1. Network events – GCSE English – Spring 2017

2. Agenda Preparation for the Summer 2017 exams
Discuss how to plan revision effectively
Consider approaches to preparing for the writing part of the papers
Work with others to assess exemplar material and suggest formative advice to improve achievement in writing
Share ideas and network with others

3. THE FINAL COUNTDOWN
What  balance of teaching between Lang and Lit have you decided upon and why?
How much integration do you build into the programme between Lit and Lang?
How are you approaching skills development, (especially for Eng Lang, where there’s no content) in the final stages of the course?
How much time are you planning to spend on revising the Lit set texts?

4. The final countdown: Westminster Academy’s approach

5. Paper 1 (40% of GCSE) 1 hour 45 mins (1 hour reading, 45 mins writing)Q1
1 mark Q2
2 marks Q3 6 Q4
15 marks
Total reading 24 marks
WRITING
1 out of two writing questions marks
This leaves no checking time for reading and it’s unlikely that students will be able to claw that back from anywhere.
While we can tell them that this is roughly a minute per mark for reading, it is probably easier for them to all set their timers to give them 25 mins per section, knowing that they should spend no more than a minute per mark on the short answer questions.
I am diverting from what is said in the Edexcel slides and am not sure if this works out the same, but I think it is easier if they deal with it in three parts ie text 1, text 2, both texts.
And then go on to the writing. What do you think? MY CONTINUED CONCERN IS THAT ALTHOUGH READING AND WRITING ARE EQUALLY WEIGHTED IN MARK TERMS, THE DANGER REMAINS THAT THEY RUN OUT OF TIME FOR WRITING. AND , FOR ME (BUT NOT CHIEF EXAMINERS IT APPEARS) 45 MINS IS THE ABSOLUTE BAREST MINIMUM TIME I’D BE WANTING TO DEVOTE TO A SECTION WHUCH IS WORTH THE SAME AS ALL THE READING QUESTIONS PUT OTGETHER. SO I AM SAYING 50 MINS ON WRITING MINIMUM. I GUESS YOU WILL HAVE TO MAKE A CALL ON THAT
[The board are saying: Paper 2 timings as a very rough guide are minutes reading time, then minutes on the questions – this means around 14 minutes on question 3]

6. Total reading marks 56 marks
Paper 2 (60% of GCSE) 2 hours = (1 hour 15 mins reading, 45 minutes writing)
READING
Text 1
Q1, 2, 3
2, 2, 15 marks
Text 2
Q 4, 5, 6
1, 1, 15 marks
Both texts
Q 7a and 7b
6, 14 marks
Total reading marks 56 marks
WRITINGG
1 out of two writing questions marks
This leaves no checking time for reading and it’s unlikely that students will be able to claw that back from anywhere.
While we can tell them that this is roughly a minute per mark for reading, it is probably easier for them to all set their timers to give them 25 mins per section, knowing that they should spend no more than a minute per mark on the short answer questions.
I am diverting from what is said in the Edexcel slides and am not sure if this works out the same, but I think it is easier if they deal with it in three parts ie text 1, text 2, both texts.
And then go on to the writing. What do you think? MY CONTINUED CONCERN IS THAT ALTHOUGH READING AND WRITING ARE EQUALLY WEIGHTED IN MARK TERMS, THE DANGER REMAINS THAT THEY RUN OUT OF TIME FOR WRITING. AND , FOR ME (BUT NOT CHIEF EXAMINERS IT APPEARS) 45 MINS IS THE ABSOLUTE BAREST MINIMUM TIME I’D BE WANTING TO DEVOTE TO A SECTION WHUCH IS WORTH THE SAME AS ALL THE READING QUESTIONS PUT OTGETHER. SO I AM SAYING 50 MINS ON WRITING MINIMUM. I GUESS YOU WILL HAVE TO MAKE A CALL ON THAT
[The board are saying: Paper 2 timings as a very rough guide are minutes reading time, then minutes on the questions – this means around 14 minutes on question 3]

7. TIMINGS AND TARIFFS
In small groups, discuss with each other the advice you are giving/intend to give students about how long they should spend on each question on each of the papers.

8. WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT WRITING?!

9. Interested in becoming an examiner?
We are actively recruiting for GCSE and A Level examiners for Summer 2017.
See the FAQs in your pack for details on how to apply.
Exam paper
Training dates 2017
Marking period 2017
GCSE English Lang Paper 1
27 May & 16 June
19 June - 10 July
GCSE English Lang Paper 2
27 May & 26 June
26 June - 11 July
GCSE English Lit Paper 1
14 May & 3 June
3 June - 19 June
GCSE English Lit Paper 2
14 May & 9 June
9 June - 26 June

10. Pearson English Conference – Feb 25th 2017