Higher tier – A* - D Foundation tier C - G

1. English Language and English Literature GCSEsAQA Specification Ahttp://www.aqa.org.uk/qualifications/gcse/english-and-media/english/english-a.php Higher tier – A* - D Foundation tier C - G

2. English Language Paper 1 – Monday 16th May (9 am) 30% of total marks Section A – Reading Media and Non-fiction texts (1 hour) – 15% Section B - Writing to argue, persuade, advise (45 mins) - 15%

3. Paper 1 Section A – 27 marksReading -Media and Non-fiction Skills need for this section of the exam: • Read with understanding and develop interpretations (pages 8-27) • Explain how facts and opinions are used (pages 8-9) • Explain how arguments or ideas are presented (pages 10-13) • Explain how the writers use language and structural devices (pages 14-17) • Explain how presentational devices are used (pages 18-21) • Select appropriate evidence and compare how writers use devices (pages 22-27) Practise in the workbook (pages 100 – 123), using websites like BBC Bitesize, or using any junk mail, newspaper and magazine articles, holiday brochures, etc. • Revision sessions in school on Thursdays at 3.45 – 5.00 pm

4. Writing Section B - Papers 1 and 2 Skills needed for this exam: • Clear communication appropriate for the audience and purpose of the task (pages 62-73) • Ideas organised into effective paragraphs (pages 52-53) • Ideas organised into effective sentence structures (pages 54-55) • Use a range of punctuation effectively and accurately (pages 58-60) • Use a variety of language features and a wide vocabulary (pages 56-57) • Use accurate spelling (page 61) Practise using the workbook (pages 162-189) or by using newspapers, magazines, web pages as a model. Revision sessions in school on Thursdays 3.45 – 5.00 pm

5. Paper 1 Section B – 27 marksWriting to argue, persuade or advise One question of a choice of four: • Write to argue (pages 62-5) • Write to persuade (pages 66-69) • Write to advise (pages 70-73) • Write for a blend of two of the above purposes 45 minutes can be divided as follows: 5 minutes – Read questions, choose one, highlight key words, and plan for an introduction, four paragraphs and a conclusion. 2 minutes – Write a short introduction outlining the purpose of the writing (link to the key words of the question). 8 minutes each – Follow the plan and write four paragraphs. 2 minutes – Draw ideas together in a short conclusion outlining the overall point 4 minutes – Edit and proof read for accuracy.

6. English Language Paper 2 – Wednesday 18th May (1.30 pm) 30% of total marks Section A – Reading Poems from Different Cultures (45 minutes) – 15% Section B - Writing to inform, explain, describe (45 minutes) - 15%

7. Reading Poems from Different Cultures Content for this section of the exam: Students have an anthology in which they are making notes. They will receive a clean copy of the anthology in the exam. There will be a named poem which must be compared with one other poem in the Different Cultures section (pages 5-18 in the Anthology) They must know ALL the poems in at least one of the two clusters (8 poems) Skills needed for this section of the exam: Read with insight and engagement, develop and sustain interpretations (pages 30-47) Understand and analyse how writers use devices to achieve effects (pages 36-47) Select appropriate, short quotations to support points made . Integrate comparisons. (pages 32-47) Practise: Workbook pages 126-141 for Cluster 1, pages 142-159 for Cluster 2, or by using BBC Bitesize or by making up questions, or by looking at past papers on: http://www.aqa.org.uk/qualifications/gcse/english-and-media/english/english-a.php

8. Paper 2 Section B – 27 marks Writing to inform, explain, describe One question from a choice of four: • Write to inform • Write to explain • Write to advise • Write for a specified audience using a blend of two of the above purposes • Skills as for Paper 1 Section B (slide 5) • Time management (see slide 6) Practise: Revision Guide (pages 74-87 and Workbook (pages 182-189) or by making up questions, or by looking at past papers on http://www.aqa.org.uk/qualifications/gcse/english-and-media/english/english-a.php

9. English Literature 24th May (9 am) Section A - 45 minutes (27 marks) Students are studying EITHER: To Kill A Mockingbird (NCH group) OR Of Mice and Men (JLW, JEH-A, LSL, CVP groups) OR Lord of the Flies (RJS group) and should answer one question on the book they are studying Section B – 1 hour (36 marks) Students are studying poems in the Anthology: EITHER Seamus Heaney and Gillian Clarke (pages 19-31) – RJS group OR Carol Ann Duffy and Simon Armitage (pages 32-45) AND From the Pre-1914 Poetry Bank (page 46-58) and should answer one question using four of the poems they have studied

10. Revising for English Literature • KNOW texts well: share reading them at home, talk about them; • UNDERSTAND texts: explain to each other what the main ideas and characters are all about; • PRACTISE exam answers; • ATTEND after school exam preparation sessions; • To help: useful websites, study guides, teachers (!!), and AQA past papers available online.

11. Advice for English Literature exam • Find the pages for the texts studied • Readthe questions for your texts BEFORE planning answers • Answer section B FIRST. It is worth 36 marks (9 more than Section A). Spend one hour on Section B before moving on to Section A. • Put the number of the question answered in the box provided

12. Good Luck in your exams With best wishes from The English Department English exams: Language Paper 1: Monday 16th May (am) Revise Reading Media and non-fiction texts Revise/practise writing—to discuss, argue, persuade Language Paper 2: Wednesday 18th May (pm) Revise Poems from Different Cultures (Cluster 1 and/or Cluster 2 in Anthology) Revise/practise writing—to inform, explain, describe Literature: Tuesday, 24th May (am) Revise and bring To Kill a Mockingbird orOf Mice and Men or Lord of the Flies Revise Duffy/Armitage OR Heaney/Clarke poems and pre-1914 poems