Assessment Units

For AS English Literature you will be tested by three assessment units. For the A2 English Literature you will take a further three units which will then be added to your AS units give you the full A Level. The AS English Literature forms the first 50% of the assessment weighting for the full A Level and the A2 provides the final 50%.

Each unit can normally be taken in either January or June or you can study the whole of each course before taking any of the unit assessments. You can even take the unit assessments for AS and A2 together at the end of your studies if you wish. You can see, then, that there is a good deal of flexibility concerning when you take your exams.

If you are not satisfied with a unit result you can re-sit each unit. It is important to note, though, that each unit may be re-sat once only. The better result will count towards the final award. However, you are allowed to re-sit the whole qualification more than once.

A2 and Synoptic assessment

If you have studied English Literature at AS Level and have decided to go on to study A2 you will study three further units. You will be assessed in a similar way to the way in which you were assessed on the AS course. The final unit that you will study, however, will involve what is known as ‘synoptic’ assessment. This simply means that the unit will draw together and assess all the assessment objectives that you have studied throughout the course.

Coursework

Depending on the particular specification and the particular options you are studying your course may include coursework assessment. The form and length of the coursework assignments vary but you can consult a copy of the specification you are following for further details.

The aims of the A2 course

There are, however, differences between the AS and the A2 courses and the aims of the A2 course emphasises these differences. At A2 Level, all specifications aim to:

• broaden and deepen the knowledge, skills and understanding developed in the AS, enabling candidates a wider sense of the scope of literary study
• encourage candidates to use detailed knowledge and understanding of individual texts to explore comparisons and connections between them
• encourage candidates to appreciate the significance of cultural and historical influences upon readers and writers.

The differences, therefore, between AS and A Level study and assessment are reflected in both the breadth and depth of the study required.

What will I study?

All specifications for A Level English Literature have the same ‘core’ of compulsory elements that must be studied. Here are the key areas you will study.

• Prose
• Poetry
• Drama
• One text published before 1900
• One text published before 1770
• Comparison of whole texts
• The cultural, historical and contextual influences on literary texts.

All the texts you study should have been written originally in English and at least one of the exams you will take will be a closed book exam. The final unit you will study will test all the assessment objectives you have studied throughout the course.

It is also worth noting that the quality of your written communication will be assessed in all assessment units. You will be assessed on your ability to:

• select and use a form and style of writing appropriate to purpose and complex subject matter
• organise relevant information clearly and coherently, using specialist vocabulary where appropriate
• ensure text is legible, and spelling, grammar and punctuation accurate so that meaning is clear.

Key skills

Throughout your study you will be developing your key skills and your English Literature course can provide you with the opportunities to develop and generate evidence of attainment in such aspects of key skills as Communication, IT, Improving own learning and performance and Working with others. These areas can contribute towards your achievement of the key skills qualification, which is the equivalent of an AS Level.