Edexcel GCSE English Language
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6 study areas
Fiction and Imaginative Writing2 topics
Non-fiction and Transactional Writing2 topics
Spoken Language Endorsement1 topic
Assessment Objectives1 topic
Assessment and exam guidance
Assessment Objectives
Identify and interpret explicit and implicit information and ideas; Select and synthesise evidence from different texts
Explain, comment on and analyse how writers use language and structure to achieve effects and influence readers, using relevant subject terminology to support their views
Compare writers’ ideas and perspectives, as well as how these are conveyed, across two or more texts
Evaluate texts critically and support this with appropriate textual references
Communicate clearly, effectively and imaginatively, selecting and adapting tone, style and register for different forms, purposes and audiences; Organise information and ideas, using structural and grammatical features to support coherence and cohesion of texts
Candidates must use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures for clarity, purpose and effect, with accurate spelling and punctuation
Demonstrate presentation skills in a formal setting
Listen and respond appropriately to spoken language, including to questions and feedback to presentations
Use spoken Standard English effectively in speeches and presentations
Exam Structure
Component 1: Fiction and Imaginative Writing
1h 45m
Duration
64
Marks
40%
Weighting
Component 2: Non-fiction and Transactional Writing
2h 5m
Duration
96
Marks
60%
Weighting
Spoken Language Endorsement
Not stated
Duration
Not stated
Marks
0%
Weighting
Tips and common mistakes
Common Exam Mistakes
Pitfalls to avoid in your exams
- •Retelling the whole story instead of answering the question. Correction: select only the details that directly address the focus and explain what they show.
- •Copying long quotations without explanation. Correction: embed short quotations and explain what each word or phrase suggests.
- •Ignoring the opening or ending of the extract. Correction: track how the text develops and refer to shifts in focus, mood or tension.
- •Treating all statements in a text as equally reliable. Correction: check whether each claim is supported by evidence and comment on possible bias or misuse of evidence.
- •Offering a personal opinion without textual support. Correction: anchor every point in a quotation or close reference and explain how it supports your view.
- •Assuming there is only one correct interpretation. Correction: acknowledge alternative readings and explain why your interpretation is valid using evidence.
- •Copying whole sentences from the extract instead of using own words. Correction: read the line, cover it, then write the idea in your own vocabulary.
- •Treating summary as the final goal and writing a narrative recount instead of selecting key points. Correction: use your summary of the text's themes as a starting point to select evidence for analysis and evaluation.
Top Examiner Tips
Expert advice for exam success
- •Read the question first, then annotate the extract with brief labels for plot, character, setting and implied meaning.
- •Plan two or three clear points, each supported by a short quotation and a comment on what it suggests.
- •Keep an eye on time: allocate a few minutes to reading and planning before writing your response.
- •As this qualification is untiered, texts are chosen to be accessible yet contain complex layers; explore alternative interpretations to access higher marks.
- •Underline the command words and the focus of the question before you re-read the text for a specific purpose.
- •When evaluating bias, comment on word choice, omission, exaggeration or tone, rather than just accepting what is stated.
- •Paper 1 Question 1 is a short retrieval question, so practise locating explicit information quickly; summary skills are assessed in other questions and in Component 2.
- •Jot down the main theme and three key bullet points summarising the narrative progression before you start writing your longer answers.
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