English Literature

Entry requirements: GCSE grade 5 in English Language and English Literature

Students will study eight texts at A Level and develop the ability to analyse and evaluate what they have read whilst honing their own communication skills.

Assessment

A Level Unit One: Drama (Examination 30% weighting)

Section A: Shakespeare
One essay question from a choice of two on a Shakespeare play
Section B: Other Drama
One essay question from a choice of two on a modern drama

A Level Unit Two: Prose (Examination 20% weighting)
One comparative essay question from a choice of two on crime fiction

A Level Unit Three: Poetry (Examination 30% weighting)

Section A: Contemporary Poetry
One comparative essay from a choice of two on an unseen poem written post-2000 and a named poem from Poems of the Decade
Section B: Poetry Collections
One essay question from a choice of two on a collection of pre-1900 poetry

A Level Unit Four: Coursework (20% weighting)
One extended comparative essay on two texts. Here students are given considerable independence

Career Opportunities

A Level English requires a candidate to use high level analytical skills and apply them to various written texts. A traditional A Level, it is well regarded by all universities and is an excellent preparation for any Arts based degree. Ultimately English Literature is an excellent subject for those considering future careers such as journalism, law, teaching or the Civil Service.

Curriculum Maps