GCSE English Literature

READING

This skill is broken down further into:

• Reading comprehension and reading critically; 

• Critical reading;

• Evaluation of a writer’s choice of vocabulary, grammatical and structural features; 

• Comparing texts.

WRITING

This skill is broken down further into:

• Producing clear and coherent text; 

• Accurate standard English.

PAPER 1: Shakespeare and the 19th-century novel (64 marks, 40% of total grade)

Section A: Shakespeare (30 marks, plus 4 for accurate standard English)

Students will answer one essay question on their play of choice. They will be required to analyse in detail:

• an extract from the play and 

• the play as a whole. 

Section B: The 19th-century novel (30 marks)

Students will answer one essay question on their novel of choice. They will be required to analyse in detail:

• an extract from the novel and 

• the novel as a whole. 

PAPER 2: Modern Texts and Poetry (96 marks, 60% of total grade)

Section A: Modern texts (30 marks, plus 4 for accurate standard English)

Students will answer one essay question from a choice of two on their studied modern prose or drama text. 

Section B: Poetry Anthology (30 marks)

Students will answer one comparative essay question on one named poem printed on the paper and one other poem from their chosen anthology cluster, 'Power and Conflict'. 

Students should study all 15 poems in their chosen cluster and be prepared to write about any of them in the examination.

Section C: Unseen Poetry (32 marks)

 Students will answer:

• one question on one unseen poem and 

• one question comparing this poem with a second unseen poem.