Events
Pathways for All Post 16 Event
July 6, 2026
4.30pm - 6.30pm
English Language A Level
St John's Catholic Comprehensive School
Rochester Road, GRAVESEND, Kent, DA12 2JW
Available start dates
Available start dates
Application Instructions
Applications Open: 21st November 2025 (9.00am)
Applications Close: 13th February 2026 (4.00pm)
How to apply:
- All INTERNAL applicants MUST apply via Applicaa using this link (coming soon!)
- All EXTERNAL applicants MUST apply via Kent Choices using this link https://www.kentprospectus.co.uk/login
- All correspondence between learners and the school after an application is made will be via Applicaa.
- All applicants (internal and external) will be invited in for a 1-1 guidance meeting.
- Those who have a successful guidance meeting will be offered a place to study at St John's Sixth Form from September 2026.
Course Summary
With exciting text- and data-based sources of language, the specifications introduce the study of English in its various forms and contexts, with the concepts and methods appropriate for the analysis of language underpinning all elements of the course.
Offering clear skills progression from GCSE, these courses allow students to build on the skills already gained and prepare for their next steps.
The variety of assessment styles used, such as data analysis, discursive essays, directed writing, original writing and research-based investigative writing, allows students to develop a wide range of skills. These include critical reading, data analysis, evaluation, the ability to develop and sustain arguments and a number of different writing skills which are invaluable for both further study and future employment.
Course Details
How will it be delivered and assessed?
Paper 1: Language, the Individual and Society
Assessed
written exam: 2 hours 30 minutes
100 marks
40% of A-level
Questions
Section A - Textual Variations and Representations
Two texts (one contemporary and one older text) linked by topic or theme.
A question requiring analysis of one text (25 marks)
A question requiring analysis of a second text (25 marks)
A question requiring comparison of the two texts (20 marks)
Section B - Children's Language Development
A discursive essay on children’s language development, with a choice of two questions where the data provided will focus on spoken, written or multimodal language (30 marks)
Paper 2: Language Diversity and Change
Written exam: 2 hours 30 minutes
100 marks
40% of A-level
Questions
Section A - Diversity and Change
One question from a choice of two:
Either: an evaluative essay on language diversity (30 marks)
Or: an evaluative essay on language change (30 marks)
Section B - Language Discourses
Two texts about a topic linked to the study of diversity and change.
A question requiring analysis of how the texts use language to present ideas, attitudes and opinions (40 marks)
A directed writing task linked to the same topic and the ideas in the texts (30 marks)
Non-exam assessment: Language in Action
Assessed
Word count: 3,500
100 marks
20% of A-level
Assessed by teachers
Moderated by AQA
Entry requirements
A minimum of 5 subjects at GCSE Grade 5/BTEC Level 2 Pass or higher:
Including
• Grade 6 in English Language.
• Grade 5 in English Literature.
Your next steps...
Career Paths
A-Level English Language is a highly regarded degree across the world of industry. It is well respected
and will open several doors for you in non-English careers as well as the more traditional routes of
Publishing, Media, Journalism and Teaching.
This qualification is linear, meaning that students sit all A-level exams at the end of their A-level course in Year 13.
For more courses like this, check our courses page.