Is GCSE English Language tiered?
GCSE English Language is not tiered. Every student sits the same two papers and can be awarded any grade from 1 to 9, so there is no foundation or higher tier to choose.
Is GCSE English Language tiered?
No. Under the AQA specification (8700), both papers are taken by all students, and grades 1 to 9 are available across the whole qualification. You do not need to choose a tier when you enter, and your school does not need to decide on a tier for you.
Spoken language is separate
The spoken language assessment is reported as a separate endorsement and is not graded, so it does not affect your 1 to 9 grade. Check with your school how it is run for your group.
What this means for revision
Because there is one set of papers, prepare for both reading and writing across the course. Each paper carries equal weight at 50 percent of the grade.
Read the full GCSE English Language guide for the paper breakdown and dates, or try the GCSE English Language sample test.
