Is English Literature a good A Level subject?
Studying English Literature at A Level is a fantastic option for those who have enjoyed English at GCSE and want to take their study to the next level. But be under no illusions that this is a step up - in terms of the knowledge you will be required to retain and process, the language you will be required to use, and the general 鈥榮eriousness鈥� of the course. And examinations. But for those who enjoy language and reading and want to explore some of the major artists (and cultural and social issues of our time (and others)); and who want to discuss in a small group of likeminded and committed students, and experiment with writing, it can be a dream!
Is A Level English Literature difficult?
All A Levels are a step up from their GCSE equivalents and English Literature is no different. You will be required to study texts both pre and post-1900 - across poetry, prose and drama - that are more challenging linguistically and conceptually. Think John Donne, D H Lawrence, Harold Pinter 鈥� and of course more Shakespeare. You will be working with more complex themes and having to frame your ideas with reference to critical and historical ideas. Do you know what metaphysical means, or about the religious contradictions of the late Tutor period, or do you want to know? This course is wide-ranging and demanding, but it will be fun to learn in smaller groups than you will be used to from GCSEs, and where your teachers鈥� long hidden subject expertise will come to the fore. You will sit several exams of at least two hours each, and your writing will have to be tight and well organised, fluent and show flair. It will take the full two year course for you to acquire these skills.
How to get an A* in A Level English Literature
If you look at the mark scheme that examiners use to grade your papers 鈥� this is highly recommended and your school should facilitate this 鈥� then the best answers are required to be 鈥榮ophisticated鈥�, 鈥榗reative鈥�, 鈥榗onfident鈥�, 鈥榩erceptive鈥�, 鈥榤ature鈥� and 鈥榠ndependent鈥�. Of course these are just words and the question for the aspiring student is more of a practical one i.e. How do I achieve the best grades?
Part of this is down to revision technique 鈥� but this is a two year course and success starts at the very beginning. It is worth identifying somebody in the year above who does well in the subject and asking them about their day-to-day method in English. How do they take notes, how much time do they spend working at home, to what extent do they 鈥榬ead around鈥� i.e. read apart from the course鈥檚 set texts? This is part of recognising the 鈥榗ulture鈥� of English study, which should be set from the beginning. Do your homework, get good habits, ask lots of questions, read as much as you can 鈥� serious modern works of fiction from the library as well as history, newspapers, magazines, poetry that you find lying around. Be ambitious. Identify other students who want to do well and hang out with them. Immersing yourself in the English language is the best way to success.
You will have to build on the things you learned about writing at GCSE. So evidence-based analysis, topic-led paragraphs, fluent and intelligent speculation about the meaning of certain lines and words and chapters 鈥� all on a grander scale and managed effectively. Some exam boards require you to write coursework essays of 3500 words.
What is the best way to revise for A Level English Lit?
This is all about practise. The exam period should be one where you get to focus uninterrupted on the business of learning quotations and revising the notes you have made on interpretations and ideas. You have to know your material. To have made good notes earlier is a way of assuring success later on. Revision can be a collaborative effort so be prepared to bat around ideas and quotes with other students in study groups. Otherwise 鈥� like at GCSE - you should be prepared to sit on your own in a room and grind it out. You should know exactly what you have to do for each paper as the emphasis may shift slightly from exam to exam.
Look at past papers and practise the questions they contain, working in your own time to begin with then gradually creating that crucial time pressure. It鈥檚 essential that you get to know what responding in 鈥榬eal time鈥� is like, about the pressure on planning and brainstorming and writing and checking. This is at least as much a test as actually knowing the material and in part what your mocks exam are about.
Common pitfalls- a look through A Level English Literature examiners past reports
So-called Examiners鈥� Reports - the feedback that schools receive from the exam board on what they think went well/could have been improved with the set of exam they have just marked 鈥� is not really designed for students. But they can offer interesting insights, though you may have to dig them out. They are useful but you may find it most helpful to go through the report with a teacher or tutor. For example, one recent report highlighted how:
鈥淩aw and often inaccurate biographical data was frequently offered as valid contextual material and it is vital that candidates understand that 鈥渇acts鈥� about a poet鈥檚 life which might offer good material for a speculative television documentary do not readily translate into relevant or valid comment on a poet鈥檚 work. A poet鈥檚 biography is valid insofar as it encapsulates the ideas and concerns of a particular stage in history or cultural development but as soon as it elicits a descriptive or narrative approach from the candidate its value disappears as the essay loses sight of the principal objective of literary study which is an analysis and evaluation of texts.鈥�
So - do not tell the story of a poet鈥檚 life unless it helps us understand something of the period in which the text was written. Focus on the text itself.
Or:
鈥淐andidates would benefit from more time spent interpreting the specific demands of these short questions and then using a sensible proportion of the 20 minutes suggested response time to plan a relevant and coherent response.鈥�
So don鈥檛 be afraid to take plenty of time to plan your response.
Where can I find past papers for A Level English Literature?
Past papers are readily available but make sure you know which exam board (there are many) that your school is using, and simply Google 鈥楶ast paper English Literature [insert exam board]. This will bring up a host of papers and options. Just make sure your qualification has not changed radically as boards have a habit of updating their qualifications every few years and changing slightly the emphasis of papers and questions.
Recommended resources for A Level English Lit
The internet is a literally endless source of information on A Level English Literature, and you may well have to dig around a lot if coming to the search for resources 鈥榗old鈥�. The usual rules apply and you must decide if the site has 鈥榓uthority鈥� or not. is good generally and for the notes 鈥� character, theme, social and cultural contexts etc 鈥� you wish you鈥檇 made, as well as a great repository of past papers. But many schools have revision resources created specifically for their students but which are widely available online. A search for help with a particular text or author will often lead you to school sites and these are a great and authoritative place to start. But whether searching for exam and revision materials or matters that will help you during the course itself, your librarian or teacher is really the best source. Also ask other students what is working for them; borrow or photocopy their notes, look at what they are reading. Be resourceful yourself.
A Level English Literature Tutors
Keystone has a range of specialist tutors who can assist students approaching GCSE and A Level English Literature. The A Level English tutors that we work with have a thorough knowledge of the various exam boards and can assist students approaching A Levels and university admissions tests for English.
Read more about our A Level English tutors.