Subject: A Level English Literature
Examination Board: WJEC
Course Code: 3171
How are students assessed at A Level?
Students completed 50% of the A Level in Year 12, in the form of the AS qualification. 40% of Year 12 was made up of coursework and the examination was worth the other 60%. On results day in August, students would have received a mark out of 200. Below is how the marks equate to the AS grade:
Marks / AS grade160 - 200 / A
140 - 159 / B
120 - 139 / C
100 - 119 / D
Year 13 operates in exactly the same way. 40% is made up of coursework and the examination makes up the other 60%. Students will receive a mark out of 200 for their work in Year 13. The only difference is they can now achieve an A*. These two marks of 200 will be added together to give a final overall A Level grade:
Marks / A Level grade360 – 400 / A*
320 - 359 / A
280 - 319 / B
240 - 279 / C
200 - 239 / D
Coursework (LT3)
LT3 - Period and Genre Study (40%)
Through the study of three texts from different periods and genres, students produce one 3,000 word essay on a theme of their choice. LT3 requires candidates to study a range of texts in order to allow them to gain insight into the development of English literature.
Currently, Year 13 are studying literature from (or based on) World War One including:
Novel: Pat Barker’s ‘Regeneration’ or ‘Birdsong’ by Sebastian Faulks
Poetry: The poetry of Wilfred Owen.
Partner text: Students choose one writer from a choice of six
Percentage of overall assessment: 40%
Examination (LT4)
LT4 requires candidates to show how their reading of an unseen poem illuminates their study of a pre-1800 poetry text, and how their reading of a related drama text has illuminated their study of a Shakespeare play.
Both sections make clear demands in terms of understanding the significance of contexts and considering how different interpretations of the texts studied may have illuminated candidates' own reading.
Section A: Critical Reading of Poetry (The Poetry of William Blake)
William Blake’s ‘Songs of Innocence and of Experience’ is the focus for Year 13. Students will have to answer one question from a choice of five and bring in close references to an unseen poem. Students should spend one hour fifteen minutes on this section as it is worth 30% of the final A Level mark.
Section B: Shakespeare and Related Drama
Students study either:
Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet’ and refer to Cyril Tourneur’s ‘The Revenger’s Tragedy’ for wider reading.
OR
Shakespeare’s ‘Richard II’ and refer to Christopher Marlow’s ‘Edward II’
Students will have to answer one question from a choice of two. Students should spend one hour fifteen minutes on this section as it is also worth 30% of the final A Level mark.
Percentage of overall assessment: 60%