English

Year 10 English works at the threshold of GCSE. Pupils write full literature essays on set texts, analyse unseen prose and poetry under timed conditions, and produce writing that would stand up in a CCEA paper.

Analysis becomes evaluative — not just identifying a technique but arguing how successfully a writer achieves an effect, and considering context and alternative interpretations.

In Northern Ireland, CCEA GCSE English Language and English Literature are separate qualifications with distinct demands and a controlled assessment element, so pupils start learning to switch between the two styles of response this year.