GCSE English Literature
English Literature Specification
All Year 11 and 12 students study GCSE English Literature offered by CCEA. There is a natural cross over between this course and the GCSE English Language and both courses are therefore offered through an integrated pathway in eight teaching periods per week.
Year 11 English Literature
UNIT 1: The Study of Prose
At the end of the first year of study, students will sit the first of three modules in English Literature. Throughout Year 11, the literature focus is on the chosen set text. This will be either Lord of the Flies or Of Mice and Men. Students will also develop the skills necessary to analyse unseen prose which makes up the final section of the Unit 1 examination.
The paper is 1 hour 45 Minutes in length and is untiered.
Section A: Novel
This is a closed book examination and students will answer one essay question from a choice of two on the set text.
Section B: Unseen Prose
Students explore and analyse an unseen prose extract from a 19th century text. This is worth 10% of the marks for this qualification.
The Unit 1 examination is worth 30% of the total marks available in GCSE English Literature.
Year 12 English Literature
Unit 2:The Study of POetry and Drama
At the end of Year 12, students will complete a two hour paper exploring a set drama text and a thematic unit of poetry from the CCEA produced anthology.
The drama text studied will be either Philadelphia, Here I Come! or An Inspector Calls and the poetry will be either the poetry of Conflict or Love and Relationships.
The paper is two hours in length and is untiered.
Section A: Drama
Students answer one question from a choice of two -a clean copy of the play is allowed.
Section B: Poetry
Students answer one question from a choice of two - a clean copy of the anthology will be provided.
The Unit 2 examination is worth 50% of the total marks available in GCSE English Literature.
Unit 3: Controlled Assessment: Shakespeare
This is an internally assessed unit worth 20% of the total GCSE in English Literature. Students study Macbeth in the first term of Year 12 complete the controlled assessment - an extended piece of writing of max 2,500 words in December. The theme is dictated by CCEA and changes every year.
