GCSE English

English Language is a core subject and serves as a foundation for most, if not all, other subjects.  The skills developed in the course: reading, writing, speaking and listening are relevant beyond the English classroom and pupils will find them essential wherever their future choices lead them.  For this reason, English Language GCSE Grade 5 or above is an entry requirement for the majority of courses and jobs that girls enter after leaving BSG.  

What will I learn and how is the course structured? 

The English Language course is designed to develop pupils’ skills as readers and writers. These are assessed through two examinations at the end of the course. 

During the course pupils will read a wide variety of texts from the nineteenth century up to the present day, including both fiction and non-fiction. They will develop skills in understanding, interpreting, analysing and evaluating texts and learn how to express their responses clearly in writing. 

Pupils will develop their ability to write in a range styles and for different audiences and purposes.   

The specification offers the attraction of two equally-balanced papers, relating reading sources to the topic and theme of writing tasks. The reading sources act as stimulus for writing tasks, providing students with a clear route through each paper. 

Each paper has a distinct identity to better support high quality provision and engaging teaching and learning. Paper 1, Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing, looks at how writers use narrative and descriptive techniques to engage the interest of readers. Paper 2, Writers’ Viewpoints and Perspectives, looks at how different writers present a similar topic over time. 

Spoken Language (formerly known as Speaking and Listening) is also formally assessed. The endorsement is valued by BSG as it emphasises the importance of the wider benefits that speaking and listening skills have for students. This does not contribute to the final GCSE grade, but is endorsed separately. The endorsed unit will draw on good practice to suggest how engaging tasks throughout teaching of the specification can lead to a single endorsed assessment at the end of the course. 

Examinations 

Paper 1 Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing (50%) 

 I hour 45 minutes 

Section A Reading: Four questions on an unseen prose fiction text   

Section B Writing: Choice of two tasks: descriptive and narrative 

Paper 2 Writers’ Viewpoints and Perspectives (50%) 

1 hour 45 minutes 

Section A Reading: Four questions on two linked non-fiction texts.  At least one will have been written in the nineteenth century. 

Section B Writing: One task.  Produce a text for a specific audience and purpose.