Eduqas GCSE English Language (C700): complete guide to the components, the skills and the assessment

WJEC Eduqas GCSE English Language (specification C700, for England) is a two-year linear course assessed by two written components at the end of Year 11, with a separately reported Spoken Language endorsement. There is no coursework grade for the qualification itself. Every text in the exam is unseen, so the real subject is transferable reading and writing skill, not memorised content. This page is the index: below is a map of the two components, the skill strands, the assessment objectives, and how to study each part.

The two exam components

The specification is built around two written components of unequal weight, each pairing a reading section with a writing section.

Component 1, 20th Century Literature Reading and Creative Prose Writing. One unseen 20th-century literary prose extract drives Section A reading, which tests AO1 (a short list or find question), AO2 (language and structure analysis) and AO4 (critical evaluation, including a response to a statement). Section B asks for one creative (narrative or descriptive) prose piece chosen from a list of titles. The component lasts 1 hour 45 minutes and is worth 40 percent.

Component 2, 19th and 21st Century Non-Fiction Reading and Transactional/Persuasive Writing. Two unseen non-fiction texts, one from the 19th century and one from the 21st century, drive Section A reading, which tests AO1 (including a synthesis question across both texts), AO2, AO3 (comparing the two writers' perspectives) and AO4. Section B asks for two compulsory transactional or persuasive pieces (such as a letter, article, speech, report or review). The component lasts 2 hours and is worth 60 percent, making it the longer and more heavily weighted paper.

The skill strands

Because the texts are unseen, this site groups the course into transferable skill strands rather than set content.

• Component 1 skills - reading a 20th-century literary extract, analysing fiction language, analysing fiction structure, evaluating the text critically, responding to a statement, and creative prose writing.
• Component 2 reading skills - reading 19th and 21st century non-fiction, synthesising information across two texts, analysing non-fiction language, comparing perspectives and attitudes, and evaluating non-fiction texts.
• Component 2 writing skills - transactional and persuasive writing, matching form, purpose and audience, rhetorical devices for persuasion, and managing the two writing tasks.
• Core reading skills - inference and deduction, language techniques and terminology, structural features, tone, mood and register, and using textual evidence.
• Core writing skills - planning and structuring writing, sentence variety and punctuation, vocabulary and spelling, crafting openings and endings, paragraphing and cohesion, and proofreading for accuracy.
• Spoken language - preparing a presentation, responding to questions, using Standard English and register, and how the endorsement is reported.

The assessment objectives

Every mark is awarded against the assessment objectives, so mastering them as skills matters more than any single text.

• AO1 - identify and interpret explicit and implicit information and ideas, and select and synthesise evidence from different texts.
• AO2 - explain, comment on and analyse how writers use language and structure to achieve effects and influence readers, using relevant subject terminology.
• AO3 - compare writers' ideas and perspectives, and how these are conveyed, across two or more texts.
• AO4 - evaluate texts critically and support this with appropriate textual references.
• AO5 - communicate clearly, effectively and imaginatively, selecting and adapting tone, style and register, and organising ideas using structural and grammatical features.
• AO6 - use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures for clarity, purpose and effect, with accurate spelling and punctuation.

Reading uses AO1 to AO4; writing uses AO5 and AO6. The qualification weightings are AO1 10 percent, AO2 20 percent, AO3 7.5 percent, AO4 12.5 percent, AO5 30 percent and AO6 20 percent, so reading and writing each carry half the marks. Spoken Language is assessed separately on AO7 to AO9.

Exam structure

English Language is assessed by two written components, both sat at the end of the course, plus the endorsement.

• Component 1, 20th Century Literature Reading and Creative Prose Writing - 1 hour 45 minutes, 40%. Section A is reading on one 20th-century literary extract (AO1, AO2 and AO4); Section B is one creative writing task (AO5 and AO6).
• Component 2, 19th and 21st Century Non-Fiction Reading and Transactional/Persuasive Writing - 2 hours, 60%. Section A is reading on two non-fiction texts (AO1, AO2, AO3 and AO4); Section B is two transactional or persuasive writing tasks (AO5 and AO6).
• Spoken Language endorsement - assessed by your teacher and reported separately as Pass, Merit or Distinction (AO7, AO8 and AO9). It does not count towards the 9 to 1 grade.

How to study English Language

This subject rewards transferable skill over memorised content, because the texts are unseen.

1. Build the reading skills in order. Move from locating and inferring information (AO1) to analysing language and structure (AO2), to comparing perspectives (AO3), to critical evaluation (AO4).
2. Always link method to effect. Naming a technique earns little; explaining its effect on the reader and on meaning is what AO2 and AO4 reward.
3. Plan and craft your writing. Plan before you write, vary sentences and punctuation, reach for ambitious vocabulary, craft openings and endings, and match form, purpose and audience, because AO5 and AO6 reward control.
4. Protect your accuracy marks. AO6 is worth 20 percent of the qualification, so leave time to check spelling, punctuation and sentence accuracy on every writing task.
5. Practise to time and prepare your talk. Drill Eduqas past papers under timed conditions, remembering Component 2 has two writing tasks, and prepare your Spoken Language presentation early so it is polished.

The skill strands, dot point by dot point

Each strand has skill-level answer pages with practice questions and cross-links, plus a deep-dive overview guide. Browse the full set at /gcse-eduqas/english-language/syllabus.

For the official specification

Eduqas publishes the full specification (C700), past papers, mark schemes and the insert texts at eduqas.co.uk. Always revise from the current specification and Eduqas's own past papers, because question wording and mark schemes are board-specific.