A Level English - What you need to know

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A Level ENGLISH What you need to know


A Level English. What you need to know. Key curriculum changes

Implications for English teachers

• A Level English and GCSE English qualifications are changing at the same time.

• T wo cohorts of students moving from old GCSEs to new A Levels, who will require preparation for the new demands.

4 English Literature

• T o prepare for examinations with unseen texts, students will need to read widely, broadening their knowledge and their critical and comparative understanding of literature.

tudents will be examined on an S additional, unseen text which has not been previously named for study.

Students will now be required to study a minimum of eight texts, which must include three pre-1900 works including a Shakespeare play, and a post-2000 work to ensure they have a good historical coverage.

English Literature

Qualification changes

Our table below details the key changes for the new A Level English curriculum for first examination fro

4English Language

• Few changes to the subject content.

Consolidated specifications.

015 GCSE English Language will not 2 contain linguistic content.

English Language English Language and Literature

• A narrower focus means that students will need to have a more in-depth knowledge of the set texts but may also need to exercise more independence to read more widely.

• T eachers will need to prepare students for new assessment requirements, such as independent investigations of language use. • Students coming to A Level English Language from the 2015 GCSE are likely to be less prepared for the course, and A Level will be the first time they cover linguistic content.

4English Language and Literature •

Specifications are being consolidated.

• Revised subject content to improve the balance and coverage of the two disciplines and how they relate to each other.

www.cambridge.org/ukschools

• T eachers will need to prepare students for new assessment requirements. • Teachers will need to be prepared to deliver more technical content, such as language levels (e.g. phonetics, phonology and prosodics).

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om 2017 and how our new resources will support the teaching and learning of these new qualifications.

Our solutions 4Student Books • A detailed ‘Beginning’ section, bridging the gap between GCSE and A Level. • Provides the foundations for the introductory weeks of an A Level course, to ensure students have the required knowledge and understanding to tackle the demands of A Level.

4Brand new resources • Brand new bespoke material tailored specifically to the requirements of the new specification, reflecting the approach and ethos of the course.

4Student Books • Full coverage of a range of set texts and additional texts not included on the set text list, giving students exposure to a wider range of reading. • A thematic and skills-based approach will:

- help students understand and develop the skills they need

- understand and engage with themes across a range of contexts and genres

- prepare students for comparative study and unseen texts.

4Elevate-enhanced Edition • Includes video interviews and commissioned pieces from writers, academics and professionals to help students to engage with literary theory, critical readings and contextual influences.

4Brand new resources • Written for the new assessment requirements and building on expert knowledge from an experienced author team.

4Elevate Teacher’s Resource • Everything necessary for teachers to plan and deliver elements of the course that they may be unfamiliar with. • Expert guidance to prepare teachers who may be less confident with the content of the Language specifications.

4Student Books • A ‘Beginning’ section to help bridge the gap between GCSE and A Level by preparing students for the technical knowledge and understanding required at A Level.

4Elevate-enhanced Editions • Includes video interviews with academics and language professionals to help bring language content to life, and engaging and concise summaries that can be used in the classroom or independently by students.

4Brand new resources • Written for the new assessment requirements and building on expert knowledge from an experienced author team.

4Elevate Teacher’s Resource • Everything necessary for teachers to plan and deliver elements of the course that they may be unfamiliar with. • Expert guidance to prepare teachers who may be less confident with the content of the Language specifications.

4Student Books • A ‘Beginning’ section to help bridge the gap between GCSE and A Level by preparing students for the technical knowledge and understanding required at A Level.

4Elevate-enhanced Editions • Includes video interviews with writers, academics and professionals to help students to analyse literary and non-literary texts and understand key aspects of language usage.


We listen. We think. We act. At Cambridge University Press, we are driven by a simple goal: to create the resources teachers and students need to ignite a curiosity and love for learning. As England enters a new educational chapter, we are publishing a comprehensive suite of blended digital and print resouces matched specifically to the new Key Stage 5 curriculum in English Literature, English Language and English Literature and Language. Through our author team of experienced teachers, partners and advisors, our resources offer a recursive learning approach in preparation for terminal assessments, and a skills based frame work to address seen and unseen texts. Our rich digital content has been developed to engage and support learners through differentiated resources, including dramatic interpretations of texts and interviews with industry language experts. Through using the best authors and inspirational contributors, internal university expertise and external industry links, our aim is to raise education to a new standard.

All content will be readily available through our digital subscription service – Elevate. Student Books will also be available in print format. For the student:

For the teacher:

Elevate-enhanced Edition

Elevate-enhanced Bundle

Elevate Teacher’s Resource

An enhanced online learning resource providing students with a range of tools that will allow them to take ownership of their learning. With content including quiz banks, video tutorials and additional stretch and support content, students will be able to customise content and test their knowledge and understanding.

An inclusive package of our print book and Elevate-enhanced Edition. The Student Book covers the full qualification and is designed to encourage learners to develop their interest in the subject beyond the content specification. It will stretch the most able learners, whilst providing additional support to those who need it.

Everything necessary for teachers to plan and deliver the subject specification. Our digital Teacher’s Resource specifically maps the content to assessment objectives and the specification, and includes additional stretch and challenge opportunities.

Register your details for regular updates and more information: www.cambridge.org/ukschools E: ukschools@cambridge.org T: 01223 325 588


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