GCSE English Language
Board: AQA
Course Length: 1 Year
About the subject
GCSE English Language is for students who have not yet achieved a Grade 4 or above in GCSE English Language and who are studying a full-time Level 3 programme at Collyer’s.
This one-year retake course gives students the opportunity to build confidence, strengthen their reading and writing skills, and work towards improving their GCSE English Language grade. Students will join a friendly and supportive team with a strong reputation for helping learners make progress and achieve successful outcomes.
In 2025, 82% of students passed GCSE English Language.
Learning styles
Students will develop their skills through close reading, discussion, written practice and regular feedback. Lessons will focus on helping students become more confident in analysing a range of texts and expressing their own ideas clearly and accurately.
Students will work with a variety of fiction, literary non-fiction and non-fiction texts, developing the skills needed to understand writers’ methods, respond to different viewpoints and produce effective written responses.
Subject Modules and Assessment
Assessment is by examination.
Students will analyse a variety of literary and non-fiction texts. There are two exam papers, each worth 50% of the final grade.
The course will support students in developing the key skills required for these papers, including:
- reading and responding to unseen texts
- analysing language and structure
- comparing writers’ ideas and perspectives
- producing clear, accurate and effective written responses
- improving spelling, punctuation and grammar
Subject Combinations and Progression
GCSE English Language is an important qualification for progression to higher education, apprenticeships, employment and many future career pathways.
Students who have not achieved a Grade 4 or above in GCSE English Language will take this course alongside their Level 3 qualifications, provided they meet the relevant entry requirements for their main programme of study.
Entry Requirements
Students must have a minimum average grade of 4 across all their GCSE results with a minimum of 5 GCSE, although most students are expected to take 8 or more and only in exceptional circumstances would less than 8 be considered.
For GCSE English Language specifically, students’ previous GCSE grade in the subject needs to be Grade 3 or below.
GCSE retakes are only available for full-time Level 3 students. Collyer’s does not offer a pure Level 2, GCSE-equivalent retake year.
FAQs
Who is this course for?
This course is for students who have not yet achieved a Grade 4 or above in GCSE English Language and who meet the entry requirements for a full-time Level 3 programme.
Which exam board is used?
The exam board is AQA.
How is the course assessed?
The course is assessed through two exam papers, each worth 50% of the final grade.
Can I study this as a standalone GCSE retake year?
No. GCSE retakes are only available for full-time Level 3 students. Collyer’s does not offer a pure Level 2 retake year.