English Literature

Assessment

The A Level course culminates in three assessed components: Paper 1: Love Through the Ages. Students study three texts: one poetry and one prose text, one which must be written before 1900, and one Shakespeare play. The exam will include two unseen poems. This is assessed through a 3 hour written exam which accounts for 40% of A Level. Paper 2: Texts in shared contexts. Students and teachers have a choice of studying WW1 and its aftermath or Modern times: literature from 1945 to the present day. Students study three texts: one prose, one poetry, and one drama, of which one must be written post-2000. This is assessed through a 2 hour 30-minute written exam which accounts for 40% of A Level. Non-exam assessment: Independent critical study of texts across time. This a comparative critical study of two texts, at least one of which must have been written pre-1900. This is assessed through one extended essay (2,500 words) and a bibliography. This accounts for 20% of A Level. It is assessed by teachers and moderated by AQA.