Introduction to GCSE English

Joe Webster

The Syllabus The exam board is AQA. You are able to

access their website and download resources such as past exam papers, feedback from previous exams and information on Controlled Assessments

How you are assessedIn order to pass this course you need to have

completed 5 Controlled assessments (40% of final grade) 3 Speaking and Listening tasks 1 end of year exam (60% of final grade)

What am I studying? This course contains assessments on both

English language and literature

Literature: What will we study? We will be studying the following texts for

the literature side of the course Macbeth-William Shakespeare Brick Lane-Monica Ali A GCSE anthology containing a variety of

writers’ poems from past and present

Language: What we will study? We will study a variety of non-fiction texts in

preparation for the final exam which is weighted at 60% of the final grade

Speaking and listening tasks will require you to use good, clear, formal language and to respond well to others’ input and questions

Speaking and Listeningconsists of:

A group discussion set by the teacher (10-20 minutes)

A role play activity set by the teacher (10-20 minutes)

An individual presentation on a topic of your choice (10-20 minutes)

The Final Exam The final exam now accounts for 60% of the

total GCSE marks, therefore early preparation and individual study outside of class have never been so important

The exam has two sections, Section A: Reading, and Section B: Writing

Section A: Reading In Section A you will be given 3 different

sources to compare (sources meaning non-fiction texts)

You are asked to show your comprehension (understanding) of the sources through well-written and well-structured responses to questions about the source, an example being the ‘homelessness’ question on your diagnostic assessment

You are also required to compare the language and presentational features of the sources

Section B: Writing Section B contains 2 questions that ask you to

describe, explain, argue, persuade or inform

The first question is worth 16 marks and the second is worth 24 marks

THEREFORE, timing is vital in the exam-How much more time should you spend on the

second question?-1 ½ minutes per mark

What can I do to prepare for the exam? The best way to prepare for the final exam at

this stage is to read...lots! Writing lots will help too, even if it is just in

your diary! Newspapers are an excellent starting point;

try reading tabloids and work your way up to broadsheets if these are unfamiliar to you

Non-Fiction books will be beneficial as these commonly appear on the final exam

Useful websites

www.aqa.org.uk The exam board’s website, containing past papers

www.GCSEbitesize.co.uk An excellent website with a dedicated Shakespeare page

www.sparknotes.com A website containing summaries and expositions on a range of literary works

Controlled Assessments The Controlled Assessments (CAs) can be

divided into 2 categories: Responding to creative texts (3 CAs) Producing creative texts (2 CAs)

1st CA (Producing creative texts)

The soundtracks of my life. Write an article reflecting the music that has been important in your life

Mindmap Create a mindmap on the soundtrack of your

life