What is GCSE English Language?: Explained

Find out everything you need to know about GCSE English Language, including what is covered, what skills you will develop and how it is assessed by the different exam boards in England.

What is GCSE English Language? Quick summary

English Language is a core subject, which means it is a compulsory part of the national curriculum. The GCSE in English Language is usually taken at the end of Key Stage 4 (when students are 16 years of age), and it is a vital qualification for progressing onto further and higher education, as well as a foundation for many career paths. 

The course involves reading and analysing high-quality, challenging texts from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries and writing for different purposes and audiences. Students are also assessed on their ability to communicate effectively in spoken language, although this does not form part of the final GCSE grade. 

Students in England are awarded a grade on a 9-1 scale, with grade 9 being the highest. A “pass” is counted as a grade 4. For A Levels and T Levels, most courses require at least 5 GCSEs at grade 4 or higher, including English and maths.

Why study English Language at GCSE?

GCSE English Language is a compulsory subject, and if you do not achieve a grade 4 or higher at the end of Key Stage 4, the Department for Education states you will need to continue studying GCSE English or a Level 2 English qualification (such as Functional Skills) if you are on a 16-19 study programme. Re-sits are normally available in the Autumn term as well as the Summer term.

However, in my experience as a teacher, it is much better to really engage with this subject and obtain a 4 or higher the first time you sit the GCSE, as the skills you develop form an excellent basis for anything you then go on to study in further or higher education. 

GCSE English Language can be fun — you get to critically engage with, and give your opinion on, a wide variety of texts, and learn how to refine your writing and communication skills. I have seen some truly inspirational spoken language presentations, on subjects ranging from the dangers of false nails to eco-tourism. These are important and transferable skills that will benefit you when completing assignments, writing covering letters for jobs and in the workplace, communicating with others. 

What does GCSE English Language cover?

All GCSE English Language specifications require students to study the following:

Reading comprehension

This includes finding, interpreting and using information and evidence from a range of texts, both fiction and non-fiction.

Critical reading

This includes recognising and drawing inferences from a text or across two texts, evaluating, considering different interpretations and supporting your point of view by referring to what you have read. You will also be asked to evaluate how a writer’s choices of vocabulary, form, grammar and structural features contribute to the text’s effectiveness and impact, using subject terminology accurately. In addition, in one exam, you will be asked to critically compare two or more texts.

Writing

You will be expected to produce clear and coherent text, writing effectively for different purposes and audiences. You will be assessed on your ability to select vocabulary, grammar, form, structural and organisational features, and to use language creatively and imaginatively. The forms of writing you will be asked to produce include writing to describe, narrate, argue, persuade or inform.

Spoken language

The English Language GCSE also includes a spoken language component, which includes presenting information and ideas effectively and persuasively, and listening to and responding appropriately to any questions and feedback.

In both written and spoken components, you are expected to demonstrate your ability to use Standard English.

How is GCSE English Language assessed?

Whichever exam board you use, you will sit two written exams for your GCSE English Language qualification. The exact length of each exam differs slightly per exam board, but ranges from 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours 5 minutes. 

Each exam board differs slightly in terms of the number of questions per paper and the number of marks awarded for individual questions. However, the content of the papers and the skills you are being tested on are broadly the same:

• There is always one “fiction” paper and one “non-fiction” paper

• One of the papers will include a text written in the 19th century

• You will compare information across two texts in one of the papers

• You will write a piece of creative writing and at least one piece of transactional (non-fiction) writing

Spoken language is reported on as part of the qualification, but it does not form part of the final mark and grade.

You can find out more about how each exam board assesses this qualification in our GCSE English Language collection.

What are the different Assessment Objectives?

The assessment objectives for GCSE English Language are set by the government, and so are the same across all exam boards. They are:

What skills will students learn?

Although students develop a huge range of skills as part of their GCSE English Language course of study, they can be usefully grouped into the following three categories:

Reading (Section A of the exam paper)

Although you will develop your reading fluency by studying GCSE English Language, “reading” also means access to a wide range of texts that will enrich your cultural knowledge, help you to make connections across texts and genres and develop your critical reading and evaluative skills. There is often no correct answer for English language questions, so you also have to learn to embrace different points of view and interpretations of an unseen text.

Writing (Section B of the exam paper)

You will write in different forms and for different audiences and purposes, learning how to create and sustain an argument or narrative. You will also develop your written accuracy, using correct spelling and a range of punctuation and grammatical features, and your ability to confidently use sophisticated vocabulary.

Spoken language

Although this component does not count towards your final grade, it does allow you to develop important skills. These include selecting and organising information and ideas effectively and persuasively, planning a presentation and delivering a presentation or speech. In addition, you will practise responding appropriately to questions and feedback, using Standard English whenever and wherever appropriate.

GCSE English Language exam boards

The four main exam boards for the GCSE English Language qualification in England are:

• AQA

• WJEC Eduqas

• OCR

• Edexcel

Top tips for success

• Know your exam papers really well. The questions on each paper will follow the same format, so be prepared and find out each question’s format and how many marks it is worth

• Manage your timings; running out of time is one of the most common mistakes students make, so write down the maximum time you can spend on each section or question on the front of your question paper before you start, and stick to these timings

• Practise writing answers to questions in timed conditions, and then compare what you have written with the Indicative content in the mark scheme

For more great tips written by our team of experts, see our Study Tips.

Get a 9 with Save My Exams

Whichever GCSE exam board you are following, we have a range of revision guides, past papers and model answers to help you get that top grade, including specific tips on hitting a Grade 9:

GCSE English Language Resources

Sources

Department for Education: English language GCSE subject content and assessment objectives