Specification at a glance

This qualification is linear. Linear means that all assessments are submitted at the end of the course.

Subject content

1 Reading and comprehension

2 Writing

3 Spoken Language

Assessments

Silver Step

Component 1: Literacy topics

What’s assessed:

Spoken language task

  • Presenting
  • Responding to questions and feedback

Reading tasks

Three transactional texts

Writing task

Transactional writing

How it’s assessed

  • Students should complete and submit two topics
  • Externally-set non-exam assessment: up to 1 hour and 30 minutes
  • 60 marks per topic, 120 marks per component
  • 50% of Step Up to English

Tasks

Spoken language (12 marks)

One task

Reading (24 marks)

  • three linked reading tasks
  • short form questions

Writing (24 marks)

One longer form writing task

Component 2: Creative reading and writing

What’s assessed:

Section A Reading

Two literary texts

Section B Writing

Creative writing

How it’s assessed

  • Students should complete one paper
  • Externally-set non-exam assessment: up to 1 hour and 30 minutes
  • 60 marks
  • 50% of Step Up to English

Tasks

Reading (30 marks)

  • two linked texts
  • short form questions

Writing (30 marks)

One longer form writing task

Gold Step

Component 1: Literacy topics

What’s assessed:

Spoken language task

  • presenting
  • responding to questions and feedback

Reading tasks

Three transactional texts

Writing task

Transactional writing

How it’s assessed

  • Students should complete and submit two topics
  • Externally-set non-exam assessment: up to 1 hour 30 minutes
  • 60 marks per topic, 120 marks per component
  • 50% of Step Up to English

Tasks

Spoken language (12 marks)

One task

Reading (24 marks)

  • three linked reading tasks
  • short form questions

Writing (24 marks)

One extended writing task

Component 2: Creative reading and writing

What’s assessed:

Section A Reading

Two literary texts (from 19th, 20th, 21st century)

Section B Writing

Creative writing

How it’s assessed

  • Students should complete one paper
  • Externally-set non-exam assessment: up to 1 hour 30 minutes
  • 60 marks
  • 50% of Step Up to English

Tasks

Reading (30 marks)

  • two linked texts
  • short form questions

Writing (30 marks)

One extended writing task

Total qualification time

Updated

We've added this new section on guided learning hours and the total qualification time.

  • Guided learning hours: 120
  • Total qualification time: 120