GCSE English Language | GCSE Distance Learning | Oxford Open Learning
Home / GCSE English Language

GCSE English Language

Course Price



English Language GCSE Key Facts

  • PRICE: £475
  • TIME REQUIRED: 200 hours
  • EXAMS: Summer and Autumn
  • SPECIFICATION: AQA GCSE English 8700
GCSE English Language

English Language GCSE by distance learning

For many years English GCSE has been unavailable to distance learners. Now, due to changes in the way that Non-Exam Assessment  (NEA) is managed, The Oxford Open Learning Trust is proud to be amongst the first distance learning colleges to be able to offer this course to its students. This brand new course has been designed to foster a lifelong love of the English Language and an appreciation of its literature.  It will prepare students for the study of English Language at A level for those who wish to and it will enable all students to communicate effectively, in writing and orally, in a wide range of situations.

The Oxford Open Learning GCSE English Language course is set out as follows:

Module 1: Reading Unseen Literature

  • Lesson 1   Approaches to Unseen Prose
  • Lesson 2   First Person Narrative
  • Lesson 3   Structure: Endings
  • Lesson 4   Creating an Atmosphere
  • Lesson 5   Finding the Message or Moral

Module 2   Exploring Creative Writing and Non-Exam Spoken English Assessment

  • Lesson 6   Introduction to Creative Writing
  • Lesson 7  Creative Writing: Structure and Organisation
  • Lesson 8   Imagined Experiences
  • Lesson 9   Developing Descriptive and Narrative Writing
  • Lesson 10   Spoken English Non-Exam Assessment

Module 3   Reading Non-Fiction Viewpoints and Perspectives

  • Lesson 11   Introduction to Reading Non-Fiction
  • Lesson 12   Reading for Meaning and Understanding
  • Lesson 13  Travel Writing
  • Lesson 14   Memoirs and Autobiographies
  • Lesson 15   Journalism: Opinion Pieces

Module 4   Reading Non-Fiction Viewpoints and Perspectives II

  • Lesson 16   Autobiographies and Biographies
  • Lesson 17   Reportage
  • Lesson 18   Speeches and Presentations
  • Lesson 19   ‘Broadsheet’ News Journalism
  • Lesson 20   Reading Nineteenth Century Texts

Module 5   Presenting Written Viewpoints

  • Lesson 21   Presenting Viewpoints – Transactional Writing
  • Lesson 22   Structuring A Persuasive Argument
  • Lesson 23  Presenting Viewpoints – Writing to Argue and Advise
  • Lesson 24  Creating  Viewpoints  –  Writing  to  Inform,  Explain  and Describe
  • Lesson 25  Examination Preparation: AQA Paper 1 and Paper 2

This course of lessons will prepare you for the AQA  English Language GCSE 9-1 Specification 8700.

The English Language GCSE is assessed by 2 written papers which make up your final mark. You will also have the chance to undertake an Oral Presentation for which the Mark will be awarded separately. Please note that this optional ‘non-exam’ assessment is undertaken by OOL tutors and is included in the course fees – this is not true of other providers.

Paper 1: Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing

Section A: Reading 40 marks 25% of GCSE

• unseen extract from a literature fiction text

Section B: Writing 40 marks 25% of GCSE

• 1 extended writing task – descriptive or narrative writing Method of Assessment • written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes

Paper 2: Writers’ Viewpoints and Perspectives

Section A: Reading 40 marks 25% of GCSE

• Comparison of one unseen non-fiction text and one unseen literary non-fiction text

Section B: Writing 40 marks 25% of GCSE

• 1 extended writing task – writing to present a viewpoint Method of assessment • written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes

Your Oxford Open Learning tutor will carry out your assessment via Skype.  In order for this to happen you will need:

  • To be able to establish a good Skype connection with your tutor which supports video at a quality sufficient for the tutor to read a displayed document.
  • You will need to have valid photo ID, either a passport or a driving license.

Oxford Open Learning will record your presentation and copies of the presentation will be made available to the AQA for purposes of external moderation. The oral is awarded as a separate Pass, Merit, or Distinction. The oral does not contribute to your primary 9-1 grade.

Online Course? Paper Based? Somewhere in between? It’s your choice!

All of our GCSE English students receive:

  • Traditional printed learning materials
  • Access to our online resources with on-the-go access to all your regular lessons
  • Unmatched support by a fully qualified teacher online and by phone
More info

Hi! We are currently open and an experienced Student Adviser is available to answer any questions you may have. Our number is 0800 9 757575

Request a call back
Trustpilot

Supporting Resources

FAQS

  • Oxford Open Learning is a long-established educational trust that prides itself on
    • treatment of every student as an individual
    • customer service
    • course quality.
  • We’re rated ‘Excellent’ on Trustpilot by students who have studied with us.
  • We provide online and printed resources so you can study your way – other providers do not give you that choice.
  • We make studying your online course easy with our flexible schedule, tutor support, and interest-free payment plan.
  • Because Oxford Open Learning is a not-for-profit trust, you can be sure that your course fees are spent on either your education and tuition or on improving our courses.

The English GCSE and the English IGCSE are equivalent qualifications and are considered to be of an equal level by employers or college/university admissions departments.  Both courses are graded using the new 9-1 Grading System. Whilst there are some small differences in content, the main difference between them is in how they are examined. The IGCSE English, like nearly all of Oxford Open Learning’s GCSE and IGCSE courses, is open to private candidates and students can arrange their examination by entering as a private candidate at a local examination centre. The GCSE English has a separately examined Oral component and so is not open to private candidates. As such Oxford Open Learning will entering centre for the student and carry out the oral assessment. The student will need to find a host examination centre where their written paper will be sat. Oxford Open Learning will then arrange for the exam paper to be sent to the host centre. Full details can be found on our Non-Exam assessment page.

Quite simply, this course is more expensive because it takes more tutor time to deliver the preparation and subsequent assessment of the student’s oral examination.

Stay Connected