Under the current arrangements the speaking and listening controlled assessment makes up 20% of the overall grade, with 40% on the reading and writing controlled assessment and 40% on the written exams.

BBC: GCSE English plan leaves speaking test out of final grade

The congressionally mandated National Assessment of Educaitonal Progress brought out its Writing Report Card.

FORBES: Are We Spending Too Much On Education?

New GCSEs will be taught in certain key subjects from September 2015, which the government says will be linear (exams taken at the end), with less controlled assessment (coursework) and more emphasis on "extended writing" rather than "bite-sized questions".

BBC: Education & Family