English Language

The aim of the course is to give students confidence in written and spoken English, which will provide them with the skills to achieve well in all other written subjects, whether GCSE English Language is being taken as part of a GCSE package or as a stand-alone qualification alongside a limited range of Level 3 courses.  With a pass in GCSE English Language, students are able to progress onto a wide range of Level 3 courses.

You can expect to:

• Read fluently, and with good understanding, a wide range of texts from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries
• Read and evaluate texts critically and make comparisons between texts
• Summarise and synthesise information or ideas from texts
• Use knowledge gained from reading to inform and improve your own writing
• Write effectively and coherently using standard English appropriately
• Use grammar correctly and punctuate and spell accurately
• Listen to and understand spoken language and use spoken standard English effectively

Students will generally combine this course with up to three other GCSEs or a Level 2 BTEC course. Some Level 3 courses are possible with a stand-alone GCSE English Language re-sit course.

GCSE English Language will develop the skills students need to read, understand and analyse a wide range of different texts as well as to write clearly, coherently and accurately, using a range of vocabulary and sentence structures for different purposes in a variety of contexts. The course consists of two equally-balanced papers of 1 hour 45 minutes, each assessing reading and writing in an integrated way. The assessments have been designed to inspire and motivate students, whilst ensuring that the assessment and texts are accessible to the full range of students.