Is English Language a good A Level subject?
English Language A Level is a really good choice if you have enjoyed the language aspects of your GCSE English course. Students will recall that study for the GCSE Language qualification is what we might call more ‘programmatic’: this is a more technical discipline, requiring a focus on technical aspects of language, and which looks as ‘texts’ that are sometimes a long way from the highbrow and romantic reading of the Literature qualification. It is a modern way of thinking about ‘English’ – as a language and a field of study – that is in some respects a great equaliser. This course elevates advertisements, diaries and scripted speeches to the level of Charles Dickens and Shakespeare: it presents them as all equally worthy of study, equally able under analysis to tell us important things about the way we think and the way the world works. Another way of thinking about and English Language A Level is that it this course presents English almost as a foreign language, divisible into its component parts, into its nouns and syntax features, and whose cultural importance is visible in its contexts of use – and misuse. You will be required to write critical essays, analysing language change and language use; but also to write creatively, producing letters and speeches in much the same way as you did at GCSE.
Is A Level English Language difficult?
The difficulty of a chosen A Level is subjective but there is no doubt that the A Level English Language qualification suits students who can approach the study of English almost with a scientific mindset. You will be asked to learn a host of new analytical terms – phonetics, pragmatics, semantics - and so tread into new analytical territory, which for some will be hugely exciting.
It is energising to suddenly start to understand that our methods of communication follow rules and are nameable, that we can look at something which we typically take for granted in our everyday lives and start to break it down, asking questions of how and why it is used in such ways. You can find patterns in the language of, for example, the football terraces and think about the way that social class is signalled, codified - and subverted.
If Literature is for broad themes and character study then Language is the place for detached analysis of the nuts and bolts of English; of course there is overlap and English Language will also require you to analyse canonical texts, but it will place language more squarely in the context of the modern world and common usage. You will be asked to apply your knowledge of linguistic terms, context and theory to unseen texts as well as use knowledge to create a piece of writing in a given form .
How to get an A* in A Level English Language
- Make sure your knowledge and understanding of specific technical terms are spot-on, and you can use these terms easily and precisely.
- It’s a good idea to consume as much of a broad range of written material you can –immerse yourself in novels, read newspapers, graze widely - to absorb forms, stylistics, meanings and purpose.
- Get accustomed to analysing everything you read in the way that you are learning on your course, whether it is a 1000-page novel or a bag of crisps. Learning to analyse language may mean you can never read with innocence ever again!
- Embrace writing in all forms, analytical and creative, essays and reports and diaries, to ensure that when the exam approaches you don’t feel as though you don’t know where to start – and that you already have a kind of flow. Analyse everything you write – be honest with yourself but be hypercritical, and be confident that your ability to create good quality writing is on an upward trend.
- Share writing with friends and family you trust – explain your aims and ask for constructive criticism.
What is the best way to revise for A Level English Language?
Stay on top of your examination schedule and plan your revision paper by paper, topic by topic. Your teacher will advise you on what is to be expected. Make sure you are familiar with the technical terminology that you need for each part of the syllabus. Check which theories and theorists are appropriate for each topic under study, and prioritise those which you need to learn. Make revision notes; try different styles of notes, making them visually interesting and diverse. Work for short periods and give yourself decent breaks. Breakdown different sections of the syllabus into manageable chunks.
A revision timetable will greatly assist you. You need to know the precise parameters of each exam paper, as individual papers will assess very different parts of the A Level Language course. How many questions are there, how many marks are they worth, and how long do you have to strategize, plan and write? There is no substitute for having a big pile of past papers, and you will build confidence in your knowledge of formats –as well as the topics involve - by practising questions on each of the topics. Understand ‘command words’ used in questions and how to apply them in context. Build in time pressure as you work, gradually reducing the time you have to answer questions: go leisurely to begin with, getting the process right, and aim to get to real exam time conditions well before your exam.
Mark schemes are invaluable in helping you to understand how marks are awarded for each question. These can be somewhat meaningless out of context however and your teacher must be able to advise you on how to interpret them, and what is expected.
Common Pitfalls - A Look at A Level English Language Examiners Reports
Examiners’ Reports contain feedback that schools receive from the exam board on what went well, or what could have been improved with a particular set of exams. These can be very useful but you may find it most helpful to go through a report with a teacher or tutor.
Each exam board is different, and examiner comments will often apply to a specific paper or task, so it’s worth trawling through the reports if you are interested in (or struggling with) a particular task. But one comment that regularly comes up with regards to A Level English Language exams is to do with the lack of specificity around labelling of AO1 features. Often candidates rely on catch-all terms like ‘lexical fields’ which are only vaguely defined, and then hang their analysis on these. Rather than labelling abstract nouns within a precisely defined lexical field, for example.
Examiners also comment on candidates being imprecise in their exemplification, so talking about both compound and complex sentences but offering only one example, or referring to the use of adjectives but quoting noun phrases. It is important that the examiner is left in no doubt that students understand the particular language feature they are discussing.
Examiners also emphasise that, in order to achieve top grades, candidates should aim to achieve a conceptual overview of texts. This means not necessarily looking at language points in isolation but considering how a combination of language features create patterns: for example how contractions and colloquialisms leads to an informal register.
Where can I find past papers for A Level English Language?
Past papers are widely available via a Google search, but double check exam boards (there are many) and series. Exam authorities have a habit of updating qualifications every few years and changing the emphasis of papers and questions, so check you are on the most up to date version.
A Level English Language Tutors
Keystone has a range of specialist tutors who can assist students approaching GCSE and A Level English Language. The A Level English tutors that we work with have a thorough knowledge of the various exam boards and can assist students approaching A Levels and university admissions tests for English.
Read more about our A Level English tutors.