English – Key Stage 4 GCSE

All texts in the examination will be unseen.

Paper 1: Explorations in creative writing and reading

Section A: Reading – one literature fiction text

Section B: Writing – descriptive or narrative writing

Assessed

written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes; 80 marks (50% of GCSE)

Questions

Reading (40 marks) (25%)– one single text

• 1 short form question (1 x 4 marks)
  longer form questions (2 x 8 marks)
  1 extended question (1 x 20 marks)

Writing (40 marks) (25%)

• 1 extended writing question (24 marks for content, 16 marks for technical accuracy)

Paper 2: Writers’ viewpoints and perspectives

Section A: Reading – one non-fiction text and one literary non-fiction text
Section B: Writing – writing to present a viewpoint

Assessed

written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes; 80 marks (50% of GCSE)

Reading (40 marks) (25%) – two linked texts

• 1 short form question (1 x 4 marks)
• 2 longer form questions (1 x 8, 1 x 12 marks)
• 1 extended question (1 x 16 marks)

Writing (40 marks) (25%)

• 1 extended writing question (24 marks for content, 16 marks for technical accuracy)

Non examination assessment: Spoken English

What’s assessed (AO7–AO9)

• presenting
• responding to questions and feedback
• use of Standard English

Assessed

• teacher set throughout course
• marked by teacher
• separate endorsement (0% weighting of GCSE)