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Mapping The AQA Specification To The Pearson Edexcel GCSE in English Language

The document compares the specifications for GCSE English Language and Literature qualifications from AQA and Pearson Edexcel. It outlines the key similarities and differences between paper formats, assessment objectives, texts and question types between the two awarding bodies. The Pearson Edexcel specification allows for crossover between 19th century fiction in Language and Literature exams, and provides a choice of question for the transactional writing task.

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Zee Osborn
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116 views

Mapping The AQA Specification To The Pearson Edexcel GCSE in English Language

The document compares the specifications for GCSE English Language and Literature qualifications from AQA and Pearson Edexcel. It outlines the key similarities and differences between paper formats, assessment objectives, texts and question types between the two awarding bodies. The Pearson Edexcel specification allows for crossover between 19th century fiction in Language and Literature exams, and provides a choice of question for the transactional writing task.

Uploaded by

Zee Osborn
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Mapping the AQA Specification to the

Pearson Edexcel GCSE in English Language


AQA Pearson Edexcel
50% Reading, 50% Writing 50% Reading, 50% Writing
Paper 1: Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing Paper 1: Fiction and Imaginative Writing
1 hour 45 mins (50%) 1 hour 45 mins (40%)
Section A Section A
• Reading an unseen 20th or 21st century fictional • Reading an unseen extract from a 19th century
prose text. Responding to a range of question types. fictional prose text. Responding to a range of
question types.

Section B Section B
• One imaginative writing task from a choice of two. • One imaginative writing task from a choice of two.
Linked to theme of reading text in Section A. Linked to the theme of the reading text in Section A.
Photos included as a prompt. Includes marks Photos included as a prompt. Includes marks
for vocab, spelling, punctuation and grammar. for vocab, spelling, punctuation and grammar.

Paper 2: Writers’ Viewpoints and Perspectives Paper 2 Non-fiction and Transactional Writing
1 hour 45 mins (50%) 2 hours 5 mins (60%)
Section A Section A
• Response to unseen extracts from 19th century and • Response to unseen 20th/21st century texts (one
either 20th or 21st century texts (one fiction and non-fiction and one literary non-fiction). Including
one literary non fiction). Including comparison comparison between the two texts.
between the two texts.

Section B Section B
• One transactional writing task (no choice of • One transactional writing task from a choice of two.
question). Linked to the theme of the reading Linked to the theme of the reading text in
text in Section A. Includes marks for vocab, spelling, Section A. Includes marks for vocab, spelling,
punctuation and grammar. punctuation and grammar.

Spoken Language Endorsement Spoken Language Endorsement


• Spoken Language • Spoken Language
• Individual presentation skills • Individual presentation skills
• Explain, describe, narrate; discuss, argue, persuade. • Explain, describe, narrate; discuss, argue, persuade.

Key Similarities
• Unseen extracts from 19th, 20th and 21st centuries to assess reading
• Imaginative and transactional writing requirement
• Spag assessed in the writing question of each paper (Section B)
• Exactly the same requirements for the Spoken Language assessment across all awarding bodies
This can be simply carried over.

Key benefits of the Pearson Edexcel Specification


• The 19th century extract is always a fictional text in the Pearson Edexcel paper, allowing crossover with
GCSE Literature
• There is a choice of question for the transactional writing task.
Mapping the AQA Specification to the
Pearson Edexcel GCSE in English Literature
AQA Pearson Edexcel
Paper 1: Shakespeare and the 19th-century novel Paper 1: Shakespeare and Post-1914 Literature
1 hour 45 minutes (40%) 1 hour 45 minutes (50%)
Shakespeare Shakespeare
• One essay question with two parts, one focussing on • One essay question with two parts, one focusing on
the extract given in the paper and the other on the the extract given in the paper and the other on the
whole play. whole play.
19th-century novel Post-1914 Literature
• One essay question with two parts, one focussing on • One essay question on chosen play or novel from
the extract given in the paper and the other on the a choice of two. Questions focus on the text as a
whole novel. whole. A quotation from the text is given.

Paper 2: Modern texts and Poetry Paper 2: 19th-century Novel and Poetry
2 hours 15 minutes (60%) 2 hours 15 minutes (50%)
Modern texts 19th-century novel
• One essay question on chosen modern text from a • One essay question with two parts, one focussing on
choice of two. Questions focus on the text the extract given in the paper and the other on the
as a whole. whole novel.
Poetry Poetry
• One question comparing two poems from the AQA • Two questions: one comparing two poems from
Anthology. the Anthology and the other comparing two unseen
contemporary poems.
Unseen Poetry
• Two questions: one question on an unseen poem
and one question comparing two unseen poems.

Texts Texts
• Shakespeare: Macbeth, The Tempest, Romeo and • Shakespeare: Macbeth, The Tempest, Romeo and
Juliet, Much Ado About Nothing, The Merchant of Juliet, Much Ado About Nothing, The Merchant of
Venice, Julius Caesar Venice, Twelfth Night
• Modern text: Inspector Calls, Blood Brothers, Lord • Post 1914 British play/novel: Inspector Calls,
of the Flies, Animal Farm, Anita and Me, History Blood Brothers, Lord of the Flies, Animal Farm, Anita
Boys, DNA, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the and Me, Hobson’s Choice, Journey’s End, The
Night-Time, A Taste of Honey, Telling Tales, Never Let Woman in Black, The Empress, Refugee Boy
Me Go, Pigeon English • 19th century novel: Jane Eyre, Great Expectations,
• 19th century novel: Jane Eyre, Great Expectations, Jekyll and Hyde, Christmas Carol, Pride and
Jekyll and Hyde, Christmas Carol, Pride and Prejudice, Frankenstein, Silas Marner, Boys Don’t
Prejudice, Frankenstein, The Sign of Four. Cry, Coram Boy.

Key Similarities
• Choice of texts
PEUK A1768a Version 1.1 • Apr 2020 • DCL1: Public

• Shakespeare and 19th century exam questions have the same requirement – one part of the
question based on extract given in the paper and the other part on the whole play.
Key benefits of the Pearson Edexcel Specification
• Additional option of ‘Time and Place’ cluster of poems, and new Belonging poetry collection
added (2019) giving greater choice
• A quotation from the play/novel is given in the question on the modern text to support students
• One question on unseen poetry, rather than two.

Original origami artwork: Mark Bolitho Origami photography:


Pearson Education Ltd / Naki Kouyioumtzis
Green leaves, shallow focus © Veer/javarman • Forest © Veer/
Andrey Volokhatiuk

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