GCSE English Language and English Literature mock examinations.

English Language (01) Communicating Information & Ideas – Wed 22 Nov - PM

English Literature (02) Exploring Poetry & Shakespeare – Mon 27 Nov - PM

The purpose of mock examinations in all subjects is to:

Enable pupils to experience the pressure and time constraints of public examinations

To gain awareness of individual pupil’s current working grade

To identify areas which require consolidation and revision

To allow teachers to plan future lessons and revision sessions

PLEASE DISCUSS THIS REVISION INFORMATION AT HOME

ALL pupils will sit 2 mock GCSE English papers, each of 2 hours

One paper will be English Language; one paper will be English Literature

In the summer there are 4 examination papers, each of 2 hours

Pupils took an English Language mock at the end of Year 10. There will be a mock exam

for the other English Literature paper in Term 3.

ADVICE FOR PUPILS: REMEMBER:

Know your papers – use the information sheet in your exercise books to revise the content

and structure of your papers; work out approximate timings.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE (01) Communicating Information and Ideas (2 hours) /80

Section A – Reading Information and Ideas /40 – take 1 hour 15 mins

Two non-fiction texts – one will be pre 1900s

There will be 4 related questions which INCREASE in terms of challenge and the points

available; leave 30 minutes to answer question 4

Section B – Writing for audience, impact and purpose /40 – take 45 mins

You must plan and answer 1 question out of a choice of 2

Questions are likely to ask you to persuade, argue or advise

ENGLISH LITERATURE (02) Exploring Poetry and Shakespeare (2 hours) /80

All papers are CLOSED texts – pupils cannot take set texts into the examinations

Section A – Conflict Poetry /40 – TWO questions – take 1 hour 15 mins

a) Comparison of a displayed poem with an unseen poem – take 45 mins b) Related analytical question on a different poem – take 30 mins

Section B – Shakespeare – The Merchant of Venice /40 – ONE question from a choice of

two – take 45 mins

One question will ask you to analyse a given extract and then expand your response in

order to demonstrate your wider knowledge of the play

The alternative question will be a general question – you will decide the aspects of the

play you wish to discuss

Before the mocks, in class students will all:

Participate in a series of lessons which will cover A FULL English Language (01) practice

paper – a copy will be provided for all pupils

Practise extended written responses for both questions on Conflict Poetry. You must

bring your anthology to lessons

Write and receive feedback on a written response to The Merchant of Venice

There will be revision sessions on the following Thursdays at 3.15pm in the English dept:

2 Nov - Information and Ideas - Section A Reading

9 Nov - Information and Ideas - Section A Writing

16 Nov - Literature – Merchant of Venice (NB Consultation Day with form tutors) 23 Nov - Literature – Conflict Poetry Following the mock results, there is a Year 11 Parent Consultation Evening on Thursday 14 December.

GCSE English Language (01) Communicating Information and Ideas. Revision checklist.

Reading /40 – exploration of TWO written non-fiction texts

Write out the layout of the paper, with marks available and advised timings.

Regularly read a range of non-fiction texts such as diaries, autobiographies, speeches, travel writing and newspaper articles. These should be from pre 1900s and the modern day.

Identify key points in the text and record these points in quotations.

Summarise identified key points in a series of concise, fluently connected sentences.

Analyse LANGUAGE choices made by writers at word, sentence and punctuation level.

Analyse the STRUCTURE of an extract in terms of paragraphing and chronology of events.

Write an extended analytical response using a formal, critical style.

Embed supportive quotations into sentences.

Compare texts using a wide range of well selected connectives. See pg 11 of planners.

Evaluate texts in response to question stems, ‘To what extent…?’ and ‘How far…?’ See pg 12 of planners.

Demonstrate awareness of alternative arguments and analyses through, ‘Phrases for argument and counter-argument’. Resource in exercise books and revision guides.

Writing /40: Writing to persuade, argue and advise

Regularly read a range of non-fiction texts such as diaries, autobiographies, speeches, travel writing and newspaper articles. Keep up to date with current affairs.

Test yourself on the top 50 most commonly misspelled words.

Look back through ALL your exercise books; make a personalised spelling list.

Look back through ALL your exercise books; make a personalised punctuation list.

Know the definition of ALL the TOOL BOX techniques at word, sentence, punctuation and language technique language.

Revise TOOL BOX techniques most commonly used in persuasive writing.

Learn, and be able to use, a wide range of extended connectives. See pgs 11/13 of planners.

Select a structure for your writing; consider chronology; know your start and end point.

Use a range of sentence types, including single word sentences, to create different effects and engage your reader.

Use a range of paragraph lengths, including one sentence paragraphs, to create different effects and engage your reader.

Habitually PROOF READ your work across all subject areas; be a responsible writer!

GCSE English Language (02) Exploring Poetry and Shakespeare. Revision checklist.

Section A: Poetry – Conflict Poetry

Learn whole poems, or key extracts. We strongly advise the following: A Poison Tree – William Blake The Man He Killed – Thomas Hardy Anthem for Doomed Youth – Wilfred Owen Vergissmeinnicht – Keith Douglas

Learn the main points of language analysis of each key poem.

Learn how the form of each poem reflects the key themes.

Learn appropriate terminology to discuss in writing the effects created by poetic FORM and STRUCTURE.

Practise writing a 30 minute analysis of key poems.

Practise analysing the un-seen poems given to you in class, or from other sections of the anthology.

Practise drawing points of comparison between known and unseen poems in a table headed ‘Similarities’ and ‘Differences’.

Compare points of similarity and difference using a wide range of well selected connectives. (see pg 11 of planners)

Practise writing 45 minute comparison essays of known and unseen poems (40 minutes).

Section B: Shakespeare – The Merchant of Venice

Re-cap plot – write out a full summary.

Learn key extracts off by heart and relevant points of language analysis.

Write a 45 minute analysis of the extract; make reference to other points in the play.

Select and learn 5 key quotations which illustrate the following characters and themes: Antonio; Bassanio; Portia; Shylock; Jessica Money, love and marriage Revenge, justice and mercy Prejudice and social injustice

For each set of quotations outline key points of language analysis and learn them alongside your quotations.

Please note that a selection of the following guides can be useful aids for revision. Past papers and revision

materials will also be given to all students at the end of Term 3:

For mock examinations:

OCR Poetry Anthology

Towards a World Unknown: The OCR Anthology: Conflict - the Student Guide

THE MERCHANT OF VENICE

YORK NOTES FOR GCSE - ISBN-10: 0582506166; ISBN-13: 978-0582506169

YORK NOTES ADVANCED (TARGET GRADES 7-9): ISBN-10: 1405801751; ISBN-13: 978-1405801751

THE STRANGE CASE OF DR JEKYLL AND MR HYDE

OXFORD LITERATURE COMPANIONS – ISBN – 9780199128785

YORK NOTES FOR GCSE, STUDY GUIDE – ISBN – 9781447982180

CGP – ISBN – 9780198329909

AN INSPECTOR CALLS

YORK NOTES FOR GCSE - ISBN-10: 1447982169; ISBN-13: 978-1447982166

YORK NOTES FOR GCSE (Workbook) - ISBN-10: 1292100796; ISBN-13: 978-1292100791

CGP – ISBN - 10: 1841461156; ISBN-13: 978-1841461151

OCR GCSE ENGLISH LANGUAGE - Developing the skills for Component 01 and Component 02 – OUP - ISBN-

10: 0198332785; ISBN-13: 978-0198332787

OCR GCSE ENGLISH LANGUAGE - Assessment preparation for Component 01 and Component 02 – Oxford –

ISBN-10: 0198332793; ISBN-13: 978-0198332794

SAM LEARNING: www.samlearning.com

This website contains practical exercises and is especially useful for revising technical aspects of literacy.