What texts can I study for AQA GCSE English Literature?

AQA provides a set text list updated each year. For Shakespeare, choices include Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, The Tempest, and others. The 19th-century novel options feature A Christmas Carol, Great Expectations, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, and more. Modern texts span An Inspector Calls, Blood Brothers, Lord of the Flies, etc. Your teacher will select one play, one novel, and one modern text from these lists. For poetry, your school will teach one of two clusters: 'Love and relationships' or 'Power and conflict', each containing 15 poems. Check with your teacher to see which texts you will be studying.

Are the exams open book?

No, all AQA GCSE English Literature exams are closed book. You will not be allowed to take your copies of the texts into the examination room. For the poetry anthology question, you will be provided with a clean copy of the named poem on the exam paper, but you must know the other poems in your cluster well enough to recall key quotations and details from memory. For the other sections, you will be given a short extract from the text, but you are expected to refer to the whole work, so memorising quotes and themes is essential.

How is the final grade calculated?

Your overall grade is based on the total marks from both exams, which add up to 160. Paper 1 (Shakespeare and the 19th-century novel) is worth 64 marks (40%), and Paper 2 (Modern texts and poetry) is worth 96 marks (60%). These raw marks are then converted into a uniform mark and matched to the 9–1 grade boundaries set by AQA after each exam series. There is no separate tier—all students sit the same papers and have the opportunity to achieve grades 9–1.

Do I need to learn quotes from all the texts?

Yes, because the exams are closed book, a strong recall of key quotations from all your set texts is crucial. You will need to support your essay points with precise references to the plot, characters, and themes. For the poetry anthology, you should know multiple quotes from each of the 15 poems in your cluster, as you will have to compare a named poem (provided on the paper) with another poem that you select from memory. Building a bank of well-chosen quotations during your revision will greatly enhance your essays.

Is there any coursework or controlled assessment?

No, the AQA GCSE English Literature qualification is 100% exam-based. There is no coursework, controlled assessment, or portfolio component. Your entire grade is determined by your performance in the two written papers at the end of the course. This linear structure means all your learning and revision come together in the final exams, giving a focused and transparent measure of your skills and knowledge.

English Literature

AQA

GCSE

Specification: 8702

The AQA GCSE English Literature specification covers 52 topics with 0 learning objectives (8702). Use the topic browser below to explore subtopics, exam tips, common mistakes, and key terminology for each area of the course.

English Literature develops your ability to analyse poetry, prose and drama from different eras. You'll explore how writers create meaning through language, structure and form while developing your own critical voice.

Topics

Objectives

244

Exam Tips

221

Pitfalls

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Study Guides

52 revision guides for AQA GCSE English Literature

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Key Features

Analyse language and structure
Explore context and themes
Compare texts effectively
Write compelling essays

About AQA GCSE English Literature

The AQA GCSE English Literature course invites you to explore a rich tapestry of stories, plays, and poems from different eras, each selected to develop your analytical and critical thinking skills. Through set texts that span Shakespeare, the 19th-century novel, modern drama and prose, and a vibrant poetry anthology, you will delve into themes such as love and conflict, power and ambition, identity and society. This specification is designed to deepen your appreciation of how writers craft their works to create meaning, evoke emotion, and reflect the contexts in which they were created.

Structured into two exam papers, the course builds your ability to read closely, write coherently, and argue persuasively. You will learn to analyse language, structure, and form, and to draw connections between texts and their historical or cultural settings. The closed-book exams encourage you to develop a genuine familiarity with your set texts, honing memory and personal engagement alongside academic rigour.

Ultimately, AQA GCSE English Literature equips you with transferable skills invaluable for further study and everyday life: clear communication, empathy through diverse perspectives, and the confidence to interpret complex ideas. Whether you are dissecting a Shakespearean soliloquy, comparing war poems, or encountering an unseen poem for the first time, the course fosters a lifelong love of reading and critical thought.

Assessment Structure

The qualification is assessed through two closed-book written exams, taken at the end of the course. Paper 1 (Shakespeare and the 19th-century novel) lasts 1 hour 45 minutes, is worth 64 marks, and accounts for 40% of the total grade. Paper 2 (Modern texts and poetry) lasts 2 hours 15 minutes, is worth 96 marks, and contributes the remaining 60%. There is no tiering and no coursework—all marks come from these terminal examinations, which cover a combination of essay responses to set texts, a comparative poetry question, and unseen poetry analysis.

Why Choose AQA?

Wide and diverse text choices: AQA offers a broad selection of set texts, from popular Shakespeare plays like Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet to modern dramas such as An Inspector Calls and The History Boys, allowing schools to tailor the course to student interests and strengths.
Clarity and transparency: The mark schemes and assessment objectives are clearly defined, helping students and teachers understand exactly what is required to achieve each grade. AQA's examiner reports and model answers provide insightful guidance.
Established reputation and resources: As one of the most widely taken English Literature GCSEs in the UK, AQA benefits from an extensive range of high-quality support materials, including endorsed textbooks, online resources, and past papers, making preparation straightforward.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Gets Top Grades

A*/Grade 9

Knowledge & Understanding

Demonstrates comprehensive and accurate knowledge

Uses correct subject-specific terminology
Shows detailed understanding of concepts
Makes accurate connections between topics
Demonstrates depth beyond surface-level knowledge

Application

Applies knowledge effectively to new contexts

Selects relevant knowledge for the question
Adapts understanding to unfamiliar scenarios
Uses examples appropriately
Shows awareness of context

Analysis & Evaluation

Develops sophisticated analytical arguments

Constructs logical chains of reasoning
Considers multiple perspectives
Weighs evidence to reach justified conclusions
Acknowledges limitations and nuances

Key Command Words

AQA

State

1 mark

Give a single fact or term

Identify

1 mark

Name, select, or recognise

Outline

2 marks

Set out main features briefly

Describe

2-4 marks

Give an account of what something is like or what happens

Explain

3-6 marks

Give reasons with developed cause→effect chains

Compare

2-4 marks

State similarities AND differences (both required)

Analyse

6-9 marks

Examine in detail showing cause→effect→consequence chains

Evaluate

6-12 marks

Weigh up BOTH sides, reach JUSTIFIED conclusion

Assess

6-12 marks

Make judgments about importance with justification

Calculate

2-4 marks

Show formula→substitution→calculation→answer with units

Common Exam Mistakes

Pitfalls to avoid in your exams

•Failure to maintain a critical style or informed personal response
•Inaccurate or insufficient use of textual references and quotations
•Lack of clarity or coherence in argument construction
•Errors in spelling, punctuation, and grammar that impede communication
•Confusing summary with analysis: describing what happens without explaining Dickens’ methods or messages.
•Treating the ghosts as literal entities rather than symbolic representations of Scrooge’s conscience and past.
•Ignoring the allegorical nature of the novella, leading to superficial character studies.
•Failing to connect historical context specifically to the text, instead adding generic Victorian facts.

Top Examiner Tips

Expert advice for exam success

•The exam is closed book; ensure thorough knowledge of the whole text
•The assessment requires writing in detail about an extract provided in the paper and then writing about the novel as a whole
•Use relevant subject terminology when analysing language, form, and structure
•Ensure you study the whole text, not just selected scenes
•Practice writing in detail about a provided extract before linking your analysis to the wider play
•Use the provided extract as a starting point for your argument
•Ensure your response is balanced between the extract analysis and the wider play knowledge
•Experience a wide range of poetry during preparation to build analytical skills

Specification Topics

52 topics

Shakespeare and the 19th-century novel

Students study one 19th-century novel from a prescribed list of seven set texts. The assessment is closed book and requires students to demonstrate understanding of the whole text, including plot, characterisation, themes, and the writer's use of language, form, and structure, while considering the historical, social, and cultural contexts.

The 19th-century novel, Shakespeare

0 objectives7 tips2 subtopics

Modern texts and poetry

The Unseen Poetry section requires students to demonstrate their ability to closely analyse and compare previously unseen poems. Students must analyse key features including content, theme, structure, and the use of language to develop an informed personal response.

Unseen poetry, Poetry, Modern texts

0 objectives10 tips3 subtopics

Skills

The writing skills component of the AQA GCSE English Literature specification focuses on the ability to produce clear, coherent, and analytical responses to literature. Students are expected to demonstrate proficiency in constructing arguments, using textual evidence, and maintaining accurate standards of written English.

Writing, Reading comprehension and reading critically

0 objectives5 tips4 pitfalls2 subtopics

A Christmas Carol

This subtopic covers Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol', a novella that explores themes of social injustice, redemption, and the Christmas spirit. Students analyse language, structure, and context to understand Dickens' critique of Victorian society and the transformative journey of Ebenezer Scrooge.