English Language - A Level

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Course Content
YEAR 12
Textual Variations and Representations In this section you will study the grammar of both spoken and written Language and explore a range of texts – including new technology texts such as text messages and tweets! You will have a lot of terminology to learn but once mastered, you will be applying it to your analysis of a range of texts. Language Variation is the other main topic and in this part of the course, you will explore how and why our spoken language changes because of our age, gender, geographical location, ethnicity, occupation and social class. There are two ways we explore these topics: through discursive essays where key issues are evaluated and assessed and through creative responses.
YEAR 13
Child Language Acquisition In this section you will study how children learn to speak, to read and to write from birth to the age of 11. The Language Change topic will build on the technical analysis skills you develop at AS, as you will analyse and compare two texts, one of which will be from a different time – either a very modern text or one from any time after 1600. We will explore different attitudes to new developments in the language. We continue our study of how people’s language use varies, looking at ethnicity and World English as additional topics. There is a Non-examined Assessment which is an investigation on a Language topic of individual choice and one Creative piece based on either: the power of persuasion, storytelling or information.

Assessment Paper 1: 2hr 30min – Language, the Individual and Society

• Analysis and Comparison questions on two texts
• Child Language Development essay
• 100 marks (40% of total A-level)

Paper 2: 2hr 30min - Language Diversity and Change

• One evaluative essay on diversity or change
• One analytical essay exploring a text which argues a point of view about a language topic
• One directed writing task linked to ideas in the text
• 100 marks (40% of total A-level)

Coursework Non-Examined Assessment

• Two pieces of coursework 3500 words in total
• A Language Investigation (2000 words)
• A piece of original writing and commentary (1500 words)
• 20% of total A Level

Minimum requirements for admission to the Sixth Form:

• A grade 5 in Mathematics.
• A grade 5 in English Language or English Literature .
• Achieving at least 3 other GCSEs at grade 6 or above.

Subject specific requirement

• Grade 6 in English Language

Career Opportunities English Language develops good communicative, evaluative and analytical skills so our students go on to study a range of courses at University. Linguistics and English Language are popular degrees as well as Journalism and Sports Journalism. We have students go on to study Primary Teaching, Law, Modern Foreign Languages and Social Sciences. We even have students go on to study for STEM degrees – who choose Language A level for fun!