Assessment overview

All components include synoptic assessment.

Students must complete all components (01, 02 and 03) to be awarded the OCR A Level in English Language.

Students who are retaking the qualification may carry forward their result for the non-exam assessment component.

Content overview

This qualification provides students with the opportunity to:

• Analyse language use in a range of authentic texts
• Engage with language issues and concepts
• Understand how children acquire language
• Investigate an area of study which is of particular personal interest.

At A Level, students develop a deep knowledge and understanding of the English language at all levels:

• Phonetics, phonology and prosodics
• Lexis and semantics
• Grammar including morphology
• Pragmatics
• Discourse.

Students apply their knowledge of the language levels to analyse texts and critically evaluate attitudes towards language and speakers in a variety of contexts:

• Historical
• Geographical
• Social and individual varieties of English
• Aspects of language and identity.

Component 01: Exploring language

Students apply various methods of linguistic analysis, and engage with current debates around language use. There are three sections:

• Section A: Language under the microscope
• Section B: Writing about a topical language issue
• Section C: Comparing and contrasting texts.

Component 02: Dimensions of linguistic variation

Students explore language use in particular contexts across time and place. There are three sections:

• Section A: Child language acquisition
• Section B: Language in the media
• Section C: Language change.

Component 03: Independent language research

Students pursue their own language investigation, developing valuable research and communication skills. There are two sections:

• Section A: An independent investigation – students pursue an area of study of particular interest to them
• Section B: The academic poster – students present their research in a concise and visually accessible way.

Assessment overview

Both components include synoptic assessment.

Students must complete both components (01 and 02) to be awarded the OCR AS Level in English Language.

Content overview

This qualification provides students with the opportunity to:

• Analyse language use in a range of authentic texts
• Engage with language issues and concepts
• Understand how language works in a variety of contexts.

At AS Level, students will develop a secure knowledge and understanding of the language levels:

• Phonetics, phonology and prosodics
• Lexis and semantics
• Grammar including morphology
• Pragmatics
• Discourse.

This qualification introduces students to concepts and methods relevant to linguistic analysis, helping them to develop the skills to analyse a wide range of spoken and written texts.

Component 01: Exploring language

Students develop the skills to analyse spoken and written texts. There are two sections:

• Section A: Understanding language features in context
• Section B: Comparing and contrasting texts.

Component 02: Exploring contexts

Students explore language use in particular contexts and engage with current topical debates around language use. There are two sections:

• Section A: Writing about a topical language issue
• Section B: Exploring language in context.