Introduction

This topic introduces you to the syllabus, the format of the exams, the textbook and some key documents you will need to be aware of as you work through the course.

For CAIE AS English Language, you will take two exam papers:

Paper 1: Reading – worth 50% of your AS grade and 25% of the full A Level. Length: 2 hours and 15 minutes.
Paper 2: Writing – worth 50% of your AS grade and 25% of the full A Level. Length: 2 hours.

Exam Prep Icon.jpg Exam Preparation

Before you begin this course, you should read through the CAIE Learner Guide for English Language. We recommend that you print this out so you can keep it in your file and refer to it frequently as you work through the course.

PRINT OUT & READ – Learner Guide for English Language (CAIE)

Note the example candidate response on pages 10 to 17. This contains annotations from examiners and shows you an example of the level you are aiming for in your written responses.
Assessment criteria are explained on page 9.
The following documents are taken from the syllabus and show you exactly what you will need to do for Papers 1 and 2, which you will take at the end of this course. Take a look at these now.

READ – Overview of AS Paper 1: Reading

READ – Overview of AS Paper 2: Writing

Top Tip

The syllabus lists the following as examples of the kinds of texts you need to study as part of this course (you can also see this list of page 5 of the CAIE Learner Guide):
- advertisements
- brochures
- leaflets
- editorials
- news stories
- articles
- reviews
- blogs
- investigative journalism
- letters
- podcasts
- (auto)biographies
- travel writing
- diaries
- essays
- scripted speech
- narrative writing
- descriptive writing

In this subject though, anything you may read or hear counts as a text, and you could be asked to analyse or produce any kind of text in the exams. One of the best ways to prepare for this is to read as much as you can and to pay close attention to all the various kinds of text you encounter in everyday life, including blogs, political speeches, emails and even recipes and text messages.

Course Structure

This course is loosely divided into two halves, based on the exam papers.

Modules One to Six are based on the material you need for Paper 1: Reading. Assignment One is a general test of the terminology and concepts covered in Module One to get you started, but Assignments Two to Six are based on the kinds of questions you will get in Paper 1.

Modules Seven to Eleven are based on the material you need for Paper 2: Writing. Assignments Eight to Eleven are based on the kinds of questions you will get in Paper 2.

Please be aware that English Language is very much an applied subject and the material covered is cumulative. The terminology and concepts you will learn in Modules One to Six will help you to analyse different types of text, but you will also need to use these concepts yourself when approaching directed writing tasks.

Read & Make Notes Icon.png Read and Make Notes

To familiarise yourself with the overall course content and textbook, start by reading the introduction: pages iv to vi.
Read about the assessment objectives, command words and the structure of the exams on pages vii to viii and make notes.
Read about how to use the textbook on pages ix to x.

Top Tip

Please note that the textbook contains lots of activities and we recommend you complete as many of these as possible to help consolidate what you have learnt. However, the book was originally written for use in the classroom so some of the activities ask you to complete tasks with a partner. Most of these can still be completed alone, but you can skip any activities where this is not possible.

Terminology

The textbook also contains a glossary at the back, on pages 436 to 443. You should refer to this regularly as you work through the course – but also be aware that we have provided you with a printable glossary to accompany this course which contains even more detail.
Your AS glossary is a key document and you should have it to hand each time you study. Print it out now and keep it in your folder.

PRINT OUT & READ – AS Glossary of Terminology

As you go through each topic, remember to highlight any key terms on your glossary, so you have an ongoing record of what you have learnt so far.
Another helpful tip is to make flashcards for key terms as you go along, with the word on one side and the definition on the other. You will see regular reminders to do this throughout the course. This makes revision later on much easier. Make sure you always check your spellings!
You may also find the following online glossaries helpful.

EXPLORE – Literary Devices and Terms (Literary Devices)

EXPLORE – Literary Devices and Terms (LitCharts)

EXPLORE – Literary Devices (Literary-Devices)