KS4 Options Pathways Booklet 2012-2014 - Pershore High School

CORE CURRICULUMENGLISH, ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND ENGLISH LITERATUREGCSE (AQA)There are now three GCSEs available in English. Most students will be entered for GCSEEnglish Language and GCSE English Literature and will take their examinations andcomplete controlled assessment tasks throughout Years 10 and 11. Some students willonly be entered for GCSE English.There are some new components of the course whichare Controlled Assessment and Modular Examinations.Currently, students will be prepared for their ControlledAssessment tasks in lessons and through homework. Theywill then complete the tasks in a controlled environment atschool. Students may have the opportunity to sit someaspects of the examination throughout the course so it isnot all at the end of Year 11, however there may bechanges which will mean all examinations will occur at theend of the Key Stage.Each GCSE is structured as follows:GCSE English is comprised of three units:Unit One 40% – Understanding and producing non–fiction texts. This is assessedby one two hour examination.Unit Two 20% – Speaking and Listening. Students will complete three tasks in acontrolled environment.Unit Three 40% – Understanding and producing creative texts. Students willcomplete some tasks on Literary texts and some Creative Writing tasks in acontrolled environment.GCSE English Language is comprised of three units: Unit One 40% – Understanding and producing non – fiction texts. This is assessedby one two hour examination Unit Two 20% – Speaking and Listening. Students will complete three tasks in acontrolled environment. Unit Three 40% - Understanding Spoken and written texts and writing creatively –Students will complete a variety of tasks in a controlled environment.GCSE English Literature is comprised of three units:Unit One 40% – Exploring Modern texts. This is assessed by a one and half hourexamination.Units Two and Three 60% - These units cover Shakespeare texts, Poetry and Proseand may be assessed by either examination or controlled assessment.4