OxfordAQA IGCSE English Language (9270): Non-exam assessment – Study Guide

In OxfordAQA International GCSE English Language, every candidate takes Paper 1, and then the remaining part of the qualification is completed by either a second written paper or a non-exam assessment (NEA). The NEA route replaces an exam with independent work that you plan, draft and refine over a period of time, under your teacher’s supervision. Because the work is completed in school and then assessed by your teacher and checked by the board, the rules about authenticity matter. This guide teaches the skills that an independent project of this kind rewards. Your teacher will give you the exact task, limits and deadlines.

Where this fits in the specification

Paper 1 tests reading and writing based on literary non-fiction and composition. The NEA is the alternative to the source-based paper that tests modern-world reading and directed writing. Both routes assess reading and writing skills in English. The NEA route suits students who work well over time and who enjoy research, drafting and reflection. Before committing, check with your teacher how the route is organised at your school and what support is permitted at each stage.

Skills the project assesses

Whatever the task title, an NEA piece at this level rewards the same set of skills:

• Purposeful writing: a clear sense of why you are writing, for whom and in what form.
• Research and use of sources: finding reliable material, selecting what is relevant, and combining ideas rather than copying.
• Organisation: a logical structure with an introduction, developed sections and a conclusion, linked by clear paragraphs.
• Control of language: varied vocabulary, a range of sentence structures, an appropriate register, and accurate spelling, punctuation and grammar.
• Reflection and evaluation: if a commentary is required, the ability to explain choices and judge how successful they were.

Stages of an independent project

Choose and narrow the focus

Pick a subject that interests you enough to sustain weeks of work, and that gives you scope for both research and personal response. Then narrow it. “Music” is too broad, while “how streaming services have changed the way teenagers discover new bands” is a clear angle. Check that you can find enough reliable information and that the task fits the requirements your teacher has set.

Research carefully

Use a mixture of sources: books, reputable websites, interviews, articles and your own observations. Keep a record of each source as you use it, with the author, title, date and where you found it. Evaluate each source by asking who wrote it, why, when, and whether it is reliable. Take notes in your own words. Copying text without acknowledgement is plagiarism, and it can lead to serious penalties, including disqualification.

Plan before drafting

Write a plan with the main sections and the point of each. Decide on the voice and form: a feature article, a report, a speech, a piece of travel writing or a reflective essay each has different conventions. Choose a form that suits the content and purpose, and know its features, such as headings in a report or a hook in an article.

Draft and revise

Draft with the plan beside you. Then revise in layers: first the content and structure (does it answer the question and flow logically?), then the paragraphs (does each have one main idea and a link to the next?), then sentences and vocabulary (are they varied and precise?) and last the proofreading. Reading aloud helps you find awkward phrasing.

Reflect and evaluate

If the task includes a commentary or reflection, treat it as an analytical piece. Explain what you set out to do, the choices you made about form, structure and language, and why. Give examples from your own text. Evaluate honestly: say what worked, what you would change and what you learned. Vague statements such as “I think it was good” do not show understanding.

Authenticity and conduct

NEA work must be your own. Your teacher will supervise and may require some work to be completed in class. You should be able to explain any part of what you submit. Generally, you should:

• keep all drafts and notes, since they show how your work developed;
• acknowledge every source you use, whether quoted or paraphrased;
• never submit work written by someone else, including a tutor, a relative or a software tool;
• follow your school’s rules about the help that you can receive and when.

Your school and the board will give you the formal rules for your series, and you must follow those.

Worked example: planning the time

Suppose you have 10 weeks before the final submission date and a task that requires a main piece of about 1,000 words plus a reflective commentary. A sensible schedule might be:

Weeks	Activity	Output
1	Choose and narrow the focus, confirm with teacher	Agreed question and form
2 to 3	Research and note-making	Source list and notes
4	Detailed plan	Paragraph-by-paragraph outline
5 to 6	First draft	About 1,000 words
7	Revision	Second draft
8	Commentary	Reflective piece
9	Proofreading and checks	Final versions
10	Buffer and submission	Completed work

The weeks add up to 1 + 2 + 1 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 10. To keep to a 1,000-word main piece in two weeks of drafting, aim for about 500 words a week, or about 100 words each working day if you write for five days a week. The final week is kept as a buffer in case anything runs late. A schedule like this makes the project manageable and shows your teacher that you are on track.

Common mistakes

• Choosing a topic that is too broad or too difficult to research.
• Leaving the research until late and drafting in a rush.
• Copying from sources without acknowledging them.
• Writing in a general voice that does not suit the chosen form or audience.
• Describing what you did in the commentary without explaining why or how well it worked.
• Not keeping drafts and notes.
• Ignoring the limits for length and format.
• Neglecting proofreading.

Technique tips

• Read the task and the assessment criteria in full before choosing a topic.
• Keep a project log with the date and what you did each time.
• Ask for feedback at agreed points, and act on it.
• Vary sentence structures and choose precise vocabulary.
• Test your opening and conclusion on a reader and ask what they remember.
• Check every quotation and reference against the original.

Frequently asked questions

What is the 9270 non-exam assessment? A project in which you research a topic and produce a written task with a specified audience, purpose and form, plus a commentary.

How much is it worth? 60 marks and 40% of the International GCSE, teacher assessed and moderated by AQA.

Does it replace an exam? Yes. It is the alternative to Paper 2; Paper 1 is still compulsory.

Check your understanding

1. Why is a narrow focus better than a broad one? Answer: it is easier to research and to develop in detail within the limits.
2. Give two things to record about each source. Answer: for example author, title, date and where it was found.
3. What is plagiarism, and why does it matter? Answer: presenting someone else’s work as your own, and it can lead to penalties such as disqualification.
4. Why keep drafts and notes? Answer: they show how the work developed and help to prove that it is your own.
5. What makes a reflective commentary strong? Answer: explaining choices with examples from the text and evaluating what worked and what could change.
6. In the worked example, how many words a week are needed to draft 1,000 words in two weeks? Answer: 1,000 / 2 = 500 words a week.
7. In what order should you revise a draft? Answer: content and structure first, then paragraphs, then sentences and vocabulary, then proofreading.