English Language GCSE (OCR)

Course Summary

Please note that to be able to study this course, you need to have first completed the 'GCSE Introduction - English' 3 week course first. The introduction course helps us to make sure you are placed with the right group for English GCSE.

The course will provide you with the skills to achieve a good GCSE English grade by preparing you to write confidently and in a range of styles, to respond to different kinds of writing and take part in speaking and listening activities.

There will be an initial assessment prior to the start of the course to ensure that students are on an appropriate level course.

Entry Requirements

There are no formal entry requirements. However, if English is not your first language you need to have achieved a level one consolidated ESOL qualification and be fluent in both written and spoken English. Please note that this is not the appropriate course to learn the language of English. If this is your aim, please refer to the ESOL department.

How Is It Taught

In addition to regular attendance in class most students can expect to spend about 2hrs per week studying throughout the course. The teacher will give frequent direction on this.

What Could I do Next

GCSE English is the best preparation for studying the subject at A Level. It is frequently an entry requirement for a degree course at University and is often necessary for employment.

What Else Do I Need To Know

Progress onto the full GCSE which is a one year course using the OCR examination body. The qualification is often used to enable candidates to progress either directly to employment, or to proceed with further qualifications.

The controlled assessment element of the GCSE amounts to 40% of the qualification and involves reading and writing skills. Students will study contemporary poetry, and be assessed, under timed conditions, plus produce a piece of creative writing under timed conditions.

Other assessments will include a written response to a speech (again under timed conditions), and a variety of speaking and listening tasks including a personal presentation. There will be one examination at the end of the course, worth 60% of the overall mark.

This will consist of a task requiring students to show understanding of the meaning and effect of language, and to be able to evaluate how texts can be interpreted differently. There will also be an examination task requiring candidates to produce a piece of continuous writing on a topic linked to some reading material. Candidates will have to show that they can write accurately and fluently.