Topic One (1.1): Introduction to AL English Language – Examinations and Course Structure

Introduction Icon.png 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 AL English Language, in addition to the two AS exams, which you may already have taken, you will take two exam papers:

  • Paper 3: Language Analysis – worth 25% of the overall A Level grade. Length: 2 hours and 15 minutes.
  • Paper 4: Language Topics – worth 25% of the overall A Level grade. Length: 2 hours and 15 minutes.

Exam Prep Icon.jpg Exam Preparation

  • Before you begin this course, you should read through the CAIE Learner Guide for English Language for 2021 onwards. You may have looked at this already if you studied the AS course for exams in 2021, but if you took AS exams before this, you may not have seen this before.
  • The document can be found in General Resources section of your course. We recommend that you print this out, if you have not already done so, so that you can refer to it frequently as you work through the course.

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

  • 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 3 and 4, which you will take at the end of this course. Take a look at these now so you know what you are working towards:

Download READ – Overview of AL Paper 3: Language Analysis

Download READ – Overview of AL Paper 4: Language Topics

Optional Activities Icon.png Course Structure

This course is effectively divided into two halves, based on the exam papers. Modules One to Five are based on the material you need for Paper 3: Language Analysis – Language Change (Section A) and Child Language Acquisition (Section B)*. Modules Six to Ten are based on the material you need for Paper 4: Language Topics – English in the World (Section A) and Language and the Self (Section B). All four topic areas are compulsory and will be tested in the exams.

*N.B. We will begin this course with the new skills and terminology relating to spoken language required for AL before moving on to Child Language Acquisition in Modules Two and Three, so we will start with Paper 3: Section B. Assignment One is an introduction to transcript reading, which will help you understand the material in Modules Two and Three better.