English speaking exam

[Moon30]

Hi, is the English speaking exam compulsory? I've googled but I get mixed answers.

My DD is due to take hers on thursday but she has extreme anxiety about reading her work out in front of anyone, she has no problems if it's something that she's not written.
She's struggling massively with the writing part in English, she has no confidence in herself and unfortunately it stops her from completing her work. I have asked the school to give her some additional support but so far they haven't done anything.
She hasn't even wrote a thing for this exam on thursday and she getting extremely anxious about it.
She tried to speak with her teacher who told her she had to do it in front of the class because she's not diagnosed with anxiety nor does she have any SEN. However there is absolutely no way she will be able to do it in front of her classmates and I'm unsure she will even be able to do it with just to her teacher. The last time she had to stand up and read anything out that she had prepared she panicked and ran out of the room crying, which resulted in her being picked on and she says that they judge what she has written. She is doing really well in all her other subjects, it's just the writing part in English that she struggles with.

I'm not really sure what I can do to help her. I'll try speak with her teacher tomorrow but it's a nightmare to get hold of anyone in that school.

English teacher here. Assuming you’re talking about GCSEs, the oracy element usually makes up a certain percentage of the qualification (exactly how much will depend on exam board/specific qualification). In our exam board, it isn’t compulsory per se, but oracy elements are worth 15% combined- so a significant chunk of the qualification would be lost by not attempting the task and could negatively impact the overall grade.

With regards to speaking in front of the whole class, I’m sure the school could arrange for your daughter to deliver her speech to a smaller group. We would always try to make the learner as comfortable as possible so that they can do their best- surely other schools would do the same? I’d get in touch with the school/head of year and request this.

Actually my understanding (tho English is not my main subject) is that the speaking element does not count towards the final grade.

This from the AQA website:

This endorsement is reported as a separate grade (Pass, Merit, Distinction or Not Classified) and will not contribute to the result of the GCSE English Language qualification.

So it just appears as P/M/D on your GCSE certificate, but your GCSE grade is unaffected. Pass in the speaking but a grade 9 overall, more than possible.

But I do agree, it is usually possible for her to do it in front of a smaller group. Maybe even just the teacher and a couple of her friends? yy contact the school.

Thank you both. That's what I was confused about because some sites said it does count towards her final grades and others said it doesn't.

I have emailed her teacher and just had a response. He said that it wouldn't effect her overall grade if she didn't take part in the speaking exam but he is going to give her the option to do it either with just him or infront of some her friends if she feels comfortable enough to do so. He also said that he would go through anything she has written to check it is okay prior, thats if she will write anything at all.

I am also hoping that they will put some support in place for her in English.

Thanks again for your help

That’s a good outcome and hopefully your daughter is feeling much happier without the added pressure!

PS we’re in Wales so WJEC not AQA. Oracy certainly counts towards the final grade in our qualification. That’s why the information online is so confusing, as it very much depends on context and exam board.

P.S. We’re WJEC not AQA so oracy counts for us. That’s why the information out there is so confusing, as it will vary by school, exam board and country. Not helpful for parents!

We are WJEC too and it counts as part of the final mark. The information on the WJEC website for anyone to view. Glad to hear that the teacher got back to you and clarified everything. With us the oral component was done just in front of the teacher - no other pupils. The next oral assessment will involve others because it is a discussion. If you know the exam board you could check on the website yourself to see what it says - it will help clarify what assessments take place and what percentage of the marks they are allocated.

In England English speaking is a separate grade on results day and is shown as distinction, merit or pass. You don’t need to pass the spoken element. It’s the grade 4 in gcse English language that counts.

with regard to the spoken presentation, they can do it just to a teacher but from what I understand can not get distinction level if it’s just to them with no audience.

not sure if this will help your DDs anxiety but as all children are having to do the oral element and so will have to do their own presentation they are normally a well behaved audience and don’t ask difficult questions as they are acutely aware they’ll be presenting or have already presented. Best of luck for your Dd

www.aqa.org.uk/resources/english/gcse/english-language-8700/assess/non-exam-assessment-guide-spoken-language-endorsement