"Edusites English has been a game-changer for my classroom, providing expertly crafted resources that make teaching complex texts straightforward and enjoyable." "The revision guides and practice papers have given my students the confidence they need to excel in their exams, with noticeable improvements in their results." "Edusites English saves me so much time with its comprehensive lesson plans and study guides, allowing me to focus on what matters most—teaching and supporting my students." "The diverse range of materials, from text analysis to creative writing resources, keeps my students engaged and inspired in their English studies."
https://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifi...
© OCR 2016
GCSE (9–1) in English Language
19
4
Entry
code
Title
Component
code
Component title
Assessment type
J351A
English Language
01
Communicating
information and ideas
External Assessment
02
Exploring effects and
impact
External Assessment
03
Spoken language
Non exam Assessment
(OCR Repository)
J351B
English Language
01
Communicating
information and ideas
External Assessment
02
Exploring effects and
impact
External Assessment
04
Spoken language
Non exam Assessment
(Postal moderation)
J351C*
English Language
01
Communicating
information and ideas
External Assessment
02
Exploring effects and
impact
External Assessment
80
Spoken language
Non exam Assessment
(Carried forward)
*Entry option J351C should only be selected for learners who are retaking the qualification who want to carry
forward their result for the non-exam assessment.
Head of Centre Declaration
The Head of Centre is required to provide a declaration
to the JCQ as part of the annual NCN update,
conducted in the autumn term, to confirm that the
centre is meeting all of the requirements detailed in
the specification, including that they have provided
all candidates the opportunity to undertake the
prescribed practical activities.
Any failure by a centre to provide the Head of Centre
Annual Declaration will result in your centre status
being suspended and could lead to the withdrawal of
our approval for you to operate as a centre.
Private candidates
Private candidates may enter for OCR assessments.
A private candidate is someone who pursues a course
of study independently but takes an examination or
assessment at an approved examination centre. A
private candidate
may be a part-time student,
someone
taking a distance learning course, or someone being
tutored privately. They must be based in the UK.
GCSE (9–1) English Language requires learners to
complete a Spoken Language Endorsement which
develops speaking, listening and presentation skills.
The Spoken Language Endorsement is an essential part
of the course and will allow learners to develop skills
for further study and employment, as well as imparting
important knowledge that is part of the specification.
Private candidates need to contact OCR approved
centres to establish whether they are prepared to
host them as a private candidate. The centre may
charge for this facility and OCR recommends that the
arrangement is made early in the course.
Further guidance for private candidates may be found
on the OCR website:
http://www.ocr.org.uk
.
© OCR 2016
GCSE (9–1) in English Language
20
4
4b. Accessibility and special consideration
Reasonable adjustments and access arrangements
allow learners with special educational needs,
disabilities or temporary injuries to access the
assessment and show what they know and can do,
without changing the demands of the assessment.
Applications for these should be made before the
examination series. Detailed information about
eligibility for access arrangements can be found
in the JCQ
Access Arrangements and Reasonable
Adjustments
.
Special consideration is a post-assessment adjustment
to marks or grades to reflect temporary injury, illness
or other indisposition at the time the assessment was
taken. Detailed information about eligibility for special
consideration can be found in the JCQ
A guide to the
special consideration process
.
4c. Non-exam assessment
Regulations governing non-exam assessment
arrangements are contained in the JCQ
Instructions for
conducting non-examination assessments.
Appendix 2
of this document gives specific details for the Spoken
language endorsement for GCSE English Language
designed for use in England.
The Spoken language endorsement is internally
assessed by centres and externally monitored by OCR.
Centres must keep a record of all learners’ assessment
outcomes for Spoken language. It is recommended
that centres use the proformas that are available on
the OCR website.
Centres will need to provide audio-visual recordings
of the presentations of a sample of learners. Table 1
below gives guidance on sample size.
Using their knowledge of learners’ likely performance,
centres should select the sample following the
guidance shown in the table below. Centres are
recommended to record slightly more than the
minimum number at each grade to allow for learners
whose performance is awarded a higher or lower
grade than the centre had anticipated.
The recording of each presentation, including
questions and feedback from the audience, must be
complete and unedited.
The deadline for the receipt of learner outcomes for
the Spoken language endorsement is 15 May on an
annual basis.
Table 1 Sample Sizes
No. of candidates
at centre
No. of candidates whose
presentations must be recorded
Minimum no. of candidates at each
grade (Pass, Merit, Distinction)
30 or fewer
All candidates
10
+
Over 30
30
10
+
+
If a centre has fewer candidates at a particular grade than the stated minimum, all candidates at that particular
grade should be recorded. Candidates assessed as Not Classified should not be included.
Full details of sample size can be found in Appendix 2 of the JCQ
Instructions for conducting non-examination
assessments
.
© OCR 2016
GCSE (9–1) in English Language
21
4
Internal standardisation
Centres must carry out internal standardisation
including all teachers involved in the Spoken language
assessment to ensure that grades awarded by different
teachers are accurate and consistent across all learners
entered for the Spoken language endorsement from
that centre.
Internal standardisation should include a preliminary
trial session using exemplar material provided by
OCR, in order to ensure that there is a common
understanding of the assessment criteria.
The Spoken language exemplar material can be found
in the ‘candidate exemplars’ section on the GCSE
(9–1) English Language webpage:
www.ocr.org.uk/
gcseenglishlanguage
.
Monitoring arrangements
Common monitoring arrangements are in place, as
agreed by the awarding bodies, to ensure that centres
are using appropriate tasks and are applying the
assessment criteria accurately and consistently.
For the assessment of Spoken language (component
03 or 04), centres are required to submit audio-
visual recordings of the presentations of a sample of
learners.
Where the sample of Spoken language presentations
is submitted via the OCR Repository (component 03),
centres must upload the audio-visual recordings to the
OCR Repository in a digital format.
Where the sample of Spoken language presentations
is submitted for postal monitoring (component 04),
centres should provide
either
a DVD or a USB memory
stick with their learners’ presentations. Audio-visual
recordings submitted on DVD or USB memory stick
must contain each presentation as a separate file.
Audio-visual recordings for Spoken language should be
submitted in an organised and structured way. The file
name for each recording must contain the following
information:
•
centre number
•
candidate number
•
candidate name (forename and surname)
•
topic area or title of the spoken presentation
•
proposed grade: Pass, Merit, Distinction.
Audio-visual recordings should be stored in a secure
area on the centre’s network before submission.
In order to minimise software and hardware
compatibility issues, it is necessary to save learners’
work using an appropriate file format. To ensure
compatibility, all audio-visual recordings submitted
must be in the formats listed below.
The recorded sample of unedited presentations must
be submitted to OCR by 15 May on an annual basis.
An OCR monitor will view a centre’s recorded sample
and check that the assessment criteria have been
applied consistently and accurately. There may also be
a statistical analysis of the centre’s assessments.
If there are concerns as a result of monitoring,
the centre will be provided with additional support
(which may include a visit by a monitor). There may
be enhanced monitoring arrangements which may
include an earlier deadline for submission of Spoken
language assessments or a requirement to record the
presentations of all learners at the centre.
Digital audio-visual
evidence formats
MPEG (*.mpg)
Windows Media File (*.wmf)
QuickTime movie (*.mov)
MPEG Video Layer 4 (*.mp4)
© OCR 2016
GCSE (9–1) in English Language
22
4
Carrying Forward the Spoken Language Endorsement
Learners who are retaking the qualification can choose
to either retake the endorsement or carry forward
their most recent result for that component (even if it
was awarded by another awarding organisation).
To carry forward the result, you must use the carry
forward entry option (see table in Section 4a).
Learners must decide at the point of entry whether they
are going to carry forward the endorsement or not.
The result for the endorsement may be carried forward
for the lifetime of the specification and there is no
restriction on the number of times the result may be
carried forward. However, only the most recent non-
absent result may be carried forward.
4d. Results and certificates
Grade scale
GCSE (9–1) qualifications are graded on the scale: 9–1,
where 9 is the highest. Learners who fail to reach the
minimum standard of 1 will be Unclassified (U). Only
subjects in which grades 9 to 1 are attained will be
recorded on certificates.
The Spoken language component will be graded on the
scale: Distinction, Merit, Pass, where Distinction is the
highest grade. Learners who fail to reach the standard
of Pass will receive a Not Classified (NC) result for the
endorsement. The grade for the Spoken language
endorsement will be recorded on the certificate
alongside the learner’s qualification grade.
Results
Results are released to centres and learners for
information and to allow any queries to be resolved
before certificates are issued.
Centres will have access to the following results
information for each learner:
• the grade for the qualification
•
the grade for the Spoken language endorsement
•
the raw mark for each component
• the total weighted mark for the qualification.
The following supporting information will be available:
•
raw mark grade boundaries for each component
•
weighted mark grade boundaries for each entry
option.
Until certificates are issued, results are deemed to
be provisional and may be subject to amendment.
A learner’s final results will be recorded on an OCR
certificate.
The qualification title will be shown on the certificate
as ‘OCR Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9–1) in English
Language’.
© OCR 2016
GCSE (9–1) in English Language
23
4
4e. Post-results services
A number of post-results services are available:
•
Enquiries about results –
If you are not happy
with the outcome of a learner’s results, centres
may submit an enquiry about results.
•
Missing and incomplete results –
This service
should be used if an individual subject result
for a learner is missing, or the learner has been
omitted entirely from the results supplied.
•
Access to scripts –
Centres can request access to
marked scripts.
4f. Malpractice
Any breach of the regulations for the conduct
of examinations and non-exam assessment
may constitute malpractice (which includes
maladministration) and must be reported to OCR
as soon as it is detected. Detailed information on
malpractice can be found in the
Suspected Malpractice
in Examinations and Assessments: Policies and
Procedures
published by JCQ.
© OCR 2016
GCSE (9–1) in English Language
24
5
Grade 8
Critical reading and comprehension
In relation to a range of texts, to achieve grade 8, candidates will be able to:
•
summarise and critically evaluate with detailed and perceptive understanding
•
understand and respond with insight to explicit and implicit meanings and viewpoints
•
analyse and critically evaluate, with insight, detailed aspects of language, grammar and structure
•
substantiate their understanding and opinions with illuminating references to texts and contexts
•
make convincing and apt links and comparisons within and between texts.
Writing
To achieve grade 8, candidates will be able to:
•
communicate with impact and influence
•
produce ambitious, accomplished and effectively-structured texts
•
use a wide range of well-selected sentence types and structures and precise vocabulary to enhance impact
•
spell, punctuate and use grammar accurately so that writing is virtually error-free.
Grade 5
Critical reading and comprehension
In relation to a range of texts, to achieve grade 5, candidates will be able to:
•
summarise and evaluate with accuracy and clear understanding
•
understand and make valid responses to explicit and implicit meanings and viewpoints
•
analyse and evaluate relevant aspects of language, grammar and structure
•
support their understanding and opinions with apt references to texts, informed by their wider reading
•
make credible links and comparisons between texts.
Writing
To achieve grade 5, candidates will be able to:
•
communicate effectively, sustaining the reader’s interest
•
produce coherent, well-structured and purposeful texts
•
vary sentence types and structures and use vocabulary appropriate to purpose and effect
•
spell, punctuate and use grammar accurately with occasional errors
5a. Grade descriptors
5 Appendices
© OCR 2016
GCSE (9–1) in English Language
25
5
Grade 2
Critical reading and comprehension
In relation to a range of texts, to achieve grade 2, candidates will be able to:
•
describe and summarise with some accuracy and understanding
•
respond in a straightforward way to most explicit information and viewpoints
•
make some relevant comments about language and structure
•
support their comments and opinions with some general references
•
make straightforward links between texts.
Writing
To achieve grade 2, candidates will be able to:
•
communicate simply with some clarity for the reader
•
produce texts with basic structures and some awareness of purpose
•
show some control over sentence type and structure and use familiar vocabulary to some effect
•
spell, punctuate and use grammar with limited accuracy.
5b. Overlap with other qualifications
There is some overlap between the content of this specification and that of specifications in OCR’s GCSE (9–1) in
English Literature.
5c. Avoidance of bias
The GCSE (9–1) qualification and subject criteria have
been reviewed in order to identify any feature which
could disadvantage learners who share a protected
Characteristic as defined by the Equality Act 2010.
All reasonable steps have been taken to minimise any
such disadvantage.
© OCR 2016
GCSE (9–1) in English Language
26
Summary of updates
Date
Version
Section
Title of section
Change
March 2018
1.1
i) Front Cover
ii) 4d
i) Disclaimer
ii) Results and Certificates:
Results
i) Addition of Disclaimer
ii) Amend to Certification Titling
May 2018
1.2
2d, 3f
Content of non-exam
assessment in GCSE (9–1)
in English Language,
Non-exam assessment:
Spoken language
(03 or 04)
Update in line with new NEA
Centre Declaration form and links
to guidance.
August 2018
1.3
3d
4c
Retaking the qualification
Non-exam assessment
Update to the wording for carry
forward rules.
Your checklist
Our aim is to provide you with all
the information and support you
need to deliver our specifications.
Bookmark
ocr.org.uk/gcseenglishlanguage
f
or all the
latest resources, information and news on GCSE (9-
1)
English L
an
guage
Be among the
first to hear about support materials
and resources as they become available – register
for English updates at
ocr.org.uk/updates
Find ou
t
abo
ut ou
r professional de
velopment a
t
cpdhub.ocr.org
.uk
View our range of skills guides for use across subjects
and quali
fications at
ocr.org.uk/skillsguides
Discover our new online past paper service at
oc
r.org.uk/exam
builder
Learn more about Active Results at
ocr.org.uk/activeresults
Join our English Language social network community for
teachers at
social.ocr.org.uk
Register now for our subject updates and FREE instant access to this article.
Already registered? Login below to continue reading this article.
