English Language
Qualification: A-Level
- Awarding Body:
- AQA
- Length of Course:
- 2 Years
English Language encourages students to develop their interest in English through learning about its structure and functions. It also allows students to develop their ability to express themselves with increasing competence and sophistication.
The Year 12 course introduces students to an understanding of the ideas basic to the study of language, enabling them to apply these to an investigation of their own and others’ use of speech and writing, for different purposes and audiences. The Year 13 course teaches this knowledge and these skills at a deeper level with the opportunity to investigate a chosen area of language, within the requirements of the syllabus, and to study Language Change and Children’s Language acquisition.
| Year 13 | ||
| A Level units | ||
| Unit 1 – Language, the Individual and Society | Unit 2 – Language Diversity and Change | Unit 3 Non-exam Assessment – Language in action |
|
Textual variations and representations Children’s language development (0-11 years) Methods of language analysis are integrated into the activities
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Language diversity and change Language discourses Writing skills Methods of language analysis are integrated into the activities
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Language Investigation
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| Assessment | Assessment | Assessment |
| Assessed by one exam of 2hrs 30mins, 40% of ‘A’ level | Assessed by one exam of 2hrs 30mins, 40% of ‘A’ level | Original Writing, 3,500 words in total, 20% of ‘A’ level |
Comparison with GCSE
The course builds on some of the skills learned for GCSE English, but part of the course is devoted to factual learning about language, and is therefore significantly different from GCSE.
Relevance to Further Studies and Careers
Good writing and language skills will be an asset in any career and will help students in studying for a degree in any subject such as English Literature, History etc. where command of language can make the difference between effective written answers and weak ones.
It would also be helpful to anyone wishing to study a modern foreign language, where knowledge of structures of language and the terminology to describe them would be valuable.
Entry Requirements
Grade 6 in English Language at GCSEFurther Information
In order to cope with the demands of the course it is necessary to have Grade 6 in English Language at GCSE and to be prepared to meet deadlines for coursework without fail. The coursework component in Year 13 is substantial so students must be prepared to devote time and personal study to the completion of coursework
