GCSE English Literature Specification A

The department follows the AQA English Literature Specification A.

There are two tiers of assessment: Foundation (Grades G-C) and Higher (Grades D-A*).  Students are entered for either the foundation or higher paper depending on their ability.

Students study a minimum of six texts made up of Pre-1914 (Prose, Poetry and Drama) and Post-1914 (Prose, Poetry and Drama).

Written Paper (1 3/4 Hours)

There will be one examination paper weighted at 70% of the overall assessment. The paper will be divided in two sections. Section A (Post-1914 Prose) is weighted at 30% and Section B (Pre-1914 Poetry and Post-1914 Poetry) is weighted at 40% of the overall assessment.

Section A: Requires one response to a post-1914 prose set text.

Section B: One question based on pre- and post-1914 poetry from the Anthology. The poems are included in the Anthology. Students must study either Seamus Heaney and Gillian Clarke or Carol Ann Duffy and Simon Armitage. In addition, the bank of pre-1914 poems must be studied.

Students will be advised to spend 45 minutes on section A and 1 hour on Section B.

Coursework

Task 1: Drama Pre-1914 (Shakespeare *) - 10%
Task 2: Prose Pre-1914 *  - 10%
Task 3: Drama Post-1914 - 10%

* Indicates a ‘cross-over’ piece (one or both of these responses may also be submitted as a coursework assignment for AQA GCSE English Specification A).

Assessment Objectives:

Students are required to demonstrate their ability to:

AO1 - Respond to texts critically, sensitively and in detail, selecting appropriate ways to convey their response, using textual evidence as appropriate;

AO2 - Explore how language, structure and forms contribute to the meaning of texts, considering different approaches to texts and alternative interpretations;

AO3 - Explore relationships and comparisons between texts, selecting and evaluating relevant material;

AO4 - Relate texts to their social, cultural and historical contexts and literary traditions.