONE question on ‘An Inspector Calls’ from a selection of two. (30 marks + 4 SP&G) Section B (20%): Answer ONE question on the ‘Power and Conflict’ poetry cluster from a selection of two. (30 marks) Section C (20%): Answer ONE question based on one unseen poem (24 marks). Answer ONE question comparing the first unseen poem to another unseen poem (8 marks).

18. The play – ‘An Inspector Calls’
Re-read the text
Note key points
List key quotes and apply terminology to them
Make revision cards about contextual ideas
Brainstorm characters, themes, structure and language
The question will be about the presentation of a character or theme in the play but will not give you an extract!
You will get a choice of questions but you only answer one
You must know some quotations off by heart
You need to include the audience’s response
Practise answering exam questions within the time limit of 45 minutes

19. ‘Power and Conflict’ - The Poetry Anthology
Re-read and revise all 15 poems
Learn all of them thoroughly (you might want to them focus on 5 or 6)
Make notes on FORM, STRUCTURE and LANGUAGE
The question will ask you to compare a named (and shown) poem with one of your choice from memory
When revising, match the poems by THEME as the question will ask you to COMPARE two poems based on a THEME
Find a successful strategy for memorising some quotations
Buy a revision guide from Squid/Reprographics
Practise answering exam questions within the time limit of 45 minutes

20. ‘Unseen’ poetry
In the first question you will be asked to read and analyse a poem you haven’t seen before
You need to show the examiner that you can understand what the poem is about
The examiner will ask you to focus on a particular theme or idea
You also need to explain what techniques the poet has used and how they’re effective
In the second question you’ll need to compare how two different poets’ ideas are presented and the effect they have on the audience
You can buy revision guides from Reprographics
Practise answering this section within the time limit of 45 minutes – use ‘new’ poems in your anthology for this (30 for Q1 and 15 for Q2)

21. English GCSE Papers in a nutshell
Language Paper 1 A) Reading Fiction B) Writing to Describe Language Paper 2 A) Reading Non-fiction B) Writing to argue
Literature Paper 1
A) Romeo & Juliet
B) Jekyll and Hyde
Literature Paper 2
A) An Inspector Calls
B) Poetry (anthology & unseen)

22. What else? Revision books can be bought through reprographics
Practice papers to take home
Revision sessions before each exam
Our faculty site is a great place to start!

24. Practice Paper and knowledge organisers
Across from the English team room in the Rycote Wood building.
You can find sample papers for all sections of the English exams and knowledge organisers (key information for each unit on 1 page).