GCSE English - Key Stage 4
All pupils must follow a course in English which meeets the requirements of the National Curriculum
GCSE ENGLISH
The course is a unified course which involves the study and use of English in Speaking and Listening, Reading and Writing.
Assessment takes two forms:
1. Examination (worth 60% or the total mrks)
There will be two different levels of papers and pupils will be entered according to ability:
Foundation Tier - Grades G,F,E,D,C
Higher Tier - Grades D,C,B,A,A*
Candidates achieving less than the minimum mark for Grade G on the Foundation Tier or Grade D on the Higher Tier will be recorded as 'U' (ungraded).
At each level there will be two examination papers:
Paper 1 - 30% (2 hours) - Section A (10%) will test, through sturctured questions, the reading of an extract from the work of a major writer of fiction fdrom the English literary heritage. Section B (20%) will test writing skills through two tasks; to inform, explain and describe and to explore, imagine and entertain.
Paper 2 - 30% (2 hours) - Section A (15%) will test through structured questions, the reading of non-fiction and media texts, e.g. fact sheets, letters, extracts from autobiographies, biographies, diaries, advertisements, reports, brochures and newspaper and magazine articles. Visual material will always be included. Section B (15%) will test writing skills thorugh two tasks. Together these tasks will cover some of the following purposes; to argue, persuade, advise, analyse, review and comment.
2. Coursework
a) Oral work - an integral part of the course rather than a separate assessment. Assessment will focus on extended individual contributions, group discussions or pair work, drama based activities.
b) Written coursework - testing writing and response to reading. Four written assignments:
i) from the range of writing produced during the course, assessment of the three best pieces: one which either explores, imagines or entertains or which informs explains or describes; one which either argues, persuades or advises or which analyses, reviews or comments.
ii) from a range of texts, two reponses to reading. The range of reading must include literary material, prose, poetry, drama and non-fiction, media texts, letters, forms, magazines, leaflets, newspapers.
Presentation
Pupils should be able to:
- spell coorectly words appropriate to their level of writing
- check and correct final drafts for misspelling and other weaknesses in presentation
- write fluently and legibly
- present finished work appropriately, clearly and attractively.
