5e. Literature post-1900 (Non-exam assessment component) suggested texts — OCR A-Level English Literature
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5e. Literature post-1900 (Non-exam assessment component) suggested texts explained
Centres and learners are free to choose their own texts for this non-exam assessment, provided they meet specific date and genre requirements.
Read the full explanation
All three texts must have been first published or performed post-1900. Furthermore, at least one text must have been first published or performed post-2000. The selection must consist of exactly one prose, one poetry, and one drama text. For example, a student could study Daljit Nagra's 2007 poetry collection 'Look We Have Coming to Dover!' (fulfilling the post-2000 and poetry requirements) for Task 1, and compare Joseph Heller's 1961 novel 'Catch-22' (prose) with Arthur Miller's 1953 play 'The Crucible' (drama) for Task 2. This allows for rich comparative analysis while strictly adhering to the post-1900, post-2000, and genre rules.
Learners must not study A level examination set texts or texts in translation for this component.
When selecting texts for the Literature post-1900 non-exam assessment, learners must not study A Level examination set texts for this component, ensuring independent wider reading. Additionally, learners must not study texts in translation; all selected works must have been originally written and published in English. For instance, while a translated novel like Haruki Murakami's 'Kafka on the Shore' is prohibited, an original English-language work like Douglas Stuart's 2020 novel 'Shuggie Bain' is permitted, provided it does not appear on any examination set text lists for the OCR A Level English Literature qualification. This ensures students engage with the original language and stylistic features of the texts.
Your focus
- Understand that centres and learners are free to choose their own texts provided they meet the post-1900 and post-2000 criteria.
- Identify the original publication or performance dates of potential coursework texts.
- Select a combination of texts that fulfils all date and genre requirements (one prose, one poetry, one drama) for the non-exam assessment.
Show all 6 objectives
- Ensure chosen texts are not A Level examination set texts for this qualification.
- Confirm that all selected texts were originally written in English and are not in translation.
- Select appropriate texts that comply with all OCR restrictions for the non-exam assessment component.
5e. Literature post-1900 (Non-exam assessment component) suggested texts exam tips
Marking Points
- Confirm that all chosen texts were first published or performed post-1900.
- Ensure that at least one of the three texts was first published or performed post-2000.
- Select texts that offer sufficient depth and complexity for A Level study and independent research.
- Verify that the chosen texts meet the genre requirements of exactly one prose, one poetry, and one drama text.
- Verify that none of the chosen texts appear on the OCR A Level English Literature examination set text lists.
- Ensure all selected texts were originally written and published in the English language.
- Exclude any texts that are translations from other languages, regardless of their literary merit.
- Demonstrate independent reading by selecting texts outside the prescribed examination syllabus.
Examiner Tips
- 💡Use the freedom of text choice to select works that genuinely interest you and align with your analytical strengths across prose, poetry, and drama.
- 💡Double-check the original publication dates of all texts before beginning your coursework to ensure compliance with the post-1900 and post-2000 rules.
- 💡Consult your teacher before finalising your text choices to confirm they are not on any OCR set text lists.
- 💡Focus your selection on original English-language literature from diverse global contexts to enrich your comparative analysis.
Common Mistakes
- Error: Assuming a text published in 1999 meets the contemporary requirement. Correction: Verify that at least one text was first published or performed in 2000 or later.
- Error: Selecting two texts of the same genre. Correction: Ensure your three texts consist of exactly one prose, one poetry, and one drama text.
- Error: Selecting texts that do not allow for meaningful comparison in Task 2. Correction: Choose texts with thematic or stylistic links that facilitate robust comparative analysis.
- Error: Choosing a text that is studied for an examined component of the A Level course. Correction: Cross-reference your choices with the official OCR set text lists to ensure they are not examined elsewhere.
- Error: Selecting a highly regarded post-1900 text that was originally written in another language (e.g., Gabriel García Márquez's 'One Hundred Years of Solitude'). Correction: Ensure all texts were originally written in English.
- Error: Assuming a text is permitted just because it is not studied by your specific class. Correction: The text must not be on the set text list for the entire qualification, regardless of whether your centre teaches it.