Specification at a glance

These qualifications are linear. Linear means that students will sit all the AS exams at the end of their AS course and all the A-level exams at the end of their A-level course.

AS

Subject content

Core content:

Assessments

Paper 1: Love through the ages: Shakespeare and poetry
Study of two texts: one Shakespeare play and one AQA anthology of love poetry through the ages (pre-1900 or post-1900)

Assessed

  • written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes
  • closed book
  • 50 marks
  • 50% of AS level

Questions

Section A: Shakespeare. One passage-based question with linked essay (25 marks)

Section B: Poetry. One question on printed poem (25 marks)

Paper 2: Love through the ages: prose

Study of two prose texts. Examination will include an unseen prose extract

Assessed

  • written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes
  • open book
  • 50 marks
  • 50% of AS level

Questions

Section A: Unseen prose. One compulsory question on unseen prose extract (25 marks)

Section B: Comparing prose texts. One comparative question on two prose texts (25 marks)

A-level

Subject content

Core content:

Options:

Assessments

Paper 1: Love through the ages
Study of three texts: one poetry and one prose text, of which one must be written pre-1900, and one Shakespeare play. Examination will include two unseen poems

Assessed

  • written exam: 3 hours
  • open book in Section C only
  • 75 marks
  • 40% of A-level

Questions

Section A: Shakespeare: one passage-based question with linked essay (25 marks)

Section B: Unseen poetry: compulsory essay question on two unseen poems (25 marks)

Section C: Comparing texts: one essay question linking two texts (25 marks)

Paper 2: Texts in shared contexts

Choice of two options:

Option 2A: WW1 and its aftermath

Option 2B: Modern times: literature from 1945 to the present day

Study of three texts: one prose, one poetry, and one drama, of which one must be written post-2000

Examination will include an unseen prose extract

Assessed

  • written exam: 2 hours 30 minutes
  • open book
  • 75 marks
  • 40% of A-level

Questions

Section A: Set texts. One essay question on set text (25 marks)

Section B: Contextual linking
  • one compulsory question on an unseen extract (25 marks)
  • one essay question linking two texts (25 marks)

Non-exam assessment: Independent critical study: texts across time

Comparative critical study of two texts, at least one of which must have been written pre-1900

One extended essay (2500 words) and a bibliography

Assessed

  • 50 marks
  • 20% of A-level
  • assessed by teachers
  • moderated by AQA