Examination Board: AQA, Specification A
Course Content
The course aims to give students a good knowledge of English Literature from the medieval period to contemporary times. Students should also acquire well-honed critical reading skills and fluency in writing.
There are six modules, as follows:
Unit 1: The Modern Novel: one text, one hour, closed book exam
Unit 2: Shakespeare, one play, one hour, open book exam.
Unit 3: Texts in Context: two texts: one poetry and one drama (one of which is pre-twentieth century), two hour exam, open book.
Unit 4: Texts in Time: two texts: one poetry, one drama (one pre-1770 drama, one pre-1900 poetry , two hour exam, closed book
Unit 5: Literary connections: comparison of two prose texts, one and a half hour, open book exam
Unit 6: The synoptic paper, current topic: War in Literature, wide reading on the theme, three hours with one compulsory question on unprepared texts.
Assessment
All units are tested by examination, as above; there is no coursework.
Specific Requirements
Candidates should have studied both English Language and Literature for GCSE and need to have obtained, at least, B grades for both.
Extra-Curriculum Activities
There are two lecture days per year, in central London, which all girls attend. In addition, there are theatre visits to plays which are in the specification.
Costs
The lectures currently cost £14.50 each, travel is extra. Students need to buy all texts.
