ENGLISH LITERATURE GCSE

Exam Board: AQA

Course Overview / Introduction

GCSE English Literature offers you the chance to study classic literature and some contemporary texts too.

What will you study?

Poetry

Use the skills you have learnt to interpret poems. Poetry is about you developing your knowledge and analytical skills to be able to express your personal opinion of some complex themes such as power, control, conflict and identity.

Shakespeare, the 19th Century novel, and Modern Texts

Understand the themes, ideas and characters and why these texts still have huge appeal today.

We study Macbeth, A Christmas Carol and An Inspector Calls. We also study the Power and Conflict set of poems from the poetry anthology. 

How many exams are there?

Paper 1: Shakespeare and the 19th Century novel (1 hr 45 mins)

• 1 hour 45 minutes

• 64 marks 

• 40% of the qualification

Paper 2: Modern Texts and Poetry (2 hr 15 mins)

• 2 hours 15 minutes

• 96 marks 

• 60% of the qualification

What will you gain from this course?

In the long term, whatever job you seek, from Architecture to Zoology, a GCSE qualification in English provides the skills and confidence for you to develop your analytical and written capabilities to help you to:

• work independently;

• be creative;

• think critically;

• analyse carefully;

• communicate your ideas with confidence, and

• think logically.

What does this lead to?

A qualification in English will help you land that dream job! Sports journalist? Lawyer? Film director? Public relations executive? Fashion journalist? Author? Newsreader? Politician? Actor? Architect? Creative director? Scriptwriter? Teacher? The world is yours.

Staff Contact:

Mrs Lewis,
Acting Head of English