[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-206822-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":74,"doc-detail-206822-en":124},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":67,"head_meta":69,"extra_data":71,"updated_unix":73},105,"en","choosing-an-english-qualification","Choosing an English qualification","","Guidance on selecting suitable English qualifications for schools and colleges in the UK and internationally, clarifying how state-funded schools use England’s Section 96 requirements and the resulting GCSE options. Explains the distinction between English Language and languages qualifications, outlines key GCSE English Language routes including Spoken Language Endorsement, exam series timing, and age restrictions for November resits. Compares GCSE English Language 1EN0 and 1EN2 and describes International GCSE English Language A/B, assessment routes, and entry-check considerations for further study.",{"@graph":14,"@context":66},[15,34,49],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/exam/","Exam",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/choosing-an-english-qualification/206822/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"author":36,"headline":10,"publisher":39,"fileFormat":42,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":43,"datePublished":43,"encodingFormat":42,"isAccessibleForFree":44,"interactionStatistic":45},"DigitalDocument",{"name":37,"@type":38},"Rizky","Person",{"url":19,"name":40,"@type":41},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-09-05",true,{"@type":46,"interactionType":47,"userInteractionCount":4},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":48},"ViewAction",{"@type":50,"mainEntity":51},"FAQPage",[52,58,62],{"name":53,"@type":54,"acceptedAnswer":55},"What qualifications does the guidance cover for English Language choices?","Question",{"text":56,"@type":57},"It covers English Language qualifications distinct from languages qualifications, including GCSE English Language 1EN0 and 1EN2, and International GCSE English Language A (4EA1) and B (4EB1).","Answer",{"name":59,"@type":54,"acceptedAnswer":60},"How does the Spoken Language Endorsement (SLE) feature in these qualifications?",{"text":61,"@type":57},"GCSE English Language 1EN0 and 1EN2 include the SLE. International GCSE English Language A and B also offer the option of SLE to demonstrate oral abilities, which can be required for some degree courses.",{"name":63,"@type":54,"acceptedAnswer":64},"When can candidates sit the English Language examinations, and what are key resit considerations?",{"text":65,"@type":57},"The guidance states that GCSE English Language qualifications can be sat in November and May/June each year, with the November series intended as a resit opportunity and subject to an age restriction (at least 16 on 31 August of the relevant year). International GCSE English Language A/B can also be sat in May/June and November, open to first-time and re-sitting candidates.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":68,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":40,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":70,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":72,"site_id":7},206822,1788596219,{"code":4,"msg":75,"data":76},"success",[77,81,85,88,93,98,103,108,113,116,120],{"id":22,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":78,"show_sort_weight":79,"slug":80},"Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":26,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":82,"show_sort_weight":83,"slug":84},"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":33,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":86,"slug":87},70,"exam",{"id":89,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":90,"show_sort_weight":91,"slug":92},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":94,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":95,"show_sort_weight":96,"slug":97},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":99,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":100,"show_sort_weight":101,"slug":102},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":104,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":105,"show_sort_weight":106,"slug":107},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":109,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":110,"show_sort_weight":111,"slug":112},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":111,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":114,"show_sort_weight":111,"slug":115},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":117,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":118,"show_sort_weight":117,"slug":119},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":121,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":122,"show_sort_weight":89,"slug":123},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":75,"data":125},{"doc_id":72,"user_id":126,"nickname":37,"user_avatar":127,"doc_module":4,"category_id":33,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":128,"file_id":129,"file_url":130,"file_type":131,"file_size":132,"view_count":4,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":30,"language":133,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":134,"faqs":135,"seo_title":136,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":73,"read_time":104},962085564807,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_6f874abed73319feea01a86fa6f0fab8","Choosing an English qualification  \nPlease find some guidance below to help you in your choice of English qualifications. This guidance applies to schools and colleges based both in the UK and internationally.  \nPlease note that publicly funded schools in England are required to offer qualifications on the Department for Education’s Section 96 guidance . This means that English state schools offer GCSEs. Independent schools in the UK and other countries may choose to offer GCSEs or International GCSEs. Self-funding students have a free choice of GCSE or International GCSE.  \nEnglish Language  \nThese are all ‘English’ as opposed to ‘English as a foreign language’ or ‘languages’ qualifications. This means they are not aligned to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) as ‘languages’ qualifications are. They are commonly sat by candidates who have English as a second or additional language. Edexcel also offers an Int GCSE In English as a Second Language. This is a languages qualification. You can get more information about languages exams at [teachinglanguages@pearson.com](teachinglanguages@pearson.com).  \nGCSE English Language, 1EN0  \nGCSEs are the ‘standard’ English Language qualifications that students in state schools in England sit, usually when they are aged 15/16 . GCSE English Language will be automatically accepted by colleges and universities in the UK as evidence of English Language capability, usually at grade 4 or 5, depending on the course being applied for. GCSE English Language 1EN0 can be sat by private candidates providing the entering centre is willing to supervise the Spoken Language Endorsement (SLE) which is a compulsory part of the qualification. The SLE is a 10-minute presentation with questions and answers.  \nThis qualification can be sat in November and May/June each year. The November exam series is intended as a resit opportunity and has an age restriction. Any student who was aged at least 16 on 31 August of the relevant year can take the GCSE English language in the November thereafter.  \nGCSE English Language 2.0, 1EN2  \nIn September 2021, we launched an alternative to GCSE English Language 1EN0 . Students may choose to study 1EN0 or 1EN2 . GCSE English Language 2.0 (1EN2) has been designed to engage and motivate students through a choice of contemporary texts, relatable modern themes, and skillsbased writing tasks. First certification was in June 2022. This GCSE has the same status as 1EN0 for progression to FE and HE, funding and school performance measures. It includes the Spoken Language Endorsement in the same way as 1EN0 . As with 1EN0 it can be paired with GCSE English Literature (1ET0) .  \nThis qualification can be sat in November and May/June each year. The November exam series is intended as a resit opportunity and has an age restriction. Any student who was aged at least 16 on 31 August of the relevant year can take the GCSE English language in the November thereafter.  \nInternational GCSE English Language A, 4EA1 and B, 4EB1  \nThese are both Level 1/2 qualifications (like GCSEs) and are generally equivalent. Often students who are being taught in school do specification A and those who want to prove that they have competence in English (for example older students, returning to education) do specification  \nB. A requires preparation of set texts from an anthology and has an exam and a coursework route. On the exam-route, students encounter two studied and one unseen text. B does not require students to prepare specific texts and consists of a single 3-hour exam, in which students encounter 2 unseen texts. Both specifications give students the option to carry out the Spoken Language Endorsement (SLE) to demonstrate their oral abilities in English. This can be a requirement for some degree courses (law, medicine) and is useful if the student does not have English as a first language. The A specification has an optional coursework route, but the B does not. Home-educa","cbCaigYcID8AvaaC","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaigYcID8AvaaC","pdf",134409,"English","# English Language\n## GCSE English Language 1EN0\n## GCSE English Language 1EN2 (2.0)\n## International GCSE English Language A/B\n# English Literature\n## GCSE English Literature 1ET0\n## International GCSE in English Literature","[{\"question\":\"What qualifications does the guidance cover for English Language choices?\",\"answer\":\"It covers English Language qualifications distinct from languages qualifications, including GCSE English Language 1EN0 and 1EN2, and International GCSE English Language A (4EA1) and B (4EB1).\"},{\"question\":\"How does the Spoken Language Endorsement (SLE) feature in these qualifications?\",\"answer\":\"GCSE English Language 1EN0 and 1EN2 include the SLE. International GCSE English Language A and B also offer the option of SLE to demonstrate oral abilities, which can be required for some degree courses.\"},{\"question\":\"When can candidates sit the English Language examinations, and what are key resit considerations?\",\"answer\":\"The guidance states that GCSE English Language qualifications can be sat in November and May/June each year, with the November series intended as a resit opportunity and subject to an age restriction (at least 16 on 31 August of the relevant year). International GCSE English Language A/B can also be sat in May/June and November, open to first-time and re-sitting candidates.\"}]","Choosing an English qualification | PDF"]