English at KS5
English Literature
English Literature is a stimulating course that covers a wide variety of literature; students will study and be examined on poetry, prose and drama from across the ages. Class discussion and small group work remains important features of English Literature teaching at Key Stage 5, as well as independent reading and study. Students who opt for this subject find it an enjoyable and rewarding experience, with thought-provoking materials and topics.
English Language
English language is an interesting and stimulating course for anyone who is intrigued by how language is adapted for different uses. The AQA syllabus requires students to engage with a wide variety of non-fiction texts, analysing and interpreting their use of language, structure and form to create meanings. Throughout the course, key terminology will be covered in order to support students’ analysis, and students will cover theoretical aspects of language development and use by different groups and for different purposes.
Exam Information
English Literature
Component 1:
- Shakespeare – The Tempest
- Drama and poetry pre-1900 – The Doll’s House and a selection of Christina Rossetti’s poetry
Assessment:
- Examination: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Closed text
- 60 marks
- 40% of A Level
Assessment objective weighting:
- Shakespeare – first part: AO2 and AO1 – 15 marks. Second part: AO1 and AO5 – 15 marks.
- Drama and poetry pre-1900: AO3, AO4, AO1 and AO5.
Component 2:
- Close reading in chosen topic area– Dystopia
- Comparative and contextual study – Atwoods's Handmaid's Tale and Orwell's 1984
Assessment:
- Examination: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Closed text
- 60 marks
- 40% of A Level
Assessment objective weighting:
- Close reading: AO2, AO1, and AO3
- Comparative and contextual study: AO3, AO4, AO1, and AO5
Non-exam assessment
- Close reading OR re-creative writing piece with commentary – 15 marks assessed for AO2 and AO1
- and Comparative essay – 25 marks assessed for AO1, AO2, AO3, AO4, and AO5
- 40 marks
- 20% of A Level
English Language
Paper 1: Language, the Individual and Society
Assessment: 2 hours 30 mins, 100 marks 40% of A-level
Paper 2: Language Diversity and Change
Assessment: 2 hours 30 mins, 100 marks, 40% of A-level
Non-Exam Assessment: Language in Action, 100 marks, 20% of A-level
