English Literature
Course summary
The Pearson Edexcel English Literature A-Level is made up of four components and challenges students to deepen their critical understanding and analytical skills by reading a wide range of texts from different time periods within the English Literary Canon. Overview of content Students study and Examination information Paper 1: 2 hours 15 minutes: DRAMA (30%) • Section A – Shakespeare’s Hamlet: Students answer one essay question, incorporating ideas from wider critical reading (AO1, AO2, AO3, AO5 assessed) • Section B – Other Drama: A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams. Students answer one essay question (AO1, AO2, AO3 assessed). • Total of 60 marks available – 35 marks for Section A and 25 marks for Section B. Paper 2: 1 hour 15 minutes: PROSE (20%) • Students study two prose texts from a chosen theme to compare: Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray and Bram Stoker’s Dracula • Students answer one comparative essay question from a choice of two on their studied theme (AO1, AO2, AO3, AO4 assessed). • Total of 40 marks available. Paper 3: 2 hours 15 minutes POETRY (30%) • Section A: Poems of the Decade Anthology: 15 poems. (AO1, AO2, AO4 assessed) • Section B: The Wife of Bath by Chaucer (AO1, AO2, AO3 assessed) • Students answer one question from a choice of two, comparing an unseen poem with a named poem from their studied contemporary text and one question from a choice of two on their studied movement/poet. Non-Examination Component: COURSEWORK (20%) • Students produce one Coursework assignment: An extended comparative essay referring to two texts (AO1, AO2, AO3, AO4, AO5 assessed) • advisory total word count is 2500–3000 words • Total of 60 marks available.
Entry Requirements
Checked against your grades — every rule traces to the school's published source.
| Requirement | Rule | You |
|---|---|---|
English Language | Grade 5 in English Language | — |
English Literature | Grade 5 in English Literature | — |
English Language | Grade 6 in English Language | — |
English Literature | Grade 6 in English Literature | — |
As published by the school
Students need a combination of a least grade 5 and 6 in English Language and English Literature GCSE.
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Assessment
The Pearson Edexcel English Literature A-Level consists of three externally examined papers and one nonexamination assessment component: Coursework. The qualification requires the study of eight literary texts plus unseen poetry. Students must complete all assessment in May/June in any single year.
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