A level Specification and Curriculum Overview

Current course:

Edexcel English Literature (9ET0)

Course entry requirement

Grade 7 or above in English Literature GCSE

Overview of curriculum

A-level study

English Literature is a most stimulating and enriching subject to study at A-level.  The course aims to encourage an enjoyment and appreciation of English literature based on an informed personal opinion.  While acquiring knowledge and understanding of the texts being studied, students develop the ability to recognise and analyse literary effects, to comment precisely on the use of language and consequently increase their capacity to make judgements of value based on close reading. During the course, students will inevitably develop their own ability to communicate effectively and appropriately in both speech and writing, a key skill increasingly demanded by universities and employers.  It can also provide a breadth of study for a student specialising in the sciences.  This qualification is usually needed by those who wish to study English Literature at degree level.

Our English department has had a consistent history of success.  More than half of our students achieved an A*/A grade in the 2022 summer exams, in line with our equally strong, pre-pandemic results. Our students regularly gain places at top universities to read English Literature and related subjects, with ten students from our 2022 cohort continuing with their English studies at university.

Examination

The A-level is awarded after two years, with a final grade determined by three external examinations worth 80% of the total marks, and a non-examined assessment (NEA) worth 20% of the total marks. Work on the NEA begins at the end of Year 12 and is completed at the start of Year 13; it consists of a 2,500 word comparative essay on a text of the student's choice. Students, with support and guidance from their teacher, are expected to set their own question.  The three external examinations (Drama / Poetry / Prose) are then sat in May of Year 13.  All exams are 'open book'.

Timed class essays and homework essays are set throughout the course in conjunction with the following key internal assessment points:

• mid-point assessment in February (Y12)

• end of year assessment in May (Y12)

• mock exams in January (Y13) 

Set Texts

These are grouped according to historical period/movement, genre or topic and are as follows.

Drama:

• King Lear (Shakespeare)

• A Streetcar Named Desire (Williams)

Prose:

• Tess of the D'Urbervilles (Hardy)

• Mrs Dalloway (Woolf)

Poetry:

• Poems of the Decade: An Anthology of the Forward Books of Poetry (2002-11)

• English Romantic Verse (comp. Wright)

Coursework

• Coursework (20%) - 'The Great Gatsby' (Fitzgerald) + one other free choice text

Whilst the above indicates a minimum of eight texts, many more are suggested for extension and enrichment. Many students also like to deepen their knowledge and appreciation of literature further by attending our Advanced Reading Group.

University subjects

As well as providing an opportunity to study English and other languages at university, English Literature A level provides access to courses on Law, Politics, Philosophy and Economics, PE, Psychology, Accountancy and Business Studies, Art and Design and other creative or performing arts.

Careers and prospects

A-level English can lead to a wide variety of careers.  It is a recognised preparation for careers in administration and management in industry, finance and government, both national and local.  It is of major significance for the communications industries such as journalism, advertising and, of course, broadcasting.  The subject is also regarded as excellent preparation for those who intend to take up professions in the creative and plastic arts, or the theatre, whether as a designer, a producer, a theatre manager, a film editor or an actor.   If you are thinking of any career in which you deal with people, such as physiotherapy, nursing, social work or business, then English Literature can be a valuable component of your 16+ course.

Wider Reading

Here is a list of texts that we recommend for wider reading throughout your studies at Key Stage 5:

Challenging Reads for Key Stage 5

Recommended Reading for Oxbridge Applicants