Transcript GCSE English Language and Literature GCSE English

RBHS English Department
GCSE Courses & Pathways
2014 English/English Language Results
• 78% A*-C
• 78% 3 Levels Progress
• Results above target
Year 10 students will:
• Take the GCSE examinations in English
Literature.
• Follow the WJEC specifications for English
Literature and start with the English Language
specification in May.
• Sit the English Literature examinations in May
2015.
• Sit the English Language examinations in June
2016.
Why sit English Literature in Year 10?
• Gives students a clear objective to work towards in
Year 10.
• Lightens the load in the summer of Year 11 which
has become very intensive since modular
examinations were abolished.
Students need to apply themselves diligently so they achieve the best
possible result for English Literature in Year 10. However, those
students who wish to do so, will be given the opportunity to resit their
English Literature examination in Year 11.
The WJEC English Literature Course
Unit 1 Examination (35% of the total marks)
Section A: ‘Of Mice and Men’ by John Steinbeck (21% of the total marks)
Section B: Unseen poetry (14% of the total marks)
Unit 2 Examination (40% of the total marks)
Section A: ‘An Inspector Calls’ by JB Priestley or ‘A Taste of Honey’ by Shelagh
Delaney (40% of the total marks)
Section B: ‘Heroes’ by Robert Cormier (40% of the total marks)
Unit 3 Controlled Assessment (25% of the total marks)
Literary essay analysing how the themes of power and control are presented in
‘Macbeth’ by Shakespeare and a range of poetry.
Year 10 Course Structure
Autumn 1 (to October halfterm)
Unit 3 controlled assessment
‘Macbeth’ and poetry essay
Spring 1 (to February halfterm)
‘Heroes’ (Unit 2 Section B) &
Unseen Poetry (Unit 1, Section B)
Summer 1 (to June halfterm)
• Set text revision
• Examination practice
Autumn 2 (to Christmas)
‘An Inspector Calls’/’Taste of Honey’
(Unit 2, Section A) & Unseen Poetry
(Unit 1, Section B)
Spring 2 (to Easter)
‘Of Mice & Men’ (Unit 1, Section A)
and Unseen Poetry (Unit 1 Section
B)
Summer 2
Begin the GCSE English Language
course
Key Dates
The English Literature examination dates and sessions
for 2015 are as follows:
Monday 18th May 2015: English Literature Unit 1
examination (morning session).
Friday 22nd May 2015: English Literature Unit 2
examination (morning session).
It is essential that students attend each examination. There are no re-sit
opportunities until May 2016
Controlled Assessment
• Worth 25% of English Literature course and
40% of English Language course.
• Replaced ‘traditional’ coursework.
• Students know the questions in advance.
• Students write up their answer on set dates in
controlled conditions (akin to examination
conditions).
• Student answers cannot be improved once the
time limit is up.
The Implications
• Attendance really matters – timing is very tight.
• Students must do everything they can to make
sure that they get their controlled assessment
pieces right first time.
• Only one re-sit is allowed.
• Students cannot re-sit the same question.
• Students who re-sit will miss lessons in order to
sit their controlled assessment again.
English Literature Set Texts
• Your child will need to read 2 novels and 1 play for
the English Literature examinations.
• It is essential that they re-read these at home in
preparation for the exams.
• Your son/daughter will find it incredibly useful to
purchase his/her own copies of the set texts so
he/she can make notes in them during class
discussion which will help to support them in
preparing for the examinations.
• Your son/daughter can buy copies of the set texts
through school. Letters will be sent out shortly.
What your son/daughter needs to do…
• Prepare thoroughly for their controlled
assessment and external examination.
• Keep up with homework and classwork
• Take responsibility and catch up any work
missed
• Attend revision sessions when they are offered
• Read regularly outside of his/her timetabled
lessons.
What can you do to help?
• Be aware of key dates.
• Encourage your child to read from various texts
EVERY day.
• For the best results, your child should read a
variety of texts such as novels, autobiography,
and newspapers.
• As well as improving grammar, punctuation and
use of sophisticated vocabulary, this also
improves reading speeds.
Other Revision Material
• Several publishers produce revision guides
• Make sure anything you purchase covers the
WJEC syllabus:
▫ Collins
▫ Letts
▫ CGP
• Online revision: BBC Bitesize
Looking forward…
WJEC English Language
60% Examination
• Unit 1 – test of reading (30%)
• Unit 2 – test of writing (30%)
40% Controlled Assessment
• Extended Literary Reading (15%)
• Descriptive Writing (7.5%)
• Narrative Writing (7.5%)
Since November 2013, students speaking and listening work does not
count towards their final grade in English Language but is endorsed
separately.
Looking forward…
Alternatively, some students will follow the Cambridge iGCSE
English Language syllabus rather than WJEC GCSE English
Language syllabus.
This decision will be made on a student by student basis using:
• Students’ GCSE English Literature result (August 2015)
• The class teacher’s professional judgement.
We will communicate to parents as to which English Language
qualification their son/daughter will be following in September
of 2015.
Keep in touch
• Your son/daughter’s teacher will be happy to
answer any questions and his/her email address
is available via the school website.
Other points of contact:
• Mrs Sharples – Head of English
[email protected]
• Mrs Cooke – Assistant Head of English
[email protected]
• Miss Grundy– Assistant Head of English
[email protected]