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Original poster

GCSE English speaking exam

15 replies

closethedrawer · 02/03/2023 10:59

Can anyone tell me the point of the GCSE English Language speaking exam? It doesn't count towards the result of the GCSE so I'm failing to see why it's done! I have a child who hates English so asking him to do something that doesn't even count towards his grade is not going down well Confused

OP posts:
ZacharinaQuack · 02/03/2023 11:01

I think it's so that children who struggle with the written papers can get a separate mark in something they may well do better in.

lanthanum · 02/03/2023 11:45

The purpose of schools is education, not exams. Learning English means learning to listen and speak as well as read and write.

The problem is that, because schools are under pressure to get the best exam results they can, things that are not tested are likely not to get taught.

So, they have to be tested on speaking. Rather than enter into the problem of how to ensure that each school assesses the speaking fairly, they've gone for making it not matter very much. (Similarly, computer science coursework has to be completed, but is not scored.)

It's a challenge for some kids to speak for a few minutes, but well worth doing - it's a useful life skill. DD was extremely nervous about hers, but once it was done it was a real boost to her confidence, and a significant step towards being willing to speak in an assembly the next year.

MrsHamlet · 02/03/2023 21:34

ZacharinaQuack · 02/03/2023 11:01

I think it's so that children who struggle with the written papers can get a separate mark in something they may well do better in.

It's not.
It counts for precisely nothing. But they have to do it because speaking and listening skills are part of the national curriculum.

Taswama · 02/03/2023 21:37

I have been trying to find out what it was worth. DS got a distinction on his!

RosieProbert · 02/03/2023 21:51

It's part of the exam on our board. 40 marks!

Taswama · 02/03/2023 21:55

Which board @RosieProbert ?

RosieProbert · 02/03/2023 21:58

Taswama · 02/03/2023 21:55

Which board @RosieProbert ?

WJEC
there's an individual and a group speaking assessment. Each one counts towards the overall grade. Always has done!

Original poster
closethedrawer · 03/03/2023 08:36

Thanks for the replies!
@RosieProbert I'm guessing you're in Wales?
I don't understand why it's not the same in England. My DS still wouldn't want to do it but at least he'd have an incentive if it was worth marks towards his final grade. As it is, he'll do the bare minimum and probably scrape a pass. I'd rather he was concentrating on the things that counted towards his grade, he struggles enough with English as it is.

OP posts:
ZacharinaQuack · 03/03/2023 11:17

MrsHamlet · 02/03/2023 21:34

It's not.
It counts for precisely nothing. But they have to do it because speaking and listening skills are part of the national curriculum.

Show quote history

This too, of course - but don't they still also list it as a separate grade on their certificate? That way pupils who may not have done well in the GCSE overall but who have good speaking and listening skills have something to show for it.

lurchersforlife · 03/03/2023 11:40

It's because English teachers have an extremely light workload and would otherwise be drinking coffee all day. Organising this, dealing with students who have panic attacks at the very mention of it, finding exactly 10 at each grade to record, persuading those children to be recorded, fielding complaints from parents regarding it, organising a time to record it and sorting out the technical side of it gives us something to do.

It's also so rewarding when the moderator's name and address comes through as the exam board headquarters as then we know that it is really, definitely going to moderated. Makes all that hard work worthwhile.

ElegantPuma · 03/03/2023 13:05

I don't understand why it's not the same in England. My DS still wouldn't want to do it but at least he'd have an incentive if it was worth marks towards his final grade. As it is, he'll do the bare minimum and probably scrape a pass. I'd rather he was concentrating on the things that counted towards his grade, he struggles enough with English as it is.

It is the fault of Bloody Michael Gove. I was so incensed when this change occurred in the 'improved' GCSEs that I actually wrote to him to complain 😡

RampantIvy · 03/03/2023 13:12

But they have to do it because speaking and listening skills are part of the national curriculum.

They are also life skills. Not being able to speak and listen properly won't get you far in life.

Just because it doesn't get graded doesn't mean it is worthless.

keiratwiceknightly · 03/03/2023 13:38

Because Gove wanted it scrapped altogether as not academic enough but wasn't allowed to. So a fudge was created.

Original poster
closethedrawer · 03/03/2023 13:48

Speaking has never been something my DS is comfortable with, he struggles to put his thoughts into an order to be able to express them out loud. This speaking exam will not help that.

OP posts:
MrsHamlet · 03/03/2023 16:00

ZacharinaQuack · 03/03/2023 11:17

This too, of course - but don't they still also list it as a separate grade on their certificate? That way pupils who may not have done well in the GCSE overall but who have good speaking and listening skills have something to show for it.

Show quote history

In England, no. It's not a grade; it's an endorsement. Pass, merit and distinction - but they don't count for anything

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