Curriculum and assessment have an interactive and mutual influence on one another. This chapter assembles in one place a critique of examinations and other assessment arrangements; and offers practical, educationally preferable alternatives in every case where current or planned arrangements are unsatisfactory. There is much to welcome in subject content and assessment objectives for reading. The English Language subject content and assessment objectives for writing are brief: producing clear and coherent text, writing for impact. The author concludes: Coursework should be restored to GCSE English Language and Literature, at 25 per cent of the total weighting, students' achievement in the spoken language should once more count towards the main grade at GCSE English Language, at 25 per cent of the total weighting, there should be some prescription of the literature to be studied at GCSE English Language, Seminal world literature should be part of the requirement for study at GCSE English Literature.