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KS5

Key Stage 5 | Curriculum Overview 

ENGLISH LANGUAGE | EDUQAS A700QS 

Language surrounds, defines and shapes us as individuals, and as a society. English Language appeals to students who want to explore language use in contemporary society: social media, news, adverts, politics, education, law, celebrity culture and entertainment. It also offers students a course in the history of the English language, as well as the chance to create their own portfolio of creative writing.  

Component 1: Language Concepts and Issues

Written examination: 2 hours | 30% of qualification. 
This component encourages learners to engage with language use in different situations. It gives them the opportunity to apply their critical skills and their language knowledge.  

Section A: Analysis of Spoken Language 
Section B: Language Issues: four language topic areas:  

  • Standard and Non-Standard English 
  • Language and power 
  • Language and situation 
  • Language acquisition 

COMPONENT 2: LANGUAGE CHANGE OVER TIME

Written examination: 2 ¼ hours | 30% of qualification  
This component encourages learners to engage with language across time. It gives them the opportunity to apply their analytical skills and their knowledge of language change.  

  • Section A: Language Change Over Time - based on the study of unseen written texts from 1500 to the present, linked by genre. It is designed to introduce learners to orthography, etymology, lexical and grammatical changes in context. 

  • Section B: English in the Twenty-First Century - based on the study of the ways in which language is used distinctively in the twenty-first century. It is designed to introduce learners to how language is evolving to reflect technological and cultural change. 

COMPONENT 3: CRITICAL USE OF LANGUAGE

Written examination: 1¾ hours | 20% of qualification.  
This component will give learners the opportunity to communicate in different ways and to explain how they have used language to shape meaning. 

  • Creative Writing - candidates will be required to produce original writing in any genre. 
  • Commentary - candidates are required to write a commentary on one of the two texts they have produced.  

Non-examination assessment: Language and Identity  
2500-3500 word folder | 20% of qualification  
Learners are required to independently conduct a language investigation, to develop their methods of language analysis through research, data collection and interpretation and to select material that is culturally, personally and academically of interest to them. Learners must select one of the following four areas: 

  • Language and self-representation 
  • Language and gender 
  • Language and culture 
  • Language diversity 
A-LEVEL ENGLISH LITERATURE | AQA-B 

Literature in English is rich and influential, reflecting the experiences and creativity of people from many countries and times. English Literature appeals to students who love reading – both contemporary and classic texts – and enjoy the cut and thrust of discussion. Students learn to read and critically appreciate of writers’ themes and methods, as well as how to write controlled, well-argued essays. 

Paper 1: Literary genres 

Aspects of tragedy 

Study of three texts: one Shakespeare text; a second drama text and one further text, of which one must be written pre-1900. Typical texts include: 

  • Othello, Shakespeare 
  • Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller 
  • Tess of the D’Urbervilles, Thomas Hardy 

 

Paper 1: Literary genres 

Aspects of tragedy 

Study of three texts: one Shakespeare text; a second drama text and one further text, of which one must be written pre-1900. Typical texts include: 

  • Othello, Shakespeare 

  • Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller 

  • Tess of the D’Urbervilles, Thomas Hardy 

 

Paper 2: Texts and genres 

Option 2B: Elements of political and social protest writing 

Study of three texts: one post-2000 prose text; one poetry and one further text, one of which must be written pre-1900. Examination will include an unseen passage. Typical texts include: 

  • Songs of Innocence and Experience, William Blake 

  • Harvest, Jim Crace 

  • The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood 

 

Non-exam assessment: Theory and independence 

Study of two texts: one poetry and one prose text, informed by study of the Critical Anthology 

Two essays of 1250–1500 words, each responding to a different text and linking to a different aspect of the Critical anthology. One essay can be re-creative. The re-creative piece will be accompanied by a commentary. Tpyical critical approaches include: 

  • Post-colonial 

  • Feminist 

  • Marxist 

  • Eco-critical 

 

Typical careers for students of English Language or Literature include law, broadcasting, journalism, social media, advertising, management, civil service, politics, creative industries, teaching and speech therapy. 

 

Extra Support 

Support and challenge is available for both A-levels via E-Mag – The A-level English magazine, The English Review Quarterly, and MediaMag – the media and culture magazine for A-level Language students. A vast archive of past articles across all units is kept on STU_English and available to all students.