GCSE English Language

&GCSE English Literature

Key facts• All pupils take GCSE English

Language and GCSE English Literature

• Exam-only assessment at the end of Year 11

• Grading 1-9

GCSE gradingNew grade Current8,9 A*7 A6 B5 C – top 33% of current

Very, very secure grade C

4 C – bottom 66% of current3 D2 E1 F

GCSE English Language

Component 1 – 1 hour 45 minutes (40%)Component 2 – 2 hours (60%)

GCSE English LanguageComponent 1 examSection A (20%) – ReadingUnderstanding of one prose extract (about 60-100 lines) of literature from the 20th century assessed through a range of structured questionsSection B (20%) – Prose WritingOne creative writing task selected from a choice of four titles

GCSE English LanguageComponent 2 examSection A (30%) – ReadingUnderstanding of two extracts (about 900-1200 words in total) of high-quality non-fiction writing, one from the 19th century, the other from the 21st century, assessed through a range of structured questionsSection B (30%) – WritingTwo compulsory transactional/persuasive writing tasks

GCSE English LiteratureComponent 1 – 2 hours (40%)Component 2 – 2 hours 30 min. (60%)

GCSE English LiteratureComponent 1Section A (20%) - ShakespeareOne extract question and one essay question based on the reading of a Shakespeare text from the above prescribed list.Section B (20%) - Poetry from 1789 to the present dayTwo questions based on poems from the WJEC Eduqas Poetry Anthology, one of which involves comparison.

40% (2 hours)

GCSE English LiteratureComponent 2Section A (20%) Post-1914 Prose/DramaOne source-based question on a post 1914 prose/drama text (An Inspector Calls)Section B (20%) 19th Century ProseOne source-based question on a 19th century prose text (The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde)Section C (20%) Unseen Poetry from the 20th/21st CenturyTwo questions on unseen poems, one of which involves comparison.

60% (2 hours 30)

AssessmentAssessment lessons• Every fortnight. Alternating between Maths and English.• Exam-style assessment.End-of-unit assessment• Pre-released tasks. Pupils prepared by teachers.• Written under supervision in exam-like conditions.• Some redrafting and resubmission permitted.

CRU current: grade 1-9, derived from both.

CRU forecast: grade 1-9, based on professional judgement

What you can do• Encourage them to read a wide

range of texts regularly• Support and encourage them with

the basics when you look at their work (up to 5 errors!)

• Get them as familiar as possible with the set texts: An Inspector Calls; The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde; Macbeth/Romeo and Juliet.

Further information

www.eduqas.co.uk