English WJEC Language and Literature GCSE at a glance guide

You will achieve 2 GCSEs in English. You have no coursework. Everything you learn over the two years will be assessed
by exams at the end of the two years. You will have a compulsory Speaking and Listening element.

Paper One Reading Section A Writing Section B

Language
1 hour 45 minutes 20% 20%
One unseen fiction text to One fiction writing task -Creative writing
in total
read (extract from a piece of Time recommended:
40% of the 20th Century Literature) 10 minutes planning
language GCSE 5 questions to answer 35 minutes writing
Time recommended: 40 marks
10 minutes reading
50 minutes answering questions
40 marks
Paper Two Reading Section A Writing Section B
Language
2 hours in total 30% 30%
Two non-fiction texts to read Two non-fiction writing tasks (e.g. write a letter,
60% of the (approx. one A4 size) report, interview, speech/talk etc. for a specific purpose,
Language GCSE 6 questions to answer audience and format)
2 questions linking to each article Time recommended:
1 synthesis and 1 comparative 30 minutes per writing task
Time recommended: 5 minutes planning
10 minutes reading 25 minutes writing
50 minutes answering questions You must answer both questions
40 marks 40 marks
Paper One Section A Shakespeare Section B Poetry from 1789 to
Literature present day
2 hours Romeo and Juliet Poetry Anthology
Two Questions Two Questions
40% of overall Closed book exam (no copies One question on a specific poem
Literature GCSE allowed in the exam) One question to compare the specified poem with a poem
One extract question (only extract) of your choice from the anthology (second poem not given
One essay question (whole text ref) in the poem)
40 marks 40 marks
Paper Two Section A: 1914 Section B: Section C: Unseen
Literature onwards prose 19th Century Poetry 20%
(fiction) or drama 20% Prose 20%
2 hours 30 Lord of the Flies or An A Christmas Carol Two previously unseen
Inspector Calls Closed book exam poems
minutes (no copies allowed in
Closed book exam (no copies Two questions
60% of overall allowed in the exam) the exam) Question one: Essay on poem one
Literature GCSE One question One question Question two: Comparative essay
Extract question and knowledge of Extract question and on poem one and the second
the text knowledge of the unseen poem
40 marks text 40 marks
40 marks