SPOKEN LANGUAGE ENDORSEMENT FOR GCSE ENGLISH LANGUAGE - Requirements and clarification

Oct 20, 2026

Uploaded by hdkawk

Spoken Language endorsement requirements for GCSE English Language are outlined, including that the endorsement is reported as a separate graded outcome (Pass, Merit, Distinction or Not Classified) and does not affect the overall GCSE English Language result. Candidates complete a prepared formal spoken presentation on an agreed topic, with planned delivery and the ability to respond to questions and feedback. Assessment uses holistic competency criteria, with internal standardisation and centre submission of unedited audio-visual recordings for monitoring.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time10 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Tasks

Assessment

Monitoring by Awarding Bodies

Candidate absence

Entries and centre declaration

Appendix 1: Spoken Language Criteria for Pass, Merit and Distinction

General criteria

SPOKEN LANGUAGE ENDORSEMENT FOR GCSE ENGLISH LANGUAGE Introduction From first teaching in September 2015, GCSE English Language will have an endorsed component covering Spoken Language. This endorsement will be reported as a separate grade (Pass, Merit, Distinction or Not Classified) and will not contribute to the result of the GCSE English Language qualification. This document has been produced in collaboration with all the relevant awarding bodies. It provides an outline of the requirements and further clarification will be available in the JCQ Instructions for conducting non-examination assessments. Tasks Candidates must undertake a prepared spoken presentation on a specific topic. Asa guide, the duration of the whole assessment should be no more than ten minutes. The key requirements are: • Presentations must be formal but may take a wide variety of forms, including talks, debates, speeches and dialogues. • Candidates must identify the subject for their presentations in advance and agree it with their teacher. • Presentations must be planned and organised. Candidates should be advised that lack of preparation is likely to prevent access to the criteria for the higher grades. • Candidates may use pre-prepared notes, powerpoint etc. to assist them during their presentations but this is not a requirement. • As part of, or following, the presentation, candidates must listen to and respond appropriately to questions and feedback. • Where the audience is the teacher only, the presentation and dialogue must be designed in such a way that it could have a potentially wider audience than just one person ([e.g. it](e.g. it) replicates a television interview) Assessment No marks will be assigned to a student’s performance – it will be assessed holistically as a grade, using a ‘competency’ basis on criteria which are provided (see appendix A ) . Competency means that a student must meet all the criteria in one grade before moving on to the next. Candidates who do not reach the Pass standard must be recorded as Not Classified. Centres must make arrangements for internal standardisation of assessments. This should take place as far as possible before assessment begins in earnest. Internal standardisation should include a preliminary trial assessment session (including all teachers involved in assessment) using exemplar material provided by the awarding bodies, in order to ensure that there is a common understanding of the assessment criteria. Monitoring by Awarding Bodies The endorsement will be assessed by centres. Each centre is required to provide audio-visual recordings of the presentations of a sample of candidates. At present, the current thinking of the JCQ working group is provided in the table below. These will allow us to check that centres have used appropriate tasks, and have applied the assessment criteria correctly and consistently. The centre must provide recordings of the presentations of a sample of candidates. The recording of each candidate’s presentation , including questions and feedback from the audience, must be complete and unedited. Using their knowledge of candidates’ likely performance, centres should select the sample following the guidance shown in the table below. Centres are recommended to record slightly more than the minimum number at each grade to allow for candidates whose performance is awarded a higher or lower grade than the centre had anticipated. The awarding body will provide details regarding the storage and submission of recordings. Table 1 Sample Sizes (not yet confirmed) . | No. of candsat centre | No. of cands whose presentations must be recorded | Minimum no. of cands at each grade (D, M, P) | | --- | --- | --- | | 30 or fewer | All cands | 10 | | Over 30 | 30 | 10 | This is a broad overview of what is required. We will provide further documentation on the detailed requirements for the make-up of the sample in differing scenarios, and will also addre

FAQs

How is the Spoken Language endorsement graded for GCSE English Language?

It is reported separately as Pass, Merit, Distinction, or Not Classified, and does not contribute to the result of the GCSE English Language qualification.

What must candidates do for the prepared spoken presentation?

Candidates must deliver a prepared formal presentation on a topic agreed in advance with their teacher, and must be able to listen to and respond appropriately to questions and feedback.

Are student performances marked with specific marks?

No marks are assigned; the presentation is assessed holistically using competency criteria, where the learner must meet all criteria in one grade before moving to the next.

Oct 20, 2026

Uploaded by hdkawk