GCSE Cymraeg Language and Literature
GCSE Cymraeg Language and Literature is a first-language literacy qualification: learners analyse a novel, short stories, poems and a film, read and summarise unseen texts, write in many forms, and are assessed on group discussion and an individual researched presentation. WJEC maps no numeracy to any unit, so there are no numeracy skills here. The single biggest thing Key Stage 3 should build is close, evaluative reading of Cymraeg literature backed by purposeful quotation and accurate Cymraeg, including mutations and verb forms.
- Awarding body
- WJEC
- Level
- Level 1 and Level 2
- First taught
- September 2025
- Amount of literacy work
- High
- Amount of numeracy work
- Low
- Specification
- Open the specification
How this qualification is assessed
- Unit 1: Narrative: Written examination 1 hour 30 minutes, 30% of the Single Award (15% of the Double Award), 60 marks
- Unit 2: Identity: Non-examination assessment, group discussion in threes up to 15 minutes on a visual text, 20% of the Single Award (10% of the Double Award), 40 marks, marked by the centre and moderated by WJEC
- Unit 3: Attitudes: Non-examination assessment, poetry appreciation and comparison (500 to 1,500 words) and individual oral presentation (up to 5 minutes), 20% of the Single Award (10% of the Double Award), 60 marks, marked by the centre and moderated by WJEC
- Unit 4a: Linguistic Connections (Single Award only): Written examination 1 hour 30 minutes, 30%, 60 marks
- Unit 4b: Linguistic Connections (Double Award only): Written examination 2 hours, 22.5%, 90 marks
- Unit 5: Respond and Create (Double Award only): Non-examination assessment, group discussion up to 10 minutes and creative writing task (500 to 1,000 words, maximum 3 hours), 20%, 60 marks, marked by the centre and moderated by WJEC
- Unit 6: Communicating Meaning (Double Award only): Written examination 1 hour 30 minutes, 22.5%, 60 marks
Skills that use Connectives and syntax
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Writing in literary and non-literary forms for different audiences
Unit 4a has one writing task (Unit 4b has two) in forms such as newspaper report, speech, press release, diary, email, soliloquy, portrayal and story. Unit 1 also asks for creative writing from a character's point of view.
Literacy: Planning and organising for different purposes, audiences and context, Connectives and syntax
Getting pupils ready
- Year 7
- Pupils write a diary entry in Cymraeg from the point of view of a character in the class novel, reacting to a key event.
- Year 8
- Pupils write a newspaper report and a press release about the same school event, adapting register and layout for each audience.
- Year 9
- Pupils write a speech for a school assembly on a contentious local issue, using rhetorical techniques and a clear paragraph structure.
Show the specification wording and the LNF statements
Where it is in the specification: Unit 4a, Section 4.1.3, page 18; Unit 4b, Section 4.1.3, page 20; Unit 1, Section 1.1.3, page 12
“submit one written task, from a choice of two, for different purposes and audiences and in different forms”
Progression step 3
I can adapt my writing style and structure to suit the audience, purpose and context, e.g. suitable balance between facts and viewpoints, a precise conclusion.
I can use and adapt different structures within my writing, e.g. reporting an event, investigation or experiment.
Progression step 4
I can adapt my writing style, choosing and using the best structures for different contexts and purposes, e.g. to successfully describe, explain, persuade, discuss.
I can write about my thoughts, feelings and opinions, using a range of techniques, e.g. emotive language, hyperbole, choice of pronouns (you, we), to show impact.
Progression step 5
I can write extended pieces which include detailed evidence and information for different purposes and audiences within and across different disciplines.
I can summarise confidently, adapting style and form for the reader or intended audience and purpose for writing.
I can show sustained awareness of different readers by selecting from a range of styles and structures, and adapting my use of language confidently.
Good to know
- Unit 3 Task 1: 'Learners should be allowed to use dictionaries/thesaurus when completing the task.' 2 hours 30 minutes are allocated and the written task is 500 to 1,500 words (pages 15 and 30).
- Units 2 and 3: learners may take in 'up to one side of an A4 page containing short bullet points (size 11 font or above)' (pages 28 and 30).
- Unit 3 Task 2: the teacher must 'ensure that the learner does not read their presentation'. The presentation lasts up to 5 minutes including questions and may use 'relevant statistics, facts, examples and quotes' (page 30).
- Unit 5 Task 2: 500 to 1,000 words. 'Learners are allowed to revise and redraft work. Learners are allowed to complete the task electronically.' A maximum of 3 hours is allowed (pages 22 and 31).
- Accuracy: AO2 is 50% of both awards and requires 'appropriate grammar and, in written communication, accurate punctuation and spelling' (page 26). There is no separate SPaG mark.
- Units 4a and 4b reading includes 'a text editing task that will focus on understanding text at word, sentence and text level' (page 5).
- Appendix A ticks no numeracy strand for any unit (page 38), and the specification makes no reference to calculators.
Links with other qualifications
The only number work is optional use of statistics in the Unit 3 presentation, so numeracy support is best left to other subjects.
Source: WJEC GCSE Cymraeg Language and Literature (Single and Double Award) specification, Version 6, for Year 10 cohort starting September 2026 onwards, first award from 2028.