English Literature

Exam Board: AQA

The GCSE English Literature course encourages students to develop knowledge and skills in reading, writing and critical thinking. Through literature, students have a chance to develop culturally and acquire knowledge of the best that has been thought and written. Studying GCSE English Literature encourages students to read widely for pleasure, and as a preparation for literature at a higher level.

Assessment

100% examination: two examinations at the end of year 11. Throughout the course students will complete practice exam-style questions:

Paper 1: Shakespeare and nineteenth century novel – (64 marks) 40% of GCSE (1 hour, 45 minutes)

Paper 2: Modern texts (96 marks) 60% of GCSE (2 hours, 15 minutes)

Students are encouraged to use their own copies of set texts to annotate in class.