Course information
The course offers a great opportunity to learn more about the English language and its application. At AS level, you’ll learn about how to analyse language correctly, textual variations and representations, diversity within the ‘family’ of English languages, regional and national variations, and different language discourses.
In the second year of the course, you’ll delve deeper into the English language, understanding how children develop their language, analysing speech and writing with language development theories, and understanding how language evolves through time. You’ll also understand more about how language is used in action across a variety of texts.
This course includes 40 Lessons and 20 Tutor-marked assignments, detailed guidance on preparing your NEA/coursework and 2 Mock Examination papers.
Module One: Introduction to Language Analysis: Language Frameworks
- Modes of address: Lexis and Semantics
- Modes of address: Grammar and Graphology
- Modes of address: Analysing spontaneous speech
- Modes of address: Pragmatics and discourse
Module Two: Textual Variations and Representations
- Variations in spoken, written and multi-modal texts
- Representations -Texts in Time
- Representations – Texts in Context
- Language, Power and Identity
Module Three: Language Diversity
- Sociolects – Social and Occupational groups
- Sociolects – gender and ethnicity
- Accents and Dialects – Regional varieties
- Global English – National and International varieties
Module Four: Language Discourses
- ‘Standard English’: Caxton’s Eggs and historical attitudes
- Attitudes to diversity and change – constructing identity
- Attitudes to diversity and change – positioning and influencing the reader
- Attitudes to diversity and change – future discourses
Module Five: Language in Action: Investigating Language
- Identifying an investigation topic/ research questions
- Methodology: Data collection and language analysis
- Evaluating findings
- Language concepts and writing up
Module Six: Understanding Children’s Language Development
- Functions of Children’s Language Use
- Language Development: Phonology and Grammar
- Language Development: Lexis, Semantics and Pragmatics
- Comparing development in spoken and written texts
Module Seven: Applying Theories of Language Development to Analysis of
Speech and Writing
- Genres of children’s speech and writing
- Modes of communication – spoken, written and multi-modal texts
- Theories of Children’s Language Development
- Researching Children’s Language Use
Module Eight: Language in Action – Original Writing
- Original Writing Option 1 – The Power of Persuasion
- Original Writing Option 2 – The Power of Storytelling
- Original Writing Option 3 – The Power of Information
- Producing an Evaluative commentary
Module Nine: Introduction to Language Change
- Diachronic Change and Diversity: Language use from 1600 to present day
- Processes of Diachronic Change
- Synchronic Change and Diversity: The future of English?
- Evaluating language change in written texts and transcripts
Module Ten: Evaluating Language Change
- Using language data to evaluate diachronic change
- Using language data to evaluate synchronic change
- Synchronic Diversity: Ethnolects and International English
- Attitudes to language change: Descriptive models. Directed Writing
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Examining board and exams
Oxford Open Learning’s English A level course has been specifically written to prepare candidates for the AQA English A level qualification. The syllabus numbers are:
- AS English (Advanced Subsidiary GCE in English): course code 7701
- A-level English (Advanced GCE in English): course code 7702.
For the AS course, there are two 90-minute exams June, while the A Level course, assessed in June, comprises two exams (each two hours and 30 minutes long) and one piece of NEA (coursework) – the Language Investigation.
In order to do the Language Investigation, you will need to be able to follow the rules for authentication. They may be found here.
What can I do with an English A level?
As well as further study at university and later work in academia, English A level teaches a wide range of skills well-suited to roles that use the English language and its facets on a day-to-day basis.
For instance, the subject is a good choice if you want to make a career in journalism, writing, advertising, marketing or linguistics. What’s more, it’s important in fields such as politics, performing arts, law, foreign languages, design and media too. If you’re thinking of studying humanities at university, the skills it teaches you will be of great use, whatever you study, thanks to its focus on communication and textual analysis.
Transferable skills developed studying English A level include:
- Research skills
- Critical thinking
- Essay writing
- Analytical skills
- An attention to detail
- Crafting arguments
- Communication skills
Online Course? Paper-based? Somewhere in between? It’s your choice!
All of our English A level students receive:
- Traditional printed learning materials
- Access to our online resources with on-the-go access to all your regular lessons
- Unmatched support by a fully-qualified teacher online and by phone
How much does it cost?
Our English Language A level course fee is £525 with a £105 deposit, payable in eight instalments of £52.50.
As you study, you’ll support from a qualified tutor that has a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) or a degree in education. They’ll help by:
- Marking all course assignments
- Providing written answers to specific problems you might have
- Telephone and email contact
- Marking and moderation of your NEA project
When you begin the course, you and your Student Advisor will agree an examination date or dates – the support period will last up to the final examination date, giving you all the help you need to succeed.
My journey with Oxford Open Learning lasted seven years and came to an end last June. Looking back with the benefit of hindsight (and hopefully some maturity), I can say that along with my qualifications, I acquired skills of independence, persistence and self-discipline. More importantly, I gained a love of knowledge, that has extended into my recent gap-year and enriched my blossoming career as a writer, as I look to write and direct my first short film.
Kavae Loseby, English Language Grade A
Meet Our Tutors
My passion for literature and for learning fuelled my desire to teach. After gaining experience working in schools with disadvantaged students, I was employed as a non-qualified English teacher in a local secondary school. I was fortunate to be supported by this school, and gained Qualified Teacher Status, followed by a MA in Education.
After years of teaching English Language, Literature, and Media at GCSE and A Level, I stepped away from mainstream schooling. This change opened new learning adventures which include writing literature resources for an educational publisher, becoming an examiner, and becoming the GCSE English specialist at a local tutoring centre.
I look forward to building up a good working relationship with you. Remember that I am here to help you on your own personal learning journey, and I look forward to speaking with you very soon.
Jaqueline Hopkins
Prerequisites
We expect students to have a minimum of four good GCSEs in order to study English A level, and preferably a grade B/6 or above in English GCSE/IGCSE or equivalent.
You might feel you have other experience or qualifications that make you eligible for the course. If you do, feel free to call one of our student advisers on 0800 0111 024 to talk about your suitability for the course.
Due to the stringent Non Examination Assessment (NEA) requirements, the last application date for this course’s summer 2025 exams is the 15th September 2024.
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FAQs
Why should I choose Oxford Home Schooling?
- Oxford Home Schooling is a long-established educational trust that prides itself on
- treating every student as an individual
- customer service
- course quality.
- We’re rated ‘Excellent’ on Trustpilot by students who have studied with us.
- We provide online and printed resources so you can study your way – other providers do not give you that choice.
- We make it easy for you to home-educate your children with our flexible schedule, tutor support, and interest-free payment plan.
- Every year we help hundreds of children who have left mainstream education obtain the qualifications they need to progress and achieve their goals.
- Oxford Home Schooling is part of a not-for-profit trust so you can be sure that your course fees are spent on either your child’s tuition or on improving our courses.
When can I enrol?
You can enrol any time you like, the earlier the better. The important thing to consider is when you wish to sit your exam and give yourself plenty of time to work through your materials and revise successfully. Our cut-off dates for enrolment on English A level are slightly earlier than for most A levels. This is due to the Non-examination assessment (NEA) or what would once have been coursework. This work needs to be completed by mid-March and is situated in the second half of the course.
Once you have enrolled, you will get access to your English A level course online immediately and your printed course materials will arrive a few days later.
Can I complete the English Language A level exam in one year?
Our cut-off for enrolling on an A level English course for the following summer examination series is mid-September each year. So yes you can.
However, remember that you will still need to
- fit 700 hours of study time into your schedule before the examination in May.
- Complete the Non-examination assessment (NEA) by mid march
- Have completed enough other work by this point for our tutors to authenticate and mark your NEA.
The earlier you enrol, the less study you must do each week and the better chance you give yourself of achieving a top grade.
Can I just enrol on the AS level English Language course?
Yes, you can. The fee to enrol on the English Language AS course is just £300. If you decide to upgrade to a full A Level later on then you may do so for an additional fee of £350.
The results from your AS Level exam cannot be carried forward to your A level and you will need to take the full A level exams which test the full spectrum of topics from the AS and A level specification.
The AS does not require you to carry out Non-examination assessment (NEA).
When will I sit my exam?
The English A level papers may be sat in the Summer examination series. The Summer series typically runs from mid-May to late June.
There is no autumn examination sitting for this subject.
How and when do I book an exam?
The final date for booking summer exams with the exam board without incurring late entry fees is the 21st of February. You should book your place at an exam centre well in advance of this date. Start looking once the autumn term begins.
In the case of English Language A level you will make your examination entry with Oxford Home Schooling and find a host centre locally. This is because Oxford Home Schooling is responsible for marking your coursework.
All the information you need to book an exam centre can be found in our Exams Hub. Here you will find
- detailed instructions
- entry codes needed to book exams
- our map of examination centres where our students have sat in recent years.
Tutors & Exams offers discounts to Oxford Home Schooling students and has nine current exam venues across the UK: Belfast, Birmingham, Bolton, Coventry, Doncaster, High Wycombe, Romford, St Neots, Taunton and Wimbledon.
Pearson Edexcel also publishes a list of exam centres that accept private candidates. This won’t list every available centre, so if there’s nothing shown in your area, we recommend contacting local schools and colleges directly.
How much does an English A Level examination cost?
Your exam fees aren’t included in the course cost as they’re paid directly to the exam centre. They will vary depending on which centre you choose.
Oxford Homeschooling will
- make your exam entry for a cost in the region of £100
- mark your NEA which is included in the course fee
- Transfer your exam papers to your host centre for a cost in the region of £50
You will need to find your host centre and they will make a charge for you to sit the exam.
Generally speaking, dedicated examination services will be more expensive than a local school or college. Further details on the costs can be found on our Non-examination assessment pages
Is it possible to study for English Language A level and English Literature A level at the same time?
It is possible, although unusual. Although many of the same skills are required, there is no significant overlap of topics.
Immerse yourself in the magic of the English Language Apply Now!
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