AQA ENGLISH LANGUAGE GCSE
& ENGLISH LITERATURE GCSE
Subject changes from 2015
First Exam 2017
MAIN CHANGES
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TWO YEAR COURSES – First Exam 2017
NO COURSEWORK
100% EXAMINATION for both subjects.
4 written examinations and a Speaking and
Listening Test.
• SPEAKING & LISTENING not part of the grade
for English Language GCSE
• GRADES – Now in numbers from 1 to 9
What do the New Grades Mean?
NEW Number Grade
Old Letter Grade
(Approximate)
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
A*
A – A*
A
A-B
C-B
D-C
D
E
F-G
Marking Students’ Work
• There is no information on how the grade
boundaries will be decided.
• There is no criteria for each of the 9 Grades
• The AQA Exam Board criteria falls into:
6 Bands for Literature
4 Bands for Language
We have made an estimation of how these
Bands fit the 9 Grades.
How do students know what to do to
improve their grades?
• All students have been given exam board
criteria which we have linked to the new
Grades.
• All students have been given clear personal
learning checklists.
• All students have been given an outline of
both GCSEs and course content.
An example of part of the assessment
guidelines given to students
Tot
30
Band
AO
Band 5
AO1
6 21- Thoughtful, AO2
25 developed
considerati
on
AO3


AO2
AO3
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Band 4
Clear
understandi
ng

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
AO1
5 1620
Typical Features
Thoughtful, developed response to task and whole text
Apt references integrated into interpretation
Examination of writer’s methods with subject terminology
used effectively to support consideration of methods
Examination of effects of writer’s methods
Thoughtful consideration of ideas/perspectives/contextual
factors shown by examination of detailed links between
context / text/task
Clear explained response to task and whole text
Effective use of references to support explanation
Clear, explanation of writer’s methods with appropriate use of
relevant terminology
Understanding of the effects of writer’s methods on the reader
Clear understanding of ideas/ perspectives/contextual factors
shown by specific links between context/text/task
Part of a Pupil Learning Checklist
A0 1 When responding to the task and whole text…
I am able to refer to relevant details in the text (L1) (Grade 1)
Band 1
I am able to make simple comments that are relevant (L1) (Grade 1)
I am able to comment on references (L2) (Grade 2)
Band 2
I am able to support my response (L2) (Grade 2)
I am able to use references to support a range of relevant comments (L3) (grade 3/4)
Band 3
I am able to explain some points (L3) (grade 3/4)
I am able to make effective use of references to support explanations (L4) (Grade 5)
Band 4
I am able to respond using clear explanations (L4) (Grade 5)
I am able to integrate apt references into interpretations (L5) (Grade 6)
Band 5
I am able to respond in thoughtful and developed ways (L5) (Grade 6)
I am able to make judicious use of precise references to support my interpretations (L6) (Grade 7/8)
Band 6
I am able to respond in a way that is critical, exploratory and conceptualised (L6) (Grade 7/8)
Total 37.5%
The Course English Language
Exam Paper 1
EXPLORATIONS IN CREATIVE READING AND WRITING
Timing – 1 hour 45 Minutes
Reading: an extract from a 20th or 21st century novel.
Students answer 4 questions on the extract.
Writing: Choice of 2 writing tasks. Description or Story.
The exam time includes 15 minutes for reading the
source extract.
English Language Paper 2
TIME: 1 HOUR 45 MINUTES
WRITERS’ VIEWPOINTS AND PERSPECTIVES
Reading: 4 Questions on TWO sources: an
extract from a 19thcentury non-fiction extract
and a non-fiction extract from either the 20th or
21st century.
Writing: ONE formal writing task linked to a
specific audience and form linked to the topic of
the reading sources.
English Literature Paper 1
SHAKESPEARE AND THE 19TH CENTURY NOVEL
(40%)
TIME: 1 HOUR 45 MINUTES 15 minutes reading
time; 45 minutes for each section.
SECTION A - SHAKESPEARE 34 MARKS (4 FOR
SPAG)
There will be ONE question on the play studied
Students will be given a short extract from the play
and they will analyse the extract
and link it to the whole play.
Shakespeare Plays. The Choices:
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Romeo & Juliet
Macbeth
The Tempest
Merchant of Venice
Much Ado About Nothing
Julius Caesar
English Literature Paper 1 (cont)
SECTION B - 19th Century Novel 30 MARKS
ONE question on one novel.
Students given a short extract from the novel and they will
write an analysis of the extract and link it to the whole novel.
Novel Choices:
The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
A Christmas Carol
Great Expectations
Jane Eyre
Pride and Prejudice
Frankenstein
The Sign of Four
English Literature Paper 2
PAPER 2 - MODERN TEXTS AND POETRY (60%)
2 HOURS 15 MINUTES - 45 minutes for each section.
SECTION A - Modern Texts - 34 MARKS (4 FOR SPAG)
Choose one question from a choice of two.
SECTION B - Anthology Poetry - 30 MARKS
ONE question.
One poem from the cluster will be printed on the exam
paper together with a list of all the poems in the cluster.
Students will COMPARE the poem printed with ONE other
poem of their choice from the cluster studied.
English Literature Paper 2 (cont)
SECTION C – UNSEEN POETRY - 32 MARKS
There will be TWO new poems and TWO questions
to answer.
QUESTION 1 24 marks
Students will write about the first poem only.
QUESTION 2 8 marks
Students will be asked to COMPARE the similarities
and/or differences in the ways the TWO poets have
presented their ideas using details from both
poems.
Modern Play Choices:
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An Inspector Calls – JB Priestley
Blood Brothers – Willy Russel
The History Boys – Alan Bennett
DNA – Denis Kelly
A Taste of Honey – Shelagh Delaney
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night
Time (Play Script) – Simon Stephens
Modern Novel Choices:
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Lord of the Flies – William Golding
Animal Farm – George Orwell
Never Let Me Go – Kazuo Ishiguro
Anita and Me – Meera Syal
Pigeon English – Stephen Kelman
Students answer on one text. Either a play or a
novel.
English Language GCSE and English Literature GCSE
In Summary:
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TWO YEAR COURSES – First Exam 2017 Year 11
NO COURSEWORK for either subject, so it is important that students revise
throughout the two years and keep comprehensive notes and feedback from
teachers
High emphasis in both subjects on READING
100% EXAMINATION for both subjects
4 written examinations in total and a Speaking and Listening Test
2 Literature Exams
2 Language Exams
SPEAKING & LISTENING not part of the grade for English Language GCSE. This will
receive a separate grade
GRADES – Now in numbers from 1 to 9
All students have copies of the course outline for both subjects
All students have copies of pupil learning checklists.