English

English Language and Literature

The Course

The GCSE English Language and Literature Double Award enables you to appreciate how language connects you to the world around you, to engage with a rich range of texts from different periods and by diverse writers, and to develop and apply your own use of language, through written and verbal communication. 

Course Content

Unit 1 CONTEXT AND MEANING (Written Exam, 1½ hours, 15%) - you will study a range of poetry from the WJEC anthology, engaging with the concept of Context and Meaning. 

Unit 2 BELONGING (NEA, 10%) – you will study a prose text, engaging with the concept of Belonging and themes of community, cynefin and citizenship. Essay and Individual Researched Presentation.

Unit 3 INFLUENCE AND POWER (NEA 10%) – you will study a range of non-fiction texts, engaging with the Influence and Power of writers, and how writers and speakers exert power and attempt to influence others. Group Discussion and Creative Non-Fiction Writing.

Unit 4b MOTIVATIONS (Written Exam, 1½ hours, 20%) – you will have a choice to study a play or a prose text, engaging with the concept of Motivations of writers and characters, exploring reasons for attitudes, behaviours and beliefs. 

Unit 5 CONTINUITY AND CHANGE (NEA, 20%) – you will study a Shakespeare play and pre-20th LC poetry. You will consider the concept of Continuity and Change, and how attitudes, ideas and language have changed over time. Essay and Paired Discussion of poetry.

Unit 6 CONNECTIONS (Written Exam, 1½ hours, 25%) you will study nonfiction texts, focusing on the concept of Connections. You will explore links between different texts, relating texts to time, place, language, and relationships. 

Course Structure

Units 1, 4b and 6 are examined units, together worth 60% of your qualification. Each exam lasts 90 minutes and will consist of low-tariff extract-based questions, an extended essay response and a piece of creative fiction or non-fiction writing. Units 2, 3 and 5 are non-examined assessments, together worth 40% of your qualification. Each unit will consist of two tasks, one that will assess your written response to the relevant text(s) and one that will assess your oracy skills. 

Other Information

GCSE English Language and Literature is a core subject and as such helps to develop a wide range of skills for your future:  Communication Skills – expressing yourself through clear and creative use of language; Reading Skills – reading, listening to and researching a range of texts, analysing meaning and scrutinising reliability; Contextual Analysis Skills – engaging with the significance of purpose, audience, and contexts of speaking, reading and writing; Literacy Skills – developing and applying an understanding of grammar and uses of vocabulary. The Single Award qualification is an alternative pathway available for students who have been identified as experiencing significant difficulties with aspects of literacy.