English Language
Exam Board: AQA Specification B

To study this course you will need to have achieved a grade B or better in both GCSE English and English Literature. 

You will be encouraged to develop your interest in and enjoyment of English through learning about its structures and its functions, its development and its variation.

The course will allow you to develop your ability to express yourself in speech and writing for a variety of audiences and in both fiction and non-fiction genres.

Why Study English Language?

English Language is a well established and widely respected A Level that will give you a good foundation for both university and future employment.  It will develop your critical and analytical reading skills as well as improving your writing skills for a variety of audiences and purposes.  It will also give you an insight into the way language works on a societal level.  It is useful for law, teaching, journalism and business management.

The English Department is staffed by a team of specialists.  We offer a range of support in addition to lessons; including theatre visits, conferences, trips to Oxford and other literary areas, workshops led by writers and examiners and extensive additional materials in the library and via the intranet. This provision contributes to the considerable academic success our students attain.

At AS you will be assessed in 2 units:

Unit 1 - Categorising Texts (60% of AS marks)
This will be examined by a 2 hour paper in January.
This unit covers the introductory aspects of the study of language, using a variety of texts for the basis of this study.  In addition we focus on two specific contexts: Language and Power and Language and Gender.

Unit 2 - Creating Texts (40% of AS marks - coursework)
Candidates will produce a folder comprising two pieces of original writing, differentiated by primary audience, purpose and genre, and two commentaries which explore the writing process.  The total length of the two pieces of writing should be between 1500 and 2500 words.  The total length of the two commentaries should be 1000 words.

At A2 you will be assessed in 2 units:

Unit 3  Developing Language (60% of A2 marks)
This will be examined by a 2 hour examination in January. Students will study Language Change and Language Acquisition.

Unit 4  Investigating Language
The coursework folder will consist of two individual pieces of writing:
A language investigation (1750 - 2500 words) and a media text (750 – 1000 words) on the same theme.