The National Curriculum in the UK has undergone a major revamp. From September 2015, Schools are teaching the new GCSE syllabus in English Language, English Literature and Maths. The first batch of students will be expecting their results in August 2017. The rest of the subjects will follow in 2019.
The grading system has also been changed from the traditional A* – C grades to
1 – 9 grading levels. 9 is the top grade and 1 the lowest grade. A level 5 grade is a good pass.
The new GCSEs will be harder to pass and it has been indicated by a think tank that the GCSE English and Maths average pass rate will decline from the current 56% to 34%.
Most top employers and Universities are now demanding students have at least a level 6 or 7 in GCSE Maths and especially in GCSE English.
The GCSE English Challenge
1. This subject has been a consistently difficult subject to pass. Many students feel English being their first language is an easy subject to master, but time and again the results show that students within England are struggling to grasp the techniques necessary to impress the examiners.
2. With the advent of texting short hand, messaging on social media and informal playground language skills, has resulted in a decline in student’s general abilities to apply formal English to an exam paper. Lack of reading and writing at home has resulted in thousands of students struggling.
3. Many Schools sometimes do not distinguish the difference between English Language and English Literature and this leaves students challenged. Children find it difficult to change and swap lessons between the two subjects due to the strict timetabling of Schools.
4. Due to national School cuts, many Schools are facing a tight squeeze with regards teachers and resources. Class sizes in Secondary Schools are more than 30 and children are not always getting the personal attention they deserve.
5. Many parents can’t get their heads around how their children should be revising for English. The old myth that you do not need to revise for GCSE English or English Literature is not true.
What Skills Do you Need for GCSE English and GCSE English Literature
Reading skills will include selecting information and using quotations to help support your views. Infer and deduce information. Language and structure has to be analysed and compared.
Writing skills will include adapting writing skills to form, purpose and audience by developing ideas. Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar.
How to Boost your Child’s GCSE English Grade
- GCSE English Tutoring – Finding an English Tutor is good for long-term support. Nearly a quarter of all UK students have had some sort of private Tuition in English and Maths. A GCSE English Tutor can prepare a student on the techniques relevant to passing GCSE English.
- Revision – Many students feel revision with regards English is pointless. This is far from the truth. You can purchase GCSE English and English Literature revision guides from WH Smiths or online from Amazon. These revision guides have detailed information on language techniques, writing techniques and cover Literature papers such as Macbeth, A Christmas Carol, general Shakespeare, blood brothers, poems and much more.
- Online resources and Apps – Various Apps made for GCSE English revision can support your child’s revision. They include, slides, mind maps, games and quizzes to help boost revision. BBC Bite Size is an amazing online revision tool that is structured according to examination boards such as Edexcel, AQA and OCR GCSE English.
- Practise Exam Papers – Just before the exams, once your child has acquired the knowledge, there is not better practise than to cover GCSE English past papers. Your child will begin to understand and value the format, structure, marking criteria and time more confidently.
- Respect and support is key for your child. Not all students are the same in academic ability. A little encouragement and help does go a long way in preparing for exams.
GCSE English Tuition
Many parents are put off with the thought of tutoring being too expensive. Not all English Tutoring needs to be expensive and it could be one of the last resorts in helping get your child get back on track with the subject. Contact us below and we will give your more information and options with regards revision techniques, English Tutors or a local Tuition Centre to you that can provide your child with immediate help in GCSE English Language and English Literature.
What to look for in a GCSE English Tutor
- Qualifications. There are many tutors who do not always possess the correct educational qualifications or even an English degree. If an English tutor is a qualified teacher then they will know how to handle students, what motivates them and the right methods of teaching?
- Experience is key in GCSE English. A tutor who has taught GCSE English in a School will have a good track record and techniques they may be able to apply.
- Resources used. A good GCSE English Tutor or Tuition centre always has the best resources, such as mock GCSE English exam papers and worksheets.
- CRB and DBS reference checks, will verify the Tutor does not have a criminal history. Your child’s safety is important.
- Location. It’s always good to hire a Tutor, who is local or teaches online. Convenience for your child is important. Long journeys can make a student tired and unresponsive to learning.
- Personalising your child’s GCSE English learning will capture your child’s attention best. GCSE English Tuition has to be unique in the sense that it is tailor made for your child’s needs.
Advantages of GCSE English Tutoring
- It can boost your child’s GCSE English preparation away from the distractions of School and home.
- English and English Literature techniques are not fully taught at Schools, due to lack of time and budget pressures. They are unique educational requirements that will also boost your child’s skills at University and at work in the future.
- Due to the parent and child relationship, it’s not always easy for parents to tutor their own children. Sometimes outsourcing the responsibility to a professional Tutor is more productive.
- GCSE English Tutoring will boost your child’s confidence, reading and writing skills. A good tutor will also need to be a good mentor.
- If your child passes GCSE English with a grade level of 5 or more then he or she will be able to apply for many more jobs in the future. This is a requirement for most employers in valued companies.
If you would like more information on how we can help your child in GCSE English then fill in the form below with all your details and one of our dedicated team members will contact you.
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