ABSTRACT
There are two exams for GCSE English Language and two for GCSE English Literature, each worth 50 per cent of the final grade for the respective subject. Ofqual has recognised that the total increase in demand will be greater in GCSE English than in other subjects. Teaching methods will therefore need to change if grades are to be maintained. The nature of nineteenth-century texts with their wider range of challenging and sometimes dated vocabulary, and longer, more complex sentences, is likely to present issues with regard to motivation. Students with SEND often have difficulty understanding the importance of punctuation to aid meaning. Having exemplars of sentence starters, language devices and connectives on the wall in a readable size is great, but they should be backed up by durable sheets or pyramids on the desk. In exam preparation sessions, it is wise to remember a golden rule of teaching, which is 'Never assume anything'.
