A Level English Language
Although you will have studied this subject at GCSE at school, it comes as a surprise to many to find just how different the A Level is from GCSE. A Level English Language is all about analysing and understanding the written and spoken language of others and ourselves. It focuses on the power of words and the versatility of the speakers and writers who use them for different effects. You will develop your knowledge and increase your understanding of a language used the world over, as well as increasing your own skills as a writer.
YEAR 1: You’ll develop your understanding of the key constituents of language and their contribution to meaning in spoken and written English. You’ll study how language is used through a range of texts from different periods. You’ll be expected to produce your own creative, original writing in a fictional, literary mode and write a commentary analysing how you have produced it.
YEAR 2: You’ll continue to build on the skills acquired at AS with further study of phonetics and phonology, lexis, morphology, grammar and discourse. There is another opportunity for production of your own writing with the focus on extended functional writing and analysis.
All students studying A Levels should have at least five GCSEs at grade 9 – 5 in academic subjects, including English Language at grade 5. Two of these should be grade 6. Specifically for English Language, you will need GCSE English Language at grade 6 or above.
AS and A Level English subjects are assessed through examination, with an internally assessed language research project for A Level.
Many English Language A Level students go on to study the subject at university; some choose to follow degrees in Journalism, Creative Writing and Media related courses. A Level English is a very versatile subject to study, and if you are considering going into employment after College, this qualification will demonstrate your ability to communicate at a high level of competency. The study of English is useful for a wide range of careers including the legal profession, teaching, the media, the forces and marketing.
Dwight Maxwell (Lecturer in English Language)
- MFA English, American Studies and Creative Writing (New York University)
- BA (Hons) American Literature and Creative Writing
- Poet and Author of It’s Not Just About Grades, It’s About Culture (Austin and Macauley Publishing)
REBECCA REED – ALUMNI STUDENT
A* grade in English A Level
English degree at the University of Birmingham
Now an English teacher