English Literature GCSE – C2927

This is a very intensive and fast-paced evening course for 19+ adults who are either looking to increase their GCSE profile for entry to further study, or for those who wish to study English literature for their own interest. This is a very popular and interesting area of study which appeals to those who may wish to study literature at a higher level. There are two main sections to explore; the first section covers a Shakespeare play and a 19th Century novel, and the second section contains a modern novel and a range of modern poems. You will have access to the college’s virtual learning environment (Moodle) and be provided with texts to use in class, including the poetry anthology. A course handbook and extensive learning resources will guide you through the elements of the course, but you must be prepared and motivated to study independently as not all sections can be covered in depth during class time.
This is a weekly evening class on Tuesday evenings (5.45pm to 8.45pm) at Abbey Park Campus; you should be prepared to attend every session, so please ensure that there are no other commitments, such as employment, which may impact upon your progress.

Year 1

You will learn to develop your reading, writing and communication skills in preparation for the examinations in May/June. You will read a wide range of texts and develop the skills to critically analyse, evaluate and compare key features such as content, theme, structure and the use of language. You will learn about – and practise – literal and inferential comprehension, evaluate the writer’s choice of vocabulary, grammatical and structural features, and compare texts.

You will be assessed on your learning by completing two exam papers. For paper 1, you will study one Shakespeare play and one 19th Century novel. For paper 2, you will study post-1914 prose fiction and drama – one play and one novel – as well as examining a range of poetry from the exam board’s ‘past and present’ anthology.

This is an adult evening course; you must be 19 before the 31st of August in the year you intend to study.
You should be confident with your reading and writing skills and ideally have achieved a Grade D (grade 3 or above) in English language or hold a Functional Skills English qualification at Level 2.

Don’t worry if you do not currently have the suggested entry requirements, as the main entry requirement for the course is the successful completion of a pre-entry assessment (duration 1 hour) which will test whether you have the appropriate skills and potential to cope with the demands of the course.
The pre-entry assessments will begin during the summer term and continue during part-time enrolment in August (dates to be confirmed). You will need to book an assessment during the part-time enrolment period (20th August to the 29th September – to be confirmed) by contacting the college.

Please note that this is an English literature GCSE and NOT GCSE English Language and will therefore not be accepted as eligibility for the English GCSE entry requirement for Higher Education or further study on its own. Please check your eligibility in terms of age and whether this course is suitable for your progression aims before applying.

You will take two exams in May/June. Paper 1 examines a Shakespeare play and a 19th novel. Paper 2 examines modern texts and poetry, including unseen poems.
In addition, there will be regular homework tasks and four internal assessment points (mock exams) during the year to check your progress and set academic targets for you to improve and develop your skills.
The exams will be in May or early June on dates set nationally and will be held at the Abbey Park Campus. These are always during the day so make sure you can attend them both, as missing an exam will result in failure of the whole course and a £50 fee per exam missed.

Tuition fees

Tuition Fees (19+): £360.00

Additional Costs

You may wish to purchase your own copies of the set texts for annotation and revision purposes.
Folders, paper and pens are essential, as is a good English dictionary.
There is a £10 materials fee to help towards the cost of printing and photocopying learning resources.

Material Fees

£10.00

Disclaimer

If the course is longer than one year the total fees are for the first year only and further fees may apply in future years. All fees are based on a ‘home’ learner status. Please contact us for information on overseas fees.

For more information, please see our course fee disclaimers page.

Learn more about fees

This course is ideal for adults with a passion for literature or those wishing to progress on to the Access to Humanities Diploma, where level 3 English literature is a main component. Achieving an additional GCSE grade 4/5 or higher (C grade or higher) will increase your opportunities to apply for a range of jobs and further courses. Developing your higher level reading and critical writing skills will also benefit you in any further study as well as at work and in your everyday life.

Apply online via the College website. You will be contacted to come into College if required, or you will be sent a conditional offer according to the entry requirements for the course. You will then be invited in to enrol for your chosen course of study.

For enrol and pay courses: Once you have decided to take the course, you need to fill in a short student details form online and pay the course fee. Once you have done this, you will receive an electronic confirmation of enrolment and payment.