GCSE English Literature

GCSE English Literature focuses on developing reading, writing, and critical thinking skills through the study of literary texts. Students learn to appreciate the cultural significance of literature and explore a range of works from different periods and genres.

Exam Boards and Specifications

Several exam boards offer GCSE English Literature qualifications, including AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC Eduqas, and CCEA. Each board publishes its own specification, outlining the curriculum content, assessment objectives, and set texts.

Set Texts

The set texts for GCSE English Literature vary depending on the exam board. Students typically study a selection of works, including:

Shakespeare: One play, such as Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, or The Tempest*. 19th-Century Novel: Examples include Jane Eyre and Great Expectations*.

• Modern Prose or Drama: This could be a novel, play, or selection of short stories.
• Poetry: An anthology of poems, often linked by a theme such as love and relationships or power and conflict.

Assessment Objectives

GCSE English Literature assessments evaluate students' abilities in four key areas:

• AO1: Read, understand and respond to texts. This involves demonstrating comprehension, forming personal responses, and supporting interpretations with textual evidence.
• AO2: Analyse the language, form and structure used by a writer to create meanings and effects. Students analyze literary techniques and their impact on the reader.
• AO3: Show understanding of the relationships between texts and the contexts in which they were written. This includes exploring social, historical, and cultural influences on the texts.
• AO4: Use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures for clarity, purpose and effect, with accurate spelling and punctuation. This objective focuses on effective communication and writing skills.