English Literature

Taught at Kenilworth School & Sixth Form

Exam Board: AQA Literature B 

Assessment Method: You will be assessed by 2 written examinations worth 40% each, both sat at the end of year 13, and 2 pieces of NEA coursework worth 20% in total, produced within the A Level course. 

Why Should I Follow This Course? 

English Literature is a well-established and widely respected A Level that develops high-level skills in reading, analysis, and critical writing. Universities and employers value it alike, not only for degrees in English, but also for subjects such as Law, History, Politics, and International Relations. Many students combine Literature with Economics, Mathematics, or Science A Levels, gaining a valuable balance of analytical precision and creative, critical thinking. Through exploring a wide range of plays, prose, and poetry, you will enhance your ability to interpret texts from multiple perspectives and develop sophisticated written communication skills. 

What will I learn? 

Across the course you will engage with a range of texts, genres, and contexts, building critical and comparative skills. In English Literature, we explore texts through critical lenses, encouraging interpretation, debate, and independent thinking, alongside strong knowledge of the texts. 

In ‘Aspects of Tragedy’ (Paper 1), you will study Shakespeare’s Othello, Miller’s Death of a Salesman, and Hardy’s Tess of the d’Urbervilles.  

In ‘Social and Political Protest Writing’ (Paper 2), you will study Blake’s poetry, Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, and Hosseini’s The Kite Runner, alongside practice on unseen extracts that exemplify protest writing.  

For the NEA (coursework), you will produce a portfolio of two essays of 1,500 words each: one on a prose text and one on a collection of poetry. Texts are chosen collaboratively with your teacher, often drawing on students’ own literary interests. You will apply critical theory from the AQA Critical Anthology, such as Marxism and feminism, to your chosen texts. 

Where Will This Qualification Take Me? 

English Literature provides an excellent foundation for a wide range of university courses and careers. It is especially relevant for pathways in publishing, journalism, business, marketing, law, education, media, and the arts, as well as careers requiring strong analytical and communication skills, including engineering, digital marketing, policy research, and heritage work. 

Entry Requirements: Grade 6 or above in both GCSE English Language and English Literature.