Introducing new Pearson Edexcel International GCSE (9-1) English Qualifications.
Available for first teaching in September 2017.
Luka Hunter, International Academic Portfolio Manager, Pearson
We have recently launched a new suite of Pearson Edexcel International GCSE (9-1) qualifications
for first teaching in September 2017. This video is to talk you through some of the changes
we have made to our English qualifications. I'm quickly going to talk you through some
of the key features affecting all of our international GCSEs.
The first key feature is that our new International GCSEs will have a new grading scale of 9-1.
The second key feature is that we have introduced more international content and topics to ensure
that all of our international GCSEs are relevant for all of our international learners.
The third key change that we have made is that all of our International GCSEs have been
developed alongside university professors and teachers to ensure that they provide seamless
progression to further study at A level onto university then onto employment.
Why choose Pearson Edexcel International GCSE (9-1) English Qualifications?
Clare Haviland, English Subject Advisor, Pearson
There are three main points that I would like to highlight here. Firstly, they are informed
by feedback from the international school community, so we feel they are really well
tailored to your needs.
The second point is that these qualifications are comparable to UK GCSEs, so they'll give
your students the same progression routes.
Thirdly you have choice, so you have 3 different specifications: English Language A, English
Language B and English Literature.
Why choose Pearson Edexcel International GCSE (9-1) English Language A?
To suit the needs of students around the world, we offer both exam only and exam and coursework
options. In either case, students will be engaging with really stimulating texts from
a range of authors, from around the world. They'll be developing important skills, responding
to both unseen and studied texts, also to make comparisons between texts.
You can see from the table on screen how the English Language A specification is structured.
Why choose Pearson Edexcel International GCSE (9-1) English Language B?
Let's talk about English Language specification B. It provides students with a really straightforward
format and that can be important for some students that find exams daunting, as they
only have to appear once. The difference to specification A is that here we are dealing
with unseen texts only.
The difference to specification A also is that here we are dealing with unseen texts
only, so students don't use the anthology to prepare texts, they just encounter unseen
texts in the exam.
The exam has three sections. Section A is responding to unseen texts. Section B is an
interesting one, in that students do a directed writing task, where they draw or synthesise
information from the texts that they have read and reshape it for a specified audience
and purpose. This is a skill that is not examined in specification A, but is one that is very
valuable and is also taken up in A level English Language. The third section is writing.
English Language A and B both give students the opportunity to show their speaking and
listening skills in English if they want to. This can be really useful when progressing
to higher education and need to prove that they can operate in English.
Why choose Pearson Edexcel International GCSE (9-1) English Literature?
This offers students the opportunity to have really great engagement with texts of all
different genres, poetry, prose, drama, modern texts like the "Curious Incident of the Dog
in the Night Time" and also literary heritage texts; including Shakespeare.
We've got texts representing global authors, such as "Things Fall Apart" from Chinua Achebe
and "The Whale Rider" from Witi Ihimaera.The English Literature specification helps students
to develop really key skills.
Your guide to assessment
Ben Greshon, Senior Publisher, Pearson
We wanted to take this opportunity to talk you through the changes from the current specifications
to the new specifications.There is no gap in provision, so if you're offering the current
specifications, you can continue to do so and the last assessment opportunity is in
January 2019.
Resources to support teachers to deliver the new Pearson Edexcel International GCSE (9-1)
English qualifications with confidence.
We've developed a new suite of teacher and learner resources designed specifically to
support Edexcel International GCSE (9-1) English Language A, English Language B and English
Literature. These resources include textbooks and digital support and have gone through
a rigorous development and review process - and have been endorsed by Edexcel.
These resources include a rich set of activities in each chapter to support student progression
and are signposted explicitly - to support their development and exam practice tests
and exam style questions, to prepare students for the assessments.
Clare Haviland, English Subject Advisor, Pearson
My role is to support teachers around the world to deliver Edexcel qualifications. I'm
really thrilled with the new textbooks. There are over 300 pages taking you step by step
through every part of the qualification. There's helpful guidance on how to assess students
and there are key links through to our progression scale that will help you to apply the 9-1
grades as you start to deliver these qualifications.
Luka Hunter, International Academic Portfolio Manager, Pearson
The new English qualifications are now supported by a wider range of teaching and learning
materials, including a scheme of work, getting started guide, lesson plans, exam wizard and
a range of interactive textbooks and resources.
It features exam analysis tool, ResultsPlus, a service unique to Pearson, which allows
teachers to improve their teaching and learning materials, in order to improve student attainment.
To find out more, visit qualifications.pearson.com/edexcel-internationalgcse and download our English subject guide.