English Language A-level


Start:
September
Duration:
2 years
Level:
3

Course Details

Interested in how language works?

Studying English Language reveals how words can influence others and how English constantly changes to adapt to modern life.

Studying English Language encourages analysis and insight and develops your debating and discussion skills, and, of course, improves your written skills.

Choosing English Language will challenge your views, make you see things differently and may even change your life.

You will study topics including language, the individual and society, textual variations and representations, child language development, and language diversity and change. You will study how different groups in society use language according to influences, such as, ethnicity, occupation, class, gender, sexuality, and disability. You will also study dialects including global, national and regional varieties of English.

You will investigate and evaluate data and write analytical essays, challenging theoretical viewpoints. You will produce your own creative writing for coursework and in exam conditions and then critically evaluate your own work. You will get the opportunity to be independent and develop your research skills through producing a 2,000 word language investigation into a topic of your choice.

If you intend to study a programme of three A-level subjects or two A-level subjects and one BTEC Extended Certificate subject:

  • You will need a minimum of five GCSEs at grades 4 or above including English Language and Maths. If you haven’t achieved a grade 4 in GCSE Maths, there may be an opportunity to re-sit this alongside your other subjects.

Additional entry requirements:

  • You must have achieved at least a grade 4 in both English Language and English Literature - a love of reading and writing is expected.

The College will always treat each applicant as an individual. Should you not have or not expect to obtain the grades stated above, or not have relevant industry-related experience, the College would still welcome your application for this course as this will enable us to identify whether this course is, in fact, the right course for you or whether another course may be more appropriate.

All course offers will be subject to satisfactory interview and reference.

AQA A-level English Language (7702)
  • Examination – Paper 1 (The Individual and Society)
  • A-level (40%) 2.5 hours
  • Examination – Paper 2 (Language Diversity and Change)
  • A-level (40%) 2.5 hours
  • Non-Exam Assessment – Paper 3 (Language Investigation and Original Writing)
  • A-level (20%)
  • University
  • Higher/Degree Apprenticeship
  • Employment
You can apply for university courses in English Language and linguistics as well as a whole range of other subjects with a combined degree. Relevant careers include Journalism, Sales, Teaching, Management, Administration, Information Management, Publishing and Public Services.

University Guarantee

Every Sefton Sixth Form College student who successfully achieves a Level 3 qualification and meets attendance and entry requirements, is guaranteed a place on a course at the Hugh Baird University Centre.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some frequently asked questions that we are often asked:

You will take three subjects over two years.

We offer a small number of BTEC courses at Sefton Sixth Form College. You can study one BTEC course alongside your two A-levels.

It is not expected that a student would attend both sites, but the feasibility of this would be discussed on an individual basis. Potential timetable clashes and workload would need to be considered in detail for this to be a possibility.