PCSA Options Booklet 2024 - 2026

ENGLISH LITERATURE
Type of qualification: GCSE
Exam Board: AQA
Central Leader: Mrs A Wray
Head of Subject: Mrs A Wray
What will I study?
You will study a variety of texts from the English literary canon, including a play by Shakespeare, a
modern text and a nineteenth century novel. This will involve reading these texts as well as learning about
the historical contexts in which they were written. You will also engage with and study a selection of
poetry, both modern and from the past. You will learn how to construct an interpretation of a literary text
and express this in a persuasive, rigorous essay.
To do well you need to:
Read widely
Consider multiple layers of meaning within language
Write accurately
Write in detail and depth using evidence for your thoughts
Progression Pathways
A GCSE pass in English is required for a large number of post-16 courses, as it gives a grounding in writing
and reading that is necessary for higher levels of study. More specifically, it prepares you for English
Literature or English Language A Levels, which develop the skills from GCSE in more depth, looking at
more difficult and interesting texts.
English literature allows you to explore a wide variety of aspects of life, challenging you to consider things
from perspectives different from your own. Ultimately, it is the study of what it means to be human.
Careers
Careers based on
English studies
include publishing,
journalism, writing,
screenwriting,
academia,
teaching,
advertising, PR,
TV/film
production, acting,
web content
/social media
management,
proofreading and
many more!
How will I be assessed?
This qualification is 100% examined at the end of Year 11. There are two exam
papers, detailed below:
Paper
Paper 1 64mks
Shakespeare
and the 19th
Century novel
Paper 2 96mks
Modern Texts
and Poetry
What’s Assessed?
Section A: Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet 34mks
You will write in detail about an extract from the play and then
about the play as a whole
Section B: 19th Century Novel: A Christmas Carol 30mks
You will write in detail about an extract from the novel and
then about the novel as a whole
Section A: Modern Texts: Blood Brothers 34mks
You will answer one essay question about the text you have
studied
Section B: Power and Conflict Poetry 30mks
You will answer one comparative question on one named
poem and another chosen from the selection you have studied
Section C: Unseen Poetry 32mks
You will answer one question on one unseen poem and one
question comparing this poem with a second unseen poem