English Language - A Level

In Year 12 you will study: Meanings and representations, levels of language, child language acquisition and written acquisition. Students will be introduced to NEA alongside accent and dialect, gendered language and age and occupation used in language. In Year 13 you will complete the other aspects of NEA alongside the History of English and World Englishes then revisiting topics of revision from Year 12.

This course is 20% NEA and 80% exam. Students will complete two 2 hour and 30 minutes exams at the end of the second year.

The course has two examined Units:

Paper 1: Language, the Individual and Society

Paper 2: Language Diversity and Change

Paper 1 is comprised of two sections: A and B. Students complete three questions from Section A based on two unseen texts (meanings and representations) and Section B where students choose between answering a question based on Child spoken Language Acquisition or Written Language Acquisition.

Paper 2 is comprised of three sections: A, B and C . Students choose to complete one question from Section A based on either Language Change or Language Diversity. Students then complete Section B where they analyse the language used in two extracts based on a Language Change or Diversity topics. For Section C, students then create their own opinion article based on the topic used in the previous section.

NEA: Students produce:

a language investigation (2,000 words excluding data)

a piece of original writing and commentary (1,500 words total)

Grade 5 in GCSE English Language is recommended.

Many students go on to study a English Language at degree level which can lead to a career as a writer, editor, journalist or even in PR and marketing. Former students have gone on to work in the media through journalism, teaching and some students have gone on to work in speech therapy.