Spoken Language Endorsement
The AQA GCSE English Language Spoken Language endorsement is a non-exam assessment (NEA) component. It does not contribute to your overall grade (it does not affect your 1–9 score) but it appears separately on the certificate as a Pass, Merit or Distinction.
What the endorsement involves
You must give a prepared formal presentation or speech to an audience (usually your class) on a topic of your choice or one agreed with your teacher. The presentation must:
- Be delivered in spoken Standard English (AO9)
- Demonstrate presentation skills in a formal setting (AO7)
- Include responses to questions and feedback from the audience or teacher (AO8)
The three assessment objectives for Spoken Language
| AO | What is assessed |
|---|---|
| AO7 | Presentation skills in a formal setting — preparation, delivery, clarity, engagement of audience |
| AO8 | Listening and responding to questions — thinking on your feet, clarifying, extending ideas |
| AO9 | Use of spoken Standard English — accent is acceptable; grammar must be standard |
How the presentation is assessed
Your teacher assesses you against the three AOs. Evidence may be recorded. There is no external moderation of every student, but samples may be moderated.
Pass: Basic presentation skills; able to respond to questions; largely Standard English. Merit: Clear, organised presentation with appropriate language; thoughtful responses to questions. Distinction: Confident, engaging, well-structured presentation; perceptive responses; consistently effective Standard English.
Preparing a successful presentation
- Choose a topic you know well and care about — your enthusiasm will be apparent
- Structure it clearly: introduction (topic and angle), 3–4 main points, conclusion
- Practise out loud — not just reading notes; aim to speak to the audience, not the page
- Anticipate questions: prepare 3–5 likely questions and think about your answers
- Use notes sparingly: brief cue cards are better than a full script
Spoken Standard English
Standard English does not mean Received Pronunciation (RP). Your regional accent is fine. Standard English means using standard grammatical structures: "I was" not "I were"; "we don't" not "we ain't"; no non-standard double negatives.
Exam tip
The Spoken Language endorsement is a great opportunity to demonstrate skills not tested in the written papers. Take it seriously — a Distinction is a meaningful achievement.
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