Learn: Overview of AQA GCSE English Literature Specification

Welcome!Today, we're diving into an overview of the AQA GCSE English Literature specification. This will help you understand what to expect and how to approach each part of the course.

What is the AQA GCSE English Literature Specification?The specification outlines the key texts, skills, and assessment details you'll need to study. It's divided into two papers: Paper 1 focuses on Shakespeare and 19th-century novels, while Paper 2 covers modern texts, poetry, and unseen poems.

How are the Exams Structured?Each paper has specific sections. Paper 1 is worth 40% of your GCSE and includes questions on a Shakespeare play and a 19th-century novel. Paper 2 is worth 60% and covers modern texts, anthology poetry, and unseen poetry.

What Are the Assessment Objectives?Assessment objectives (AOs) are the skills you'll be marked on. These include AO1 (understanding and responding to texts), AO2 (analysing language, form, and structure), AO3 (understanding context), and AO4 (spelling, punctuation, and grammar).

Shakespeare and the 19th-Century NovelFor Paper 1, you'll study a Shakespeare play (e.g., Macbeth) and a 19th-century novel (e.g., A Christmas Carol). You'll need to analyse extracts and link them to the text as a whole.

Modern Texts and PoetryFor Paper 2, you'll study a modern text (e.g., An Inspector Calls), compare anthology poems, and analyse unseen poetry. Each section tests different skills, so it's important to prepare for all three.

Understanding the Poetry AnthologyThe anthology contains 15 poems grouped into clusters (e.g., Love and Relationships, Power and Conflict). You'll need to compare one named poem with another from the same cluster.

Unseen PoetryThe unseen poetry section tests your ability to analyse poems you've never seen before. You'll write about one poem first, then compare it with another unseen poem.

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