GCSE options booklet - King's High

ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND ENGLISH LITERATURE
AQA Level 1/2 Certificate in English Literature (IGCSE) 8710
AQA Level 1/2 Certificate in English Language (IGCSE) 8705
What would I study?
You will be studying for two separate IGCSE qualifications, therefore lesson time will be split accordingly between
work for English Language and work for English Literature.
You will read a range of novels, plays and poetry, as well as other literary non-fiction written material, and you
will write analytical essays on what you read. You will work on different kinds of tasks: for example, you might
write newspaper articles, original essays, poems, speeches, letters, and so on, much as you will have done during
the past three years. You will also complete oral work on how to present and deliver information to suit specific
audiences and purposes.
What skills would I develop?
Both courses aim to develop everyone's creative, critical and analytical skills in reading, understanding, writing and
speaking English.
What about Coursework?
The AQA IGCSE qualifications in English Literature and English Language both contain a coursework component.
Preparation for these coursework units will take place in your lessons and the writing of them will form part of
your homework time.
For English Language there are two parts to the coursework. There is one oral assessment that is worth 10% of
your final grade, and a folder of written work combining original and critical writing that forms 40 % of your final
grade.
For English Literature coursework, you will study two texts, one of which will be a Shakespeare play and the
other a novel. You will write a comparative essay that explores the treatment of a key theme that links both the
texts together. This essay will count as 40% of your final grade.
As well as aiming for successful coursework marks you will also be working for the final examination units in both
English Language and English Literature. You will practise a variety of analytical tasks in response to unseen
material and different styles of writing for English Language; and you will prepare a set text, either a novel or a
play, and how to write about unseen poetry for the English Literature examination.
(English is a compulsory core subject in the National Curriculum; so there are no requirements or restrictions to
consider.)
From where can I obtain further information and when is most appropriate?
Consult your English teacher if you have any questions.
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