Summary of Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Advanced GCE
in English Language and Literature specification
Issue 4 changes
Summary of changes made between
... [Show More] previous issue and this current
issue
Page
number
We have added a new edition of Goblin Market, Christina Rossetti
This edition has been added as centres have informed us that the originally
prescribed edition is becoming difficult to source.
Both editions can be used.
57–58
If you need further information on these changes or what they mean, contact us via
our website at: qualifications.pearson.com/en/support/contact-us.html.
From Pearson’s Expert Panel for World Class Qualifications
“ The reform of the qualifications system in England is a profoundly important
change to the education system. Teachers need to know that the new qualifications
will assist them in helping their learners make progress in their lives.
When these changes were first proposed we were approached by Pearson to join an
‘Expert Panel’ that would advise them on the development of the new qualifications.
We were chosen, either because of our expertise in the UK education system, or
because of our experience in reforming qualifications in other systems around the
world as diverse as Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia and a number of countries
across Europe.
We have guided Pearson through what we judge to be a rigorous qualification
development process that has included:
● extensive international comparability of subject content against the highestperforming jurisdictions in the world
● benchmarking assessments against UK and overseas providers to ensure that they
are at the right level of demand
● establishing External Subject Advisory Groups, drawing on independent subjectspecific expertise to challenge and validate our qualifications
● subjecting the final qualifications to scrutiny against the DfE content and Ofqual
accreditation criteria in advance of submission.
Importantly, we have worked to ensure that the content and learning is future
oriented. The design has been guided by what is called an ‘Efficacy Framework’,
meaning learner outcomes have been at the heart of this development throughout.
We understand that ultimately it is excellent teaching that is the key factor to a
learner’s success in education. As a result of our work as a panel we are confident
that we have supported the development of qualifications that are outstanding for
their coherence, thoroughness and attention to detail and can be regarded as
representing world-class best practice.
”
Sir Michael Barber (Chair)
Chief Education Advisor, Pearson plc
Professor Lee Sing Kong
Director, National Institute of
Education, Singapore
Bahram Bekhradnia
President, Higher Education Policy Institute
Professor Jonathan Osborne
Stanford University
Dame Sally Coates
Principal, Burlington Danes Academy
Professor Dr Ursula Renold
Federal Institute of Technology,
Switzerland
Professor Robin Coningham
Pro-Vice Chancellor, University of Durham
Professor Bob Schwartz
Harvard Graduate School of Education
Dr Peter Hill
Former Chief Executive ACARA
Introduction
The Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Advanced GCE in English Language and Literature is
designed for use in schools and colleges. It is part of a suite of GCE qualifications
offered by Pearson.
Purpose of the specification
This specification sets out:
● the objectives of the qualification
● any other qualification(s) that a student must have completed before taking the
qualification
● any prior knowledge and skills that the student is required to have before taking
the qualification
● any other requirements that a student must have satisfied before they will be
assessed or before the qualification will be awarded
● the knowledge and understanding that will be assessed as part of the
qualification
● the method of assessment and any associated requirements relating to it
● the criteria against which a student’s level of attainment will be measured (such
as assessment criteria).
Rationale
The Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Advanced GCE in English Language and Literature
meets the following purposes, which fulfil those defined by the Office of
Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) for GCE qualifications in their
GCE Qualification Level Conditions and Requirements document, published in
April 2014.
The purposes of this qualification are to:
● define and assess achievement of the knowledge, skills and understanding that
will be needed by students planning to progress to undergraduate study at a UK
higher education establishment, particularly (although not only) in the same
subject area, English, English Literature and English Language
● set out a robust and internationally comparable post-16 academic course of
study to develop that knowledge, skills and understanding
● enable UK universities to accurately identify the level of attainment of students
● provide a basis for school and college accountability measures at age 18
● provide a benchmark of academic ability for employers.
Qualification aims and objectives
The aims and objectives of the Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Advanced GCE in English
Language and Literature are to enable students to:
● develop and apply their knowledge of literary analysis and evaluation
● develop and apply their understanding of the concepts and methods appropriate
for the analysis and study of language
● use linguistic and literary approaches in their reading and interpretation of
texts, showing how the two disciplines can relate to each other
● engage creatively and critically with a wide range of texts
● explore the ways in which texts relate to each other and the contexts in which
they are produced and received
● develop their skills as producers and interpreters of language
● undertake independent and sustained studies to develop their skills as
producers and interpreters of language [Show Less]