English Language

 

Entry Requirements: GCSE English Language Grade 6

Paper 1: Language, the Individual and Society

• Textual variations and representations
• Children’s language development (0-11 years)
• Methods of language analysis are integrated into the activities

 Assessed

• Written exam 2 hours 30 minutes
• 100 marks
• 40% of A-level

 Questions

 Section A - Textual variations and representations

Two texts (one contemporary, one older) linked by topic or theme.

A question requiring analysis of one text (25 marks)

A question requiring analysis of a second text (25 marks)

A question requiring comparison of the two texts (20 marks)

 

Section B - Children’s language development

A discursive essay on children’s language development, with a choice of two questions where the data provided will focus on spoken, written or multimodal language (30 marks)

 Paper 2: Language diversity and change

• Language diversity and change
• Language disclosures
• Writing skills
• Methods of language and analysis are integrated into the activities

 Assessed

• Written exam 2 hours 30 minutes
• 100 marks
• 40% of A-level

 Questions

 Section A - Language diversity

One question from a choice of two:

either: an evaluative essay on language diversity (30 marks)

or: an evaluative essay on language change (30 marks)

 

Section B - Language discourses

Two texts about a topic linked to the study of diversity and change

• A question requiring analysis of how the texts use language to present ideas, attitudes and opinions (40 marks)
• A directed writing task linked to the same topic and ideas in the texts (30 marks)

  

  Non-exam assessment: Language in Action

• Language investigation

• Original writing
• Methods of language analysis are integrated into the activities

 Assessed

• Word count: 3500
• 100 marks
• 20% of A-level
• Assessed by teachers
• Moderated by AQA

 Tasks

Students produce:

• A language investigation (2000 words excluding data)
• A piece of original writing and commentary (1500 words total)

Here are some links you could click on to find out more about the study of English Language:

Listen to Stephen Fry talk to Jeremy Vine on BBC Radio 2 about What Makes Us Human? 3 minutes of bliss

Communication and language are skills that will take you into many fields - find out more here

Why language is so powerful. Who writes speeches?  Is it the delivery or the words themselves that make a speech powerful? Watch Barack Obama in action to begin to answer these questions:

Click here to access the English Language Course Content in detail 

 

If you have any further queries about this subject please email enquiries@beverleyj6.co.uk

Career Opportunities:  Journalism, Law, Teaching, Public Relations, Media, Civil Service, Business, Marketing.