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English Language A-Level

English Language A-Level The Bedford Sixth Form

Qualification: AS/A-Level | Exam board: OCR

This subject focuses on the specifics of language that you started to cover in GCSE.

Here you will delve further into the specific lexical choices and grammatical features so you can understand their impact on writing and speech. You will also be introduced to the history of language, its advancement over time, as well as how we  have developed it from childhood.

By the end of the subject, you will have improved your analysis skills, specifically of linguistic features, with which you will be able to understand why people make the choices they do in their language.

It will develop skills that can benefit students in a range of careers including  Teaching, Journalism, Research, Administration, Translating.

English Language A-Level The Bedford Sixth Form

Year one content

In year one you will study two examinable components.

The first focuses on language features in context, for which you will learn a variety of new techniques. You will then use these to analyse the effect of the writer’s choices and any contextual factors.

Your second component focuses on being able to critically evaluate the effect of what you have learned in component one. You will also learn to apply the techniques in your own productions.

English Language A-Level The Bedford Sixth Form

Year two content

In year two you will build on everything that you have studied in year one.

You will learn to develop your analytical skills further by looking at a larger range of techniques and context in order to do so.

You will also have the opportunity to select your own area of language study which is of particular interest to you, which you will then research and write into a report. With this you will produce an exhibition to showcase your work, this is your opportunity to use the language skills that you have developed throughout the course to present your work clearly to your intended audience.

Additional information

What does this subject prepare me for?

English Language is a good base for  Higher Education or careers in Journalism and English, as well as for areas such as Translation, Film Production, and Marketing.

You will also develop a range of transferable skills such as in-depth analysis, communication, and production skills which are valid  in most areas of work and study.

Subject support and enrichment

We have a well-stocked library to support your wider reading, access to excellent resources to help improve your grammar and writing skills, and full use of university level academic repositories including JSTOR. Typically, in English related subjects, we offer trips to the theatre, British Library, and topic related museums such as the Imperial War Museum.

Assessment

Students will be assessed internally on a regular basis, including through formal mock exams. There are final exams at the end of the course in Year two.

Year two assessment:

  • Component 1, Exploring Language: a 2 hour 30 minutes exam with a mixture of analysis and production
  • Component 2, Dimensions of Linguistic Variation: a 2 hour 30 minutes exam to analyse given texts • Component 3, Independent Language Research: coursework of 2000-2500 words and an academic exhibition to present your research
Entry requirements

Some of our subjects are subject to standard entry requirement and some have additional requirements. Please see below:

Subject specific entry requirements

  • 6 in English Language

Standard entry requirements

  • At least five GCSEs at grades 9-4 including English Language and Maths (one Vocational or Technical qualification at Merit or above may be counted)

AND

  • At least grade 4 (or Merit for Vocational or Technical qualifications) in any subject(s) that you have taken at GCSE and wish to continue studying at Level 3

AND

  • Average GCSE (best 8) of at least 4 (38 on the old points table)

AND

  • Grade 4 (or Merit), at least, in any subject previously studied
  • Students will take either 3 A-Level subjects or 1 Diploma subject with 1 A-Level
Generic Grand Hall at The Bedford Sixth Form 2021
September 2025

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