English Literature

Assessment

Paper 1 tests you on your understanding of Tragedy and is split into three questions; Questions 1 and 2 are on the Shakespeare text and Question 3 invites you to write an essay linking the other texts that you have studied for the tragedy unit. One of these must be the modern drama text. This examination lasts for 2 hours 30 minutes and is closed book. It accounts for 40% of the overall A-level. In Paper 2, you will be tested on your understanding of Elements of Crime in fiction. You will answer three questions: the first question includes an unseen passage which you must analyse through the lens of crime fiction; the second question asks you to write an essay on one of your set tests; the third question asks you to write an essay connected to your two additional texts. This examination lasts for three hours and is open book. It accounts for 40% of the overall A-level. You are also required to complete some non-examination assessment which comprises the study of two texts: one prose and one poetry, informed by the study of AQA’s Critical Anthology. You are required to submit two essays of 1500 words each, responding to a different text and linking to a different aspect of the Critical Anthology. This unit is worth 20% of the A-level and is assessed by teachers initially before being moderated by AQA.